A magnetic field thermal generator has one or more heat elements comprised of rotating pipes placed so they travel across the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field chamber, with said magnetic field being generated by either permanent magnets or electromagnets. The relative motion of the heat element to the magnetic flux from the magnetic field magnets results in heat generation. When placed in series, the thermal generator may be used to dry items and/or to generate hydrogen.

Porous diffuser assemblies including multiple diffuser elements. The porous diffuser assemblies include a diffuser body, a diffuser base coupled to the diffuser body and forming a plenum there between, the diffuser base including a plurality of openings formed therein, and a porous diffuser element disposed in each of the plurality of openings wherein surfaces of the porous diffuser elements are exposed to the plenum. Gas purged chambers and methods of purging a chamber are disclosed, as are numerous other aspects.

A method for drying biomass fuel, including: 1) collecting and cutting raw biomass fuel into fragments; mechanically squeezing and dehydrating the fragments to yield biomass fuel in the form of filter cake; 2) mashing and loosening the biomass fuel in the form of filter cake; and loading the biomass fuel onto charging carriages of fuel transport vehicles; 3) connecting tails of the fuel transport vehicles and the carrier vehicle of drying equipment; moving the movable drying room of the carrier vehicle of drying equipment onto the fuel transport vehicles; 4) convectively drying the biomass fuel in the charging carriages; 5) exhausting air in the movable drying room following convective drying; and 6) moving the movable drying room to cover and seal the charging carriages of a next fuel transport vehicle following radiant drying. A mobile device for drying biomass fuel is also provided.

A combination of components is provided for use in making asphalt concrete from a plurality of aggregate material streams. The combination includes an indirect dryer for heating aggregate material from a first material stream without directly exposing said first stream material to hot gases of combustion. The combination also includes a mixer for mixing aggregate material from the first material stream, aggregate material that has not been heated in the indirect dryer from a second material stream, and a binder component to produce asphalt concrete.

A combination of components is provided for use in making asphalt concrete from a plurality of aggregate material streams. The combination includes an indirect dryer for heating aggregate material from a first material stream without directly exposing said first stream material to hot gases of combustion. The combination also includes a mixer for mixing aggregate material from the first material stream, aggregate material that has not been heated in the indirect dryer from a second material stream, and a binder component to produce asphalt concrete.

A method includes placing a ring-shaped bearing on a cylindrically-shaped sidewall in a chamber, the ring-shaped bearing comprising an inner race, an outer race, balls between the inner race and the outer race, and a grease among the balls; rotating the outer race of the ring-shaped bearing while the inner race of the ring-shaped bearing remains stationary relative to the cylindrically-shaped sidewall; heating the ring-shaped bearing; pumping the grease out of the chamber.

A method includes placing a ring-shaped bearing on a cylindrically-shaped sidewall in a chamber, the ring-shaped bearing comprising an inner race, an outer race, balls between the inner race and the outer race, and a grease among the balls; rotating the outer race of the ring-shaped bearing while the inner race of the ring-shaped bearing remains stationary relative to the cylindrically-shaped sidewall; heating the ring-shaped bearing; pumping the grease out of the chamber.