Patent ID: 7343700
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: F26B

Abstract:
1. A method for drying a particulate material, comprising: a) providing at least two temperature measuring probes at different vertical positions in a container through which said particulate material flows, b) providing values for the vertical positions of the temperature measuring probes, c) providing a value for the cross-sectional area of said container, d) specifying a target temperature range, e) specifying a residence time value for the particulate material at a temperature within said target temperature range, f) determining a desired volume flow of dried particulate material to be discharged, g) supplying moist particulate material to the container, h) introducing heated gas into the container such that the gas flows through the particulate material, and exhausting the gas from the container after it has flowed through the particulate material, i) measuring the temperature as a function of the vertical position of each temperature sensor in the particulate material, j) determining the vertical position at which the lower temperature limit of the target temperature range occurs, k) determining the vertical position at which the upper temperature limit of the target temperature range occurs, l) determining the distance between the vertical positions determined in steps j) and k), m) determining the actual residence time of the particulate material in the target temperature range, n) determining whether the actual residence time is equal to or greater than the preselected residence time, and o) discharging particulate material with a preselected volume flow when the actual residence time is greater than or equal to the preselected residence time.