The invention provides a powder-gas heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a powder stream and a gas stream in counter-current flow comprising a powder stream mass flow rate substantially equal to a gas stream mass flow rate in a vertical shaft heat exchanger. A hot gas stream may be adapted for use in heating a cool solids stream, or a cool gas stream may be adapted for use in cooling a hot solids stream.

A method for heating a heat exchange medium in a fluidized bed boiler (100), the method comprising burning first fuel (165) in a first furnace (162) of the fluidized bed boiler (100) to produce first flue gas (163); recovering heat from the first flue gas (163) to a heat exchange medium using a first heat exchanger (310); conveying the heat exchange medium from the first heat exchanger (310) to a second heat exchanger (320), of which at least a part is arranged in contact with a fluidized bed of the fluidized bed boiler (100); burning second fuel (175) in a second furnace (172) of the fluidized bed boiler (100) to produce second flue gas (173); conveying the heat exchange medium from the second heat exchanger (320) to a third heat exchanger (330); and recovering heat from the second flue gas (173) to the heat exchange medium using the third heat exchanger (330). A fluidized bed boiler (100) for performing the method. A loopseal heat exchanger (400) that is, when installed in a loopseal of a circulating fluidized bed boiler, configured to burn second fuel (175) in a second furnace (172) of the loopseal heat exchanger (400) to produce second flue gas (173); convey the heat exchange medium from the second heat exchanger (320) to a third heat exchanger (330); and recover heat from the second flue gas (173) to the heat exchange medium using the third heat exchanger (330).

A method for heating a heat exchange medium in a fluidized bed boiler (100), the method comprising burning first fuel (165) in a first furnace (162) of the fluidized bed boiler (100) to produce first flue gas (163); recovering heat from the first flue gas (163) to a heat exchange medium using a first heat exchanger (310); conveying the heat exchange medium from the first heat exchanger (310) to a second heat exchanger (320), of which at least a part is arranged in contact with a fluidized bed of the fluidized bed boiler (100); burning second fuel (175) in a second furnace (172) of the fluidized bed boiler (100) to produce second flue gas (173); conveying the heat exchange medium from the second heat exchanger (320) to a third heat exchanger (330); and recovering heat from the second flue gas (173) to the heat exchange medium using the third heat exchanger (330). A fluidized bed boiler (100) for performing the method. A loopseal heat exchanger (400) that is, when installed in a loopseal of a circulating fluidized bed boiler, configured to burn second fuel (175) in a second furnace (172) of the loopseal heat exchanger (400) to produce second flue gas (173); convey the heat exchange medium from the second heat exchanger (320) to a third heat exchanger (330); and recover heat from the second flue gas (173) to the heat exchange medium using the third heat exchanger (330).

Rotary heat-exchanger for glass batch and/or cullet, comprising a stationary casing having a gas inlet and outlet, and an interior region between the gas inlet and outlet; a chamber positioned in the casing rotatable with respect to the casing and configured to receive batch material or a mixture with cullet; at least one heat exchange tube in the casing in fluid communication with the gas inlet and outlet; a feeder in communication with the chamber and comprising a feeder housing configured to discharge the batch material or mixture of batch material and cullet into the chamber along an infeed length and in contact with the at least one tube; wherein the infeed length is a length effective to heat the batch or mixture with cullet material up to at least 100 C. in the infeed length. A method of preheating glass batch is also disclosed.

Rotary heat-exchanger for glass batch and/or cullet, comprising a stationary casing having a gas inlet and outlet, and an interior region between the gas inlet and outlet; a chamber positioned in the casing rotatable with respect to the casing and configured to receive batch material or a mixture with cullet; at least one heat exchange tube in the casing in fluid communication with the gas inlet and outlet; a feeder in communication with the chamber and comprising a feeder housing configured to discharge the batch material or mixture of batch material and cullet into the chamber along an infeed length and in contact with the at least one tube; wherein the infeed length is a length effective to heat the batch or mixture with cullet material up to at least 100 C. in the infeed length. A method of preheating glass batch is also disclosed.

Rotary heat-exchanger for glass batch and/or cullet, comprising a stationary casing having a gas inlet and outlet, and an interior region between the gas inlet and outlet; a chamber positioned in the casing rotatable with respect to the casing and configured to receive batch material or a mixture with cullet; at least one heat exchange tube in the casing in fluid communication with the gas inlet and outlet; a feeder in communication with the chamber and comprising a feeder housing configured to discharge the batch material or mixture of batch material and cullet into the chamber along an infeed length and in contact with the at least one tube; wherein the infeed length is a length effective to heat the batch or mixture with cullet material up to at least 100 C. in the infeed length. A method of preheating glass batch is also disclosed.

Rotary heat-exchanger for glass batch and/or cullet, comprising a stationary casing having a gas inlet and outlet, and an interior region between the gas inlet and outlet; a chamber positioned in the casing rotatable with respect to the casing and configured to receive batch material or a mixture with cullet; at least one heat exchange tube in the casing in fluid communication with the gas inlet and outlet; a feeder in communication with the chamber and comprising a feeder housing configured to discharge the batch material or mixture of batch material and cullet into the chamber along an infeed length and in contact with the at least one tube; wherein the infeed length is a length effective to heat the batch or mixture with cullet material up to at least 100 C. in the infeed length. A method of preheating glass batch is also disclosed.