Patent ID: 8365436

Claim:
System for drying a water-containing substance by means of an air stream, the system comprising: a first heat exchanger ( 1 ) for heating the air stream by direct contact between the air stream and a first portion of the water-containing substance, resulting in a heated air stream which is saturated to a first level; a unit for separating the heated air stream which is saturated to a first level into a first and a second air stream; a heating unit ( 3 ) for heating the second air stream, resulting in a heated second air stream; a drying unit ( 5 ) for drying a second portion of the water-containing substance by direct contact between the heated second air stream and the second portion of the water-containing substance, resulting in a heated second air stream which is saturated to a second level and a dried product; a second heat exchanger ( 201 a ) for cooling the heated second air stream which is saturated to a second level using a first cooling liquid, resulting in a second air stream which has essentially been cooled to the temperature level of the first cooling liquid and is saturated to a second level and a heated first cooling liquid; a mixing unit for mixing the second air stream cooled to the temperature level of the first cooling liquid and saturated to the second level and the first air stream, resulting in a mixed air stream; a third heat exchanger ( 201 b ) for cooling the mixed air stream by means of a second cooling liquid, resulting in a cooled mixed air stream saturated to a third level and a heated second cooling liquid.