This provides an improved process for making a flexible, porous, dissolvable solid sheet article with improved pore structures.

Provided is a vacuum freeze-drying apparatus 1, having a drying device 3 provided with an inlet portion and an outlet portion and comprising a tubular member 31 formed of a tubular shape, a temperature adjusting means 30a to 30j provided in a plurality of regions 40a to 40j in a direction from the inlet portion to the outlet portion in a peripheral portion of the tubular member for adjusting a temperature of the plurality of regions in an outer surface of the tubular member, a temperature control unit 8 for independently controlling the temperature adjusting means, and a rotating portion 7 for rotating the tubular member, wherein the tubular member has a spiral transfer means 31a for transferring the frozen substance entering from the inlet portion sequentially to locations corresponding to the plurality of regions in the tubular member to continuously sublimate and dry the frozen substance.

The invention discloses drying systems and drying processes, particularly designed to efficiently dry grains. The grain drying system of the invention comprises a machine consisting of a drying rotor characterized by containing thermal panels and having an efficient design that allows air circulation. Alternatively, the grain drying system is consisting of a drying rotor comprising thermal panels and an efficient air circulation system, together with a vacuum rest rotor for the grains. The invention also relates to a grain drying process comprising a stage in a drying rotor consisting of thermal panels and an efficient air circulation system, and optionally a second vacuum rest stage in a vacuum rest rotor, where the first and second stages alternate one, two, three or more times as required. In general, the systems and processes disclosed in the invention involve elements and stages that allow the grain to be dried by controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow, or through multiple stages that comprise controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow, the rest of the grains under vacuum, and a new stage of controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow thus achieving high efficiency in drying times without altering the structure of the grains and without generating polluting emissions, since the system does not require fossil fuels for its operation.

The invention discloses drying systems and drying processes, particularly designed to efficiently dry grains. The grain drying system of the invention comprises a machine consisting of a drying rotor characterized by containing thermal panels and having an efficient design that allows air circulation. Alternatively, the grain drying system is consisting of a drying rotor comprising thermal panels and an efficient air circulation system, together with a vacuum rest rotor for the grains. The invention also relates to a grain drying process comprising a stage in a drying rotor consisting of thermal panels and an efficient air circulation system, and optionally a second vacuum rest stage in a vacuum rest rotor, where the first and second stages alternate one, two, three or more times as required. In general, the systems and processes disclosed in the invention involve elements and stages that allow the grain to be dried by controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow, or through multiple stages that comprise controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow, the rest of the grains under vacuum, and a new stage of controlled heating of the grain by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and efficient air flow thus achieving high efficiency in drying times without altering the structure of the grains and without generating polluting emissions, since the system does not require fossil fuels for its operation.

The present application encompasses methods and apparatus for heating a load such as clothes immersed in a medium such as water during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load and medium within an enclosure by subjecting said load and medium to heated air originated from a conventional energy source; and applying heat to said load and medium within the enclosure via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source.

Hot air drying is an intensive energy consuming process, 5000-8000 kJ per kg of water. More efficient processes produce low drying rates or cannot totally dry the product because they do not integrate the four drying phases, warm up, constant drying, falling drying and aeration and do not handle dripping. To reduce the energy consumption, the exhausted mix of air and vapor is used as working fluid to drive each phase, and the dripping is collected before it goes back to the product. This fluid is compressed inside of a heat-exchanger to heat the product; however, the mix proportion, vapor and air, changes on each phase. For warm up phase, the working fluid is either hot air or condensed water; in constant phase, it is mostly vapor; in falling phase, it changes from vapor to air; and for aeration, it is air. Inlet and outlet valves control these proportions.

An apparatus and a method are provided for continuously drying bulk goods, in particular wood fibers and/or wood chips, in a dryer, wherein the drying vapors are led to a dryer circuit, in which the drying vapors are indirectly heated via a heat-exchanger and are conducted to the dryer again.

The present application encompasses methods and apparatus for heating a load such as clothes immersed in a medium such as water during a heating period. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises heating the load and medium within an enclosure by subjecting said load and medium to heated air originated from a conventional energy source; and applying heat to said load and medium within the enclosure via an AC electrical field, embodied as a capacitor, originated from an RF power source.

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for drying and/or roasting beans for foodstuff, such as cocoa beans, or parts of beans, such as cocoa nibs, comprising a frame, a drum (2) for receiving the beans or parts of beans rotatably mounted in the frame and at least partially closed at one end (3) and open at the other (4), a shell (5) enveloping the drum (2), a door (7) for closing the open end (4) of the drum (2), a heater (19) for heating the drum (2), and a fan and a valve (26) for maintaining an underpressure in the space (20) between the drum (2) and the shell (5). A seal (30) is located in the clearance between the drum (2) and the shell (5).

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for drying and/or roasting beans for foodstuff, such as cocoa beans, or parts of beans, such as cocoa nibs, comprising a frame, a drum (2) for receiving the beans or parts of beans rotatably mounted in the frame and at least partially closed at one end (3) and open at the other (4), a shell (5) enveloping the drum (2), a door (7) for closing the open end (4) of the drum (2), a heater (19) for heating the drum (2), and a fan and a valve (26) for maintaining an underpressure in the space (20) between the drum (2) and the shell (5). A seal (30) is located in the clearance between the drum (2) and the shell (5).