Patent ID: 6996917

Claim:
A desolventizing system for removing solvent from a quantity of solvent-laden particles comprising: a) a first desolventizer unit having an inlet port for receiving solvent-laden particles, an outlet port for discharging at least partially desolventized particles, and a solvent vapor port discharging solvent vapor; b) a first airlock having an inlet port in flow connection to the outlet port of the first desolventizer unit, and an outlet port, said first airlock transporting the at least partially desolventized particles from the first airlock's inlet port to the first airlock's outlet port while at least partially maintaining any pressure difference existing between the first airlock inlet and outlet ports; c) a solvent trap having a chamber from which inlet and outlet ports extend upwardly, said trap's inlet port connected to receive particles and vapor from the first airlock's outlet port, and said trap having a vent for connection to a vacuum source; d) a second desolventizer unit having an inlet port for receiving particles from the solvent trap's outlet port, an outlet port for discharging finally desolventized particles, and a solvent vapor port discharging solvent vapor; and e) a second airlock having an inlet port connected to the outlet port of the second desolventizer and receiving therefrom the finally desolventized particles, and whose outlet port discharges the finally desolventized particles, while at least partially maintaining any pressure difference existing between the second airlock inlet and outlet ports.