A drying apparatus can include a wet end portion, a dry end portion, and a drying chamber. The wet end portion can include a spray apparatus configured to apply a product puree to a belt, and the dry end portion can include a knife portion configured to remove a dry product from the belt. The drying chamber can extend between the wet end portion and the dry end portion and can include one or more table sections. Each table section can include a basin portion and one or more temperature control elements. The drying chamber can further include an air inlet and an air outlet such that air can flow through the drying chamber in a direction opposite a direction of the belt.

A process for producing superabsorbent particles by polymerizing a monomer solution or suspension, comprising drying of the resultant aqueous polymer gel in an air circulation belt dryer, grinding, classifying, and optionally thermal surface postcrosslinking, wherein the aqueous polymer gel is introduced into the air circulation belt dryer by means of an oscillating conveyor belt and that guide devices are located at the edges of the conveyor belt.

A low profile design air tunnel system and method for providing uniform air flow in a refractance window dryer are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a system comprises a conditioned air supply manifold that provides air into a drying chamber. The system has a drying belt directed through the drying chamber. A feed application tray at a first end of the drying belt applies a liquid to the drying belt. The system has an exhaust manifold located at the first end of the drying belt.

A process and apparatus for removing moisture from sludge. The process and apparatus comprise: conveying on a conveyor the sludge on an incline through a housing such that, as the sludge is conveyed, it is deposited onto an exposed portion of the housing; heating the sludge with a heater as it is conveyed on the incline to evaporate moisture in the sludge, whereby the sludge that it is deposited onto the exposed portion of the housing is also heated to thereby evaporate moisture from the sludge; extracting from the housing using a vacuum device an airflow comprising the evaporated moisture, whereby the airflow includes moisture that has been evaporated as a result of the sludge being deposited onto the exposed heated portion of the housing; and discharging from the housing, separately to the extracting of the airflow from the housing, the sludge from which the moisture has been removed.

Aspects of the present application relate to dewatering methods, systems, apparatus, and associated components thereof. In one implementation, a plow for a sludge dewatering system includes a blade. The blade includes a leading edge, and a first wing swept downward in a vertical direction and outward in a first horizontal direction relative to the leading edge. The blade also includes a second wing swept downward in the vertical direction and outward in a second horizontal direction relative to the leading edge. The second horizontal direction is opposite of the first horizontal direction.

A freeze dryer processes a bulk material including a liquid, and produces a product including the freeze dried material borne on a substrate. The material is introduced in a freezing chamber as a droplet stream that impinges on the substrate. The liquid in the material is frozen after it contacts the substrate. The substrate bearing the material is transferred through a vacuum lock into a vacuum drying chamber where the frozen liquid sublimates under vacuum and applied heat.

A system and method for printing and drying flavors and fragrances is provided. The system and method include a source of flavor or fragrance, a print assembly adapted to print the flavor or fragrance, a movable product conveyor that directly receives the printed flavor or fragrance and a drying component. As the movable product conveyor passes through or adjacent to the drying component, the printed flavor or fragrance is dried thereby providing a free-flowing flavor or fragrance product.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to dewatering methods, systems, apparatus, and associated components thereof. In one implementation, a plow for a sludge dewatering system includes a blade. The blade includes a leading edge, and a first wing swept downward in a vertical direction and outward in a first horizontal direction relative to the leading edge. The blade also includes a second wing swept downward in the vertical direction and outward in a second horizontal direction relative to the leading edge. The second horizontal direction is opposite of the first horizontal direction.

A fermentation residue conditioner for conditioning aggregate materials consisting of fermentation residue, sludge, both of which having high water content, and/or organic residual masses with low water content, particularly of fermentation residues from the fermentation of household waste, bio-waste and/or base materials containing food residues, having a fermentation residue dropping point for introducing the aggregate material and a fermentation residue removal point for removing the aggregate material. The fermentation residue conditioner is designed such that the aggregate material is transportable through the fermentation residue conditioner during conditioning. The fermentation residue conditioner has a deposit surface for supporting the aggregate material from the underside, and wherein the aggregate material can be transported through the conditioner by a conveyor chain.

Devices, systems, and methods for drying a bulk waste product, such as animal waste, having a moisture content of 95% or more water can include a trough configured to receive the bulk waste product and to dispense it in a form suitable for convective drying, one or more conveyors having an air-permeable conveyor belt, each conveyor receiving the waste product from the trough and transporting the waste product along a transport path; and one or more air moving devices (AMDs) that pass air through the air-permeable conveyor belt and across the waste product as it is transported along the transport path to transform the bulk waste product into a dried waste product having a moisture content of about 5% to about 20%, inclusive.