Methods and apparatus for processing phyllosilicate minerals are provided. In some embodiments, the phyllosilicate mineral is clay. In some embodiments, the phyllosilicate mineral is bentonite clay.

An automatic drying method for a grain dryer has a preparing step, a parameter-setting step, and a multi-stage drying step. The preparing step includes preparing an automatic drying device. The automatic drying device has a body, at least two drying sections, and a detecting module. Each drying section has a hot air inlet, a net-layer base, and at least one exhaust pipe. The detecting module is connected to the body and has at least two moisture meters, at least two temperature sensors, a rotary unit, and a processing unit. The parameter-setting step comprises setting a temperature value and a moisture content of each drying section. The multi-stage drying step comprises conveying pre-dried grains into each drying section, importing hot air into each drying section to dry the pre-dried grains, and adjusting an operating speed of the rotary unit and the temperature of the hot air.

A grain dryer having a mixed-flow heating section, a tempering transition section, and a vacuum-cooled crossflow cooling section. A fan positioned on the end of the dryer creates a negative pressure in the cooling plenum that pulls air through the grain, warming the air while cooling the grain. This warmed air is pulled through the fan and then passed through a heater to bring it to appropriate drying temperature. This air is then pushed into a heating plenum, where it passes through a mixed-flow grain column, drying the grain, and then exhausted to ambient air.

In order to be able to operate a dust separator with or without a lower closure element (44), the closure element (44) is part of a separate closure unit (40) which is mounted under the dust separator if required. For this purpose, the dust separator, the closure unit (40) and optionally further components, such as a delivery flow generator, are kept available in a kit so as to be able to assemble the treatment unit as required. The dust separator can be operated in batches by means of the closure element (44).

The present invention provides a drying method to dry a to-be-dried object by allowing the to-be-dried object to contact with gas having a different temperature. The method includes comprising: an introduction process of introducing the to-be-dried object; a first heating/cooling process of heating or cooling the to-be-dried object to have a first temperature; a transportation process of transporting the heated or cooled to-be-dried object; a humidity comparison process of comparing the to-be-dried object humidity of the to-be-dried object with the gas humidity of gas used for dehumidification; an atmosphere temperature adjustment process of adjusting, when the to-be-dried object humidity is high, the temperature of the gas used for dehumidification to a second temperature lower than the first temperature and adjusting, when the gas humidity is high, the temperature of the gas used for dehumidification to the second temperature higher than the first temperature; a dehumidification process of allowing the to-be-dried object to contact with the gas of the second temperature to thereby dehumidify the to-be-dried object; and a removal process of removing the to-be-dried object.

A retrofit turner and sensor unit includes, on its upper portion, a grain turner for moving grain from a central portion in the grain pathway to a defined outer space for measurement. On its lower portion, the retrofit unit includes a moisture sensor and a temperature sensor provided in a plate configuration in line with the outer wall of the grain dryer for sensing moisture and temperature of grain in the defined space. In the preferred configuration, the plate sensor includes redundancies, and is mounted on a hinged door. The retrofit unit is easily installed into an existing grain dryer with columns and continuous flow capabilities, and electrically connected with a controller/processor and a motor for metering rolls which determine grain speed through the dryer.

A vacuum drying apparatus has a rigid bin structure within a flexible membrane liner arranged to store particulate material therein. An exhaust passage and air inlet passage communicate through the envelope in sealed relationship with the envelope. The air inlet passage is adjustably flow restricted relative to the exhaust passage so as to enable a flow through material in the liner when applying vacuum pressure to the exhaust passage, for example using a centrifugal fan. The air inlet passage communicating with an upper manifold within the upper portion of the bin structure and the exhaust passage communicating with a lower manifold within a lower portion of the bin structure.

A vacuum drying apparatus has a rigid bin structure within a flexible membrane liner arranged to store particulate material therein. An exhaust passage and air inlet passage communicate through the envelope in sealed relationship with the envelope. The air inlet passage is adjustably flow restricted relative to the exhaust passage so as to enable a flow through material in the liner when applying vacuum pressure to the exhaust passage, for example using a centrifugal fan. The air inlet passage communicating with an upper manifold within the upper portion of the bin structure and the exhaust passage communicating with a lower manifold within a lower portion of the bin structure.

Disclosed is a slurry drying plant (1) comprising a slurry extruder (3) including a slurry inlet (2) and conveying means (4) arranged to convey the slurry through the slurry extruder (3) and force the slurry out of a plurality of exit openings (5) of the slurry extruder (3) to form a plurality of slurry strings (7), wherein the slurry strings (7) are forced out into a drying chamber (8) in which the plurality of slurry strings (7) is dried. The slurry drying plant (1) further comprises slurry heating means (6) comprising flow means for passing superheated steam past the slurry strings (7) in the drying chamber (8), and inlet pressure detection means (9) for detecting a slurry inlet pressure at the slurry inlet (2). The slurry drying plant (1) also comprises control means (17) arranged to control the conveying speed of the conveying means (4) in response to the slurry inlet pressure. Furthermore, a method for drying slurry and use of a slurry drying plant (1) is disclosed.

Disclosed is a slurry drying plant (1) comprising a slurry extruder (3) including a slurry inlet (2) and conveying means (4) arranged to convey the slurry through the slurry extruder (3) and force the slurry out of a plurality of exit openings (5) of the slurry extruder (3) to form a plurality of slurry strings (7), wherein the slurry strings (7) are forced out into a drying chamber (8) in which the plurality of slurry strings (7) is dried. The slurry drying plant (1) further comprises slurry heating means (6) comprising flow means for passing superheated steam past the slurry strings (7) in the drying chamber (8), and inlet pressure detection means (9) for detecting a slurry inlet pressure at the slurry inlet (2). The slurry drying plant (1) also comprises control means (17) arranged to control the conveying speed of the conveying means (4) in response to the slurry inlet pressure. Furthermore, a method for drying slurry and use of a slurry drying plant (1) is disclosed.