Disclosed is a method for thermally drying pasty products, in particular wastewater sludge, and a belt dryer implementing such a method. The principle consists of partitioning the drying operations and using, for each of the successive operations, a different quality of air: (i) hot air for searing the sludge, (ii) low temperature air, then (iii) cold air for quenching the sludge before the extraction of same. Also proposed are loops of air supply circuits making it possible to optimize the energy consumption of the dryer by reusing energy produced within these circuits. Moreover, the loops make it possible to recover unavoidable low temperature energy or cheap energy, further optimising the consumption of the dryer.

Systems and methods for processing earthen slurries such as slurries of earth cuttings and, in particular, systems and methods that involve two separation units for dewatering the slurry or that involve additive mixing units are disclosed. The systems and methods may include a conveyor such as a drag-slat conveyor that removes slurry from a holding tank at which the material is dumped and toward the separation units to allow the material to be continuously processed and dumped into the holding tank.

A vibration unit assembly for a belt conveyor has a vibration element, and vibration generator and a connection assembly. The vibration generator is operatively connected to the vibration element for inducing vibrations in the vibration element. The connection assembly connects the vibration element to the belt conveyor so that the vibration element may move relative to the belt conveyor. A contact surface of the vibration element engages a material to vibrate and compress the material as it is transported on the belt conveyor. The vibration element may include a plate or a roller. A method for treating a material involves applying a vibration force and applying a compressive force to compact the material. A method for drying a material involves applying a vibration force to the material to release fluid and applying a compressive force to compact the material.

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.

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.

The present invention provides an apparatus 100 for drying a substance 190, the apparatus 100 comprising at least one roller 121 rotatable about a central axis; a first belt 112 having a first side 112 and a second side 112, the first side 112 of the first belt 112 adapted to receive the substance 190; and a plurality of heat induction elements 123 arranged to induce heat in the first belt 112 to heat the substance 190, where in operation, the first belt 112 urges via its first side 112, the substance 190 towards a portion of an exterior circumferential surface of the roller 121, and the substance 190 is heated to remove fluids from the substance 190.

An elastomer drying method and a drying apparatus capable of preventing elastomer powder from being attached to an inner surface of a wall of a drying chamber. An elastomer drying method dries elastomer while an inner surface of a wall is wet by spraying water from a spray nozzle to the inner surface of the wall facing an orienter in a drying chamber. Further, an elastomer drying apparatus includes a drying chamber into which in-process elastomer is input and which dries the elastomer therein and water spray means for spraying water from a spray nozzle to the wall facing the orienter in the drying chamber so as to wet the wall.

An apparatus and process for removing moisture from sludge. The apparatus comprises a housing having an inlet and outlet for respective receipt and discharge of the sludge. A conveyor is located in the housing and is configured to transport the sludge from the inlet to the outlet. The apparatus further comprises a heater to heat the sludge to remove moisture therefrom whilst the sludge is being transported by the conveyor. The apparatus also comprises a vacuum pump arranged to extract air from the apparatus and, at the same time, to cause moisture removed from the sludge to flow therefrom together with the extracted air.

Methods and apparatus for drying harvested products using a mobile drying system are disclosed. According to some embodiments, a refractance window dryer is implemented on a mobile platform that includes two mobile units (e.g., trailers or transportable skid mounted assemblies) that may be transported to a remote location (e.g., at a harvest location). A first mobile unit may include a refractance window dryer module, and a second mobile unit may include utility equipment that supports operation of the refractance window dryer module.

The invention relates to a method and a device for obtaining dewatered biomass from algae and/or microorganisms. The concentrated biomass available as a result of the harvesting process is spread over an endless conveyor belt (1) and exposed to heated air on the conveyor belt (1). The air is heated by the sun and/or an air heater (5) in a closed system, the conveyor belt (1) being enclosed by a light-permeable casing (2). The drying process is carried out until a residual moisture is achieved, the dewatered biomass adhering to the conveyor belt (1) at the end of the drying process. Said biomass is separated from the conveyor belt (1) by means of a doctor- or scraper edge (9) and is gathered in a collection container (8).