A method of preparing cellulosic biomass material for subsequent processing first comprises moving at least one stream of biomass material along a flow path. Then, the stream of cellulosic biomass material can be explosively dried and pulverized to disrupt lignocellulosic bonds, and to reduce a moisture content and a particle size of the cellulosic biomass material. Then, the stream of cellulosic biomass material can be electrically degraded the stream of cellulosic biomass material to disrupt lignocellulosic bonds. Additional pre-treatment and post-treatment processes can also be included.

Techniques for dewatering thick fine tailings may include flocculant dosing on a clay basis and then subjecting the flocculated tailings to dewatering, for instance by pipelining the flocculated material from flocculant addition to a deposition site. The thick fine tailings can be pre-treated by removing hydrocarbons and shear-thinning prior to flocculant addition.

Techniques for dewatering thick fine tailings may include flocculant dosing on a clay basis and then subjecting the flocculated tailings to dewatering, for instance by pipelining the flocculated material from flocculant addition to a deposition site. The thick fine tailings can be pre-treated by removing hydrocarbons and shear-thinning prior to flocculant addition.

A dryer for increasing the dryness by fixing the inside of a bowl-shaped workpiece toward a rotating table side is provided. A dryer for drying an object includes a rotatable hollow cylindrical rotation shaft, a center shaft supported inside of the rotation shaft via a bearing and does not rotate, the center shaft having an inner blow passage therein extending along the center shaft, a rotation plate fixed to the first end of the rotation shaft; an inner fixed nozzle extending along the first end of the rotation shaft from the center shaft, a jig disposed on the rotation plate for fixing the object, a drive motor for rotating the rotation shaft, and a blower connected to the inner blow passage.

A dryer for increasing the dryness by fixing the inside of a bowl-shaped workpiece toward a rotating table side is provided. A dryer for drying an object includes a rotatable hollow cylindrical rotation shaft, a center shaft supported inside of the rotation shaft via a bearing and does not rotate, the center shaft having an inner blow passage therein extending along the center shaft, a rotation plate fixed to the first end of the rotation shaft; an inner fixed nozzle extending along the first end of the rotation shaft from the center shaft, a jig disposed on the rotation plate for fixing the object, a drive motor for rotating the rotation shaft, and a blower connected to the inner blow passage.

An apparatus for reducing the size of a solid material into smaller particles having an implosion chamber for containing the solid material and creating turbulence and ultrasonic soundwaves. The soundwaves generated by a flail propeller bounce off the chamber walls to create sound frequencies causing the expansion of moisture particles in the solid material leading to implosion of moisture particles within the solid material. The implosion thereby results in reducing the size of solid material, wherein a separating section that receives the smaller material from the implosion chamber channels the coarser particles back into the chamber to go through additional disintegration process. The rotation of the flail propeller within the chamber causes the moisture particles of the solid material to oscillate at high frequency and expansion that disintegrates the solid material. During this process, the moisture content is converted into vapor.

The present invention relates to a method and facility for preparing lignocellulosic biomass, in particular by means of water extraction and optionally particle-size refinement, for subsequent use particularly in a process of torrefaction, carbonization, pellet production, such as fuel pellets or soil enhancement pellets, or the manufacturing of building materials, or even the preparation of agri-food products, comprising centrifugation (100) of the biomass followed by attrition milling and drying (200).

The system for drying lignite according to the present disclosure includes a mill configured to crush the lignite; a dryer configured to receive crushed lignite from the mill, to dry the lignite by heat-exchange with steam and to discharge dried lignite; a condensing-precipitating evaporator in fluid communication with the dryer so as to receive vapor which is evaporated when the lignite is dried, and which is discharged from the dryer. The evaporator is configured to condense the vapor discharged from the dryer by heat-exchange with water. The coal dust contained in the vapor is precipitated into a condensed aqueous solution when the vapor is being condensed, and the condensed aqueous solution is discharged. The system includes a Mechanical Vapor Re-Compression (MVR) configured to receive steam generated from the condensing-precipitating evaporator, to compress the steam into superheated steam, and to supply the compressed superheated steam to the dryer.

There is provided an apparatus for use in drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a means for providing a flow of heated fluid, and a means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid. The means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid is arranged operable with the means for providing a flow of heated fluid so that exposure of the sample to the flow of heated fluid facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while substantially preserving one or more chemical and/or physical properties of the portion.

Techniques for dewatering thick fine tailings may include one or more pre-treatment steps, such as pre-shearing to reduce the yield stress prior to flocculation, hydrocarbon removal below a threshold to improve flocculation and dewatering, flocculant dosing on a clay basis, and providing certain properties of the thick fine tailings related to coarse and fine particle sizes and/or chemistry such as divalent cation content. Various advantages may result from pre-treatments based on thick fine tailings properties, such as reduced flocculant dosage requirements, improved dispersion of flocculant into the thick fine tailings and/or enhanced dewatering, for example. One or more of the pre-treatments may be performed.