Patent ID: 11971214
Assignee: COOMTECH LIMITED
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 14:
15. Apparatus for removing moisture from particulate material, comprising:
a dryer housing having an input opening and an output opening, the dryer housing defining a flow path for gas-entrained particulate material, the flow path extending between the input opening and the output opening of the dryer housing; and
a drying chamber within the dryer housing, the drying chamber defining a channel, wherein the flow path for the gas-entrained particulate material extends along the channel,
wherein the drying chamber is configured for directing a flow of gas-entrained particulate material between first and second ends of the drying chamber; and wherein the dryer housing is configured for directing gas under pressure into the drying chamber, and for interacting with the flow of gas-entrained particulate material within the drying chamber;
wherein the drying chamber comprises a body of modular construction, which defines a plurality of guide passages arranged for fluid communication between the drying chamber and a source of gas under pressure;
and further wherein the body of modular construction comprises a plurality of discrete annular elements, each having a body defining a central aperture, and wherein the annular elements are arranged with the central apertures aligned so as to define a bore of the drying chamber, the bore defining the channel;
wherein the apparatus is configured to create a helical flow of particulate material passing along the drying chamber between said first end and said second end in a first rotational direction; and further wherein the drying chamber includes one or more gas guides or guide passages for directing gas under pressure into the drying chamber from the body of modular construction, for interacting with the flow of gas-entrained particulate material within the drying chamber, wherein said one or more gas guides or guide passages is configured to direct gas in a generally tangential or rotational manner, in a second rotational direction which is counter to said first rotational direction, in order to create a reverse spin effect within the flow of gas-entrained particulate material.