Apparatus and method for treatment of a particulate material employs a conveyor belt for supporting the particulate material for transport and a source of gas for delivery through the conveyor belt to fluidize the particulate material. A gas distribution system is used for controlling the gas flow to create regions of greater and lesser fluidization. This approach avoids the use of mechanical agitation of the conveyor belt which improves efficiency and reliability. The apparatus and method find particular application in the handling of particulate foodstuffs in bulk when treatment such as freezing, heating, or blanching of individual food particles is required.

Apparatus and method for treatment of a particulate material employs a conveyor belt for supporting the particulate material for transport and a source of gas for delivery through the conveyor belt to fluidize the particulate material. A gas distribution system is used for controlling the gas flow to create regions of greater and lesser fluidization. This approach avoids the use of mechanical agitation of the conveyor belt which improves efficiency and reliability. The apparatus and method find particular application in the handling of particulate foodstuffs in bulk when treatment such as freezing, heating, or blanching of individual food particles is required.

The invention relates to an extrude unit for a dryer (2) for biomass, in particular slurry, wherein the extruder unit (1) has a surface section (4) for the biomass to pass through and a plurality of apertures (3), wherein the extruder unit (1) comprises a base support (5) which is connected by means of a connecting section (6) to a driving element (7) and can be driven by means of the driving element (7) about an axis of rotation (8) and relative to the surface section (4), wherein the base support (5) comprises at least one support arm (9) having at least one scraper blade (10) which during a rotation of the base support (5) follows the shape of the face of the surface section (4) facing the scraper blade (10). According to the invention the base support (5) also comprises at least one breaker element (11) having at least one scraper blade (10) which during a rotation of the base support (5) also follows the shape of the face of the surface section (4) facing the scraper blade (10) and during the rotation of the base support (5) effects a crushing of constituents contained in the biomass which are retained by the surface section (4). The invention further relates to a dryer having at least one corresponding extruder unit.

Method for harvesting and processing water hyacinths, characterized in that the following steps are performed: a) the water hyacinths growing in an aquatic medium are cut; b) the water hyacinths are collected on board a barge at berth (1); c) the collected water hyacinths are transferred onto draining racks (2) near the quayside; d) the drained hyacinths are washed with clean water; e) the washed water hyacinths are drained on vibrating belts (7) in order to remove some of the excess water; f) the water hyacinths are dried on a dryer (8) at a temperature of between 50 and 100° C. for 5 to 17 h; g) the water hyacinths and their seeds are steam-sterilised at a temperature of between 80 and 100° C. in order to sterilise them; h) the sterilised water hyacinths and seeds are ground in order to make profitable use thereof.

An oven has a first conveyor, a first burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from above the first conveyor, and a second burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from below the first conveyor. A method includes providing foodstuff on a conveyor, exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from above the conveyor, and exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from below the conveyor. Another oven has a first conveyor and first conveyor insulators that surround the first conveyor and define a first zone. Another method includes introducing foodstuff to a first conveyor belt within a first insulated zone, introducing heat into the first insulated zone, and retaining a portion of the heat within the first insulated zone. Another oven has an insulated cooking zone that closely envelopes a cooking path and an insulated oven zone that substantially envelopes the cooking zone.

The present invention relates to the technical field of bee product processing, and discloses a continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen and related drying method. The continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen comprises: a box body; a first drying conveying structure; a second drying conveying structure; and a heat pump dehumidification heating structure. The continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen has the advantage of high drying efficiency.

The present invention relates to the technical field of bee product processing, and discloses a continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen and related drying method. The continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen comprises: a box body; a first drying conveying structure; a second drying conveying structure; and a heat pump dehumidification heating structure. The continuous drying apparatus for bee pollen has the advantage of high drying efficiency.

A modular produce drying tunnel system comprising a loading module, at least one drying module, an end module, and a conveyor. The drying module may comprise at least one gullwing style access door which houses an independent heating element and a blower and which opens upwardly to provide broad access to the interior of the tunnel. The system may be customizable for different types and volumes of produce, comprising a plurality of drying modules, each having at least one access door, and each access door having an independent heating element and blower.

An oven has a first conveyor, a first burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from above the first conveyor, and a second burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from below the first conveyor. A method includes providing foodstuff on a conveyor, exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from above the conveyor, and exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from below the conveyor. Another oven has a first conveyor and first conveyor insulators that surround the first conveyor and define a first zone. Another method includes introducing foodstuff to a first conveyor belt within a first insulated zone, introducing heat into the first insulated zone, and retaining a portion of the heat within the first insulated zone. Another oven has an insulated cooking zone that closely envelopes a cooking path and an insulated oven zone that substantially envelopes the cooking zone.

An oven has a first conveyor, a first burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from above the first conveyor, and a second burner that directs heat toward the first conveyor from below the first conveyor. A method includes providing foodstuff on a conveyor, exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from above the conveyor, and exposing the foodstuff to heat directed toward the foodstuff from below the conveyor. Another oven has a first conveyor and first conveyor insulators that surround the first conveyor and define a first zone. Another method includes introducing foodstuff to a first conveyor belt within a first insulated zone, introducing heat into the first insulated zone, and retaining a portion of the heat within the first insulated zone. Another oven has an insulated cooking zone that closely envelopes a cooking path and an insulated oven zone that substantially envelopes the cooking zone.