An apparatus and method for dehydrating biological materials, such as vaccines and microorganism cultures, in which the materials are dehydrated in an evacuated container which is in a microwave waveguide that is open to the atmosphere. The apparatus comprises means for freezing the container of biological material, a microwave generator, a waveguide, means for introducing the container into the waveguide, means for applying a vacuum to the container and means for removing the dehydrated material from the waveguide. In the method of the invention, the container of biological material is put in a microwave waveguide open to the atmosphere, a vacuum is applied to the container, the material is frozen and is radiated to dehydrate it. The dehydrated material is then removed from the waveguide.

The present disclosure relates to environmentally-clean thermal drying systems and methods. In accordance with one aspect, a method for thermal drying includes receiving a grease-related waste, burning the grease-related waste in a furnace to generate heat energy, receiving a bio-waste in an indirect dryer at an adjustable feed rate, drying the bio-waste in the indirect dryer using at least some of the heat energy, and metering the bio-waste into the indirect dryer at the adjustable feed rate. The adjustable feed rate is adjusted based on a percentage of solids of the bio-waste before entering the indirect dryer and a temperature within the indirect dryer, where the indirect dryer and the adjustable feed rate are coordinated to achieve a predetermined percentage of solids in a dried bio-waste exiting the indirect dryer.

A movement apparatus for loading/unloading containers (100) into/from a freeze-dryer (50) provided with a freeze drying chamber (51) that has at least one shelf (52) for receiving and supporting containers (100), comprising a push bar (2) to push the containers (100) and a movement arrangement (3) for moving the push bar (2) through the freeze drying chamber (51) along a direction of movement (A); the movement arrangement (3) comprises at least one rigid interlocking chain linear actuator (4) that has a first movement rigid interlocking chain (43) mobile along the direction of movement (A) and provided with a first operating end (14) connected to the push bar (2).

A conveyance system includes a chamber 1, a plate 7A disposed in the chamber 1, the plate 7A being used for disposing an article thereon, an in-chamber bridge 19 disposed in the chamber 1 and capable of coming into contact with the plate 7A, a moving member 3A that moves along the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A to move the article on the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A, and a sterilization device 100 that sterilizes an interior of the chamber 1, in which the chamber 1 is allowed to be tightly sealed, with the moving member 3A disposed on the in-chamber bridge 19.

In order to provide a treatment installation for treating workpieces that is of simple construction and enables optimised workpiece treatment, it is proposed that the treatment installation should include a treatment chamber and a conveying device, by means of which the workpieces are suppliable to the treatment chamber, are removable from the treatment chamber, and/or are conveyable through the treatment chamber in a conveying direction.

Provided is a paddle processor and a method for processing material within the paddle processor. In one example, the paddle processor may include a trough comprising an inlet to receive a feed of material and an outlet for exiting the material after processing, rotational paddles disposed in the trough and configured to rotate about each other to move the material from the inlet to the outlet, an overflow weir disposed in association with the outlet and having a dynamically adjustable height for controlling a rate at which the material exits the trough, and a control system configured to dynamically adjust the height of the overflow weir and/or other dryer parameters based on a temperature of the material within the trough.

In order to provide a treatment installation for treating workpieces that is of simple construction and enables optimised workpiece treatment, it is proposed that the treatment installation should include a treatment chamber and a conveying device, by means of which the workpieces are suppliable to the treatment chamber, are removable from the treatment chamber, and/or are conveyable through the treatment chamber in a conveying direction.

A conveyance system includes a chamber 1, a plate 7A disposed in the chamber 1, the plate 7A being used for disposing an article thereon, an in-chamber bridge 19 disposed in the chamber 1 and capable of coming into contact with the plate 7A, a moving member 3A that moves along the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A to move the article on the in-chamber bridge 19 and the plate 7A, and a sterilization device 100 that sterilizes an interior of the chamber 1, in which the chamber 1 is allowed to be tightly sealed, with the moving member 3A disposed on the in-chamber bridge 19.

A bin and method of use for containment and delivery of particulate materials has: a) a housing; b) a particulate materials support plate within the housing, the support plate having a porous structure allowing air flow therethrough; c) the support plate having a central area elevated away from the bottom of the housing and surrounding sides; d) an air flow area between the bottom of the housing and the support plate; e) a particle drop region surrounding the sides of the support plate; and f) a sealing and/or opening component within the particle drop region that seals and opens a particle drop path between the support plate and the side walls of the housing. The sealing and opening component has an expanded position when sealing the particle drop region and is in a retracted position when opening the particle drop region to particulate material passage.

A modular oast floor panel and an oast drying system is disclosed, particularly for use in drying agricultural crops such as herbs, hops and the like.