Dryer for fuel material

A dryer for drying a material to be used as fuel using a drying gas, the dryer comprising:

• a conveying means for conveying the material to be dried along a substantially vertical path extending between an upper end of the conveying means where the material is received and a lower end of the conveying means where the material is discharged;
• and,
• a directing means for directing the drying gas across the vertical path to remove moisture from the material as the material is conveyed along the vertical path, the directing means comprising a feed duct means for use in delivering the drying gas to the conveying means on a first side of the vertical path, and an exhaust duct means for withdrawing the drying gas from the conveying means on a second side of the vertical path;
• wherein the conveying means comprises a plurality of flights connected to a conveyor, the conveyor having a substantially vertical first run and a substantially vertical second run, the first run defining the first side of the vertical path and the second run defining the second side of the vertical path;
• wherein a first group of the plurality of flights is connected to the first run and a second group of the plurality of flights is connected to the second run, wherein the plurality of flights convey the material along the vertical path, wherein the plurality of flights move through the vertical path in pairs, each pair of flights being defined by a flight of the first run and a flight of the second run disposed in side-by-side relationship, wherein the vertical path is effectively closed by each pair of flights, thereby constraining the material from moving along the vertical path faster than the flights
• wherein the first run comprises a first endless belt and the second run comprises a second endless belt, wherein the first and second endless belts move downwardly through the vertical path;
• wherein each of the first and second endless belts comprises a plurality of first plates and a plurality of second plates, wherein the first and second plates are vertically oriented when located in the vertical path;
• wherein one of the flights is connected to each first plate;
• wherein each second plate comprises:
• (i) an upper flange projecting transversely from an upper end of the second plate into the vertical path;
• and (ii) a lower flange projecting from a lower end of the second plate into the vertical path;
• wherein a space is defined between the upper flange and the lower flange of adjacent second plates to permit the drying gas to enter the vertical path;
• and
• wherein the upper flange and lower flange leave a portion of the vertical path open for movement of the fuel material.