Patent ID: 6484417
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: F26B

Abstract:
A method of drying an initially wet product having a moisture level, comprising the steps of:providing a stream of input air having input temperature and humidity levels; heating the input air stream to a desired temperature; contacting the heated input air stream and said initially wet product in a drying zone to give a dried product and an output air stream; determining the temperature and humidity of said output air stream; and maintaining the adiabatic saturation ratio and the temperature of said output air stream at predetermined, substantially constant levels during said drying, notwithstanding changes in a parameter selected from the group consisting of said input air temperature level, input air humidity level, said initially wet product moisture level, and combinations thereof, said maintaining step comprising the steps of recycling a first portion of said output air stream back to said input air stream for mixing therewith, exhausting a second portion of said output air stream to the atmosphere, and adjusting the energy input to the dryer, in response to said determining step.