Patent ID: 6249989
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: B01J,C10B,F26B,F28C,F28D,F28F

Abstract:
A method of heating or cooling a charge of a solid material, which method includes the steps of: supplying the charge of the material to form a packed bed of solids in a process vessel having one or more passageways through which a heat transfer fluid can flow; passing a heat transfer fluid through the one or more passageways; supplying a working fluid to said vessel; and circulating the working fluid through said bed, the circulation step including removing at least part of the working fluid from one or more sections of the vessel and then returning the working fluid to other sections of the vessel, whereby indirect heat transfer occurs between the heat transfer fluid and the charge and between the heat transfer fluid and the working fluid, and whereby direct heat transfer occurs between said working fluid and the charge as the working fluid circulates through the bed.