Patent ID: 6364224
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: F26B

Abstract:
A process for drying a suspension of a finely divided particulate solid material in an aqueous or non-aqueous medium to thereby produce a substantially dry product, comprising the steps of:(a) introducing the suspension into a grinding chamber containing a bed of particulate grinding media disposed upon a perforated base having an outer annular perforated area and a central imperforate area; (b) agitating the grinding media in the grinding chamber by rotating an impeller therein provided with impeller bars the distal ends of which are spaced from the internal walls of the said chamber; and (c) introducing an upflow of heated gas through said perforate base of the grinding chamber such that it passes through the bed of the grinding media, the said disposition of said imperforate and perforate portions of said base causing said gas to flow preferentially through the annular region abounding the walls of the grinding chamber; and the substantially dry product being entrained by the gas and conveyed out of the grinding chamber.