Method and apparatus for dehumidifying granular material
AssigneeMoretto S.p.A.
InventorRenato Moretto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Granular material is dehumidified by: a) providing a number of dry air generators inside hoppers containing granular material; b) for each dry air generator, evaluating the dry air flow generable and/or higher energy efficiency functioning time; c) calculating the dry air flow rate for each single hopper depending on the characteristics of the granular material; and d) activating a number of generators sufficient to deliver a total dry air flow rate equal to the sum of the flow rates required by the hoppers. The number of the generators and the generators to be activated are chosen depending on the flow rate deliverable by each and/or by their respective ranges of functioning at higher energy efficiency according to an energy saving logic. The remaining generators are deactivated.
Claims14
A method of dehumidifying granular materials, said method comprising the following operating steps:
- a) providing a plurality of dry air generators connected in parallel to a supply line and a return line for the distribution of air inside one or more hoppers fluidly connected in parallel to said lines and containing granular material to be dehumidified before being fed into processing machines;
- b) for each dry air generator estimating the flow rate of dry air which can be generated and/or a range of functioning at higher energy efficiency in terms of the flow rate of dry air which can be generated;
- c) calculating the flow rate of dry air needed for each individual hopper depending on the characteristics of the granular material contained therein;
- d) activating a number of generators sufficient to deliver altogether a total flow rate of dry air substantially equal to the sum of the flow rates needed for said one or more hoppers, the number of said generators and the generators to be activated being chosen depending on the flow rate which can be delivered by each of them and/or on their respective ranges of functioning according to an energy saving logic for the same total flow rate to be delivered;
- and
- e) deactivating the remaining generators.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.