The disclosure relates to ultrahigh efficiency spray drying systems and processes, utilizing induction of localized turbulence in a drying fluid flow stream to produce spray dried product, having particular utility for low temperature spray drying operations. In a specific implementation, a method of processing a spray dryable liquid composition to form a spray dried product includes the steps of: generating a spray of the spray dryable liquid composition; contacting the spray of spray dryable liquid composition in a spray drying contact zone with a stream of primary drying fluid; injecting pressurized secondary drying fluid into the stream of primary drying fluid in the spray drying contact zone at multiple loci thereof to provide localized turbulence at said multiple loci; and recovering the spray dried product from the spray drying contact zone. Systems of the present disclosure are effective in achieving high-rate production of dry powder spray dried products, with substantially reduced capital equipment costs, energy requirements, and operating expenditures.

An electrostatic spray drying system comprising an electrostatic spray nozzle for directing electrically charged liquid into a drying chamber, a drying gas inlet from which drying gas is simultaneously directed, and a conical powder direction plenum for receiving drying gas and entrained dried powder for direction to a filter containing powder separation plenum via a connecting conduit. The powder direction plenum and connecting conduit each have a surrounding water jacket heat exchanger through which cooling water is directed for cooling the drying gas and powder below damaging temperatures prior to entry into the powder separation plenum. The powder separation plenum has a return line for redirecting separated drying gas to the drying chamber through a condenser, blower, and heater for reuse in the system, with condensed water being selectively redirected to the inlet of the powder direction plenum heat exchanger and/or to the cooling water supply.

The disclosure relates to ultrahigh efficiency spray drying systems and processes, utilizing induction of localized turbulence in a drying fluid flow stream to produce spray dried product, having particular utility for low temperature spray drying operations. In a specific implementation, a method of processing a spray dryable liquid composition to form a spray dried product includes the steps of: generating a spray of the spray dryable liquid composition; contacting the spray of spray dryable liquid composition in a spray drying contact zone with a stream of primary drying fluid; injecting pressurized secondary drying fluid into the stream of primary drying fluid in the spray drying contact zone at multiple loci thereof to provide localized turbulence at said multiple loci; and recovering the spray dried product from the spray drying contact zone. Systems of the present disclosure are effective in achieving high-rate production of dry powder spray dried products, with substantially reduced capital equipment costs, energy requirements, and operating expenditures.

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.

The present invention includes a spray drying disposable device for use in a spray drying system. The disposable has a spray drying head and a plasma drying chamber. The head has a spray dry nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the plasma source and the pressurized aerosol gas source. The pressurized gas flows in a vortex pattern that atomizes plasma droplets in the chamber. The head also includes a plenum has uniform air pressure of the drying gas. A baffle plate forms the floor of the plenum having drying gas jets that supply drying gas to the chamber. The atomized plasma droplets evaporate in the presence of the drying gas emitted from the jets to obtain dried plasma particles and humid air. A capture filter captures the dried plasma particles and allows the humid air to pass. The humid air passes through the gas outlet and the exhaust port.

A process and plant for drying of wood shavings, wood chips or other solid materials of organic and/or mineral origin in small pieces, in whichthe material is predried by means of a first preheated drying gas in a first drying step,the dried material from the first drying step is dried by means of a second preheated drying gas in a second drying step,ambient air is heated and supplied as second preheated drying gas to the second drying step,the dried material from the second drying step is cooled by means of a cooling gas, andthe cooling gas heated by cooling of the material and/or the second drying gas cooled in the second drying step is supplied as first drying gas to the first drying step.

A fluid type, gel/wax/paraffin type, or mechanical type harmonic balancer for built-in or retrofit use with an atomizer of a SDA flue gas desulfurization system for reduced atomizer vibration within or outside of the atomizer's harmonic range is provided herein. Also provided, is a method of using the built-in or retrofit harmonic balancer with an atomizer of a SDA flue gas desulfurization system to decrease atomizer vibration within or outside the atomizer's harmonic range, to increase atomizer on-line service hours, decrease atomizer maintenance requirements, and to decrease atomizer associated costs.

A fluid type, gel/wax/paraffin type, or mechanical type harmonic balancer for built-in or retrofit use with an atomizer of a SDA flue gas desulfurization system for reduced atomizer vibration within or outside of the atomizer's harmonic range is provided herein. Also provided, is a method of using the built-in or retrofit harmonic balancer with an atomizer of a SDA flue gas desulfurization system to decrease atomizer vibration within or outside the atomizer's harmonic range, to increase atomizer on-line service hours, decrease atomizer maintenance requirements, and to decrease atomizer associated costs.

A combustible pellet drying system includes a valveless pulse combustor and a drying column. The drying column includes a first drying region and optionally a second drying region. The first drying region receives heated drying gas from the pulse combustor to dry a quantity of moist pellets flowing downwardly through the drying column. Moisture-laden exhaust gas from the first drying region is processed by a condenser to remove water and recover thermal energy therefrom, and to produce a cooled dried exhaust gas which may be reheated by passing through a jacket around the pulse combustor. The reheated dry gas is introduced into the second drying region to further dry the pellets. The second drying region is preferably a downwardly expanding cone configuration. The drying column includes a plurality of temperature sensors. Adjacent temperature sensors may be used to determine a level of pellets within the drying column. The combustible pellets are preferably coal pellets.