A method and apparatus for pasteurizing and drying cannabis plant materials using a microwave-vacuum chamber. The pasteurizing and drying are carried out with no use of ionizing radiation and with rapid drying. Pasteurization is done at a temperature and for a time period that are sufficient to reduce microorganisms to an acceptably low level, while not significantly reducing the psychoactive compounds in the material. In the process, the pressure inside a vacuum chamber is reduced to a first pressure less than atmospheric. The material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the first pressure at a pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pressure is then reduced to a second pressure lower than the first pressure and the material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the second pressure for a time period at a dehydrating temperature lower than the pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pasteurizing and dehydrating steps can be done in the reverse order.

A method and apparatus for pasteurizing and drying cannabis plant materials using a microwave-vacuum chamber. The pasteurizing and drying are carried out with no use of ionizing radiation and with rapid drying. Pasteurization is done at a temperature and for a time period that are sufficient to reduce microorganisms to an acceptably low level, while not significantly reducing the psychoactive compounds in the material. In the process, the pressure inside a vacuum chamber is reduced to a first pressure less than atmospheric. The material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the first pressure at a pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pressure is then reduced to a second pressure lower than the first pressure and the material is maintained in the vacuum chamber at the second pressure for a time period at a dehydrating temperature lower than the pasteurizing temperature while irradiating the material with microwave radiation. The pasteurizing and dehydrating steps can be done in the reverse order.

Plastic conversion vessels such as pyrolytic reactors convert plastic waste materials such as polymers, or hydrocarboneous material, or both, via in situ chemical reactions comprising cracking, recombination, reforming, recracking, and the like, to usable chemical compounds such as naphtha, diesel fuel, heavy oil, wax, and the like. Inherent within the polymers and/or carbonaceous material are generally solid, inert residues such as various fillers, pigments, flame retardants, silica, aluminum, talc, glass, clay, and so forth. Such solid inert residues (SIR) must be treated to remove residual volatile organic material therefrom in order to meet acceptable environmental standards and/or limits. A heated dryer for treating the SIR comprises heating units to remove excessive volatile organic material therefrom as when moved along a conveyor that transfers said material to a collection area. The collection area comprises one or more pistons that are capable of compacting and discharging said SIR material. Another collection area embodiment comprises a plurality of plungers that transfer the SIR material from said collection area to a plunger collection area, and subsequently to a collection container.

A fluid removal system for removing fluid from a product stream is described herein. The fluid removal system comprises a table, a permeable conveyor to transport the product stream across a top surface of the table and a plenum disposed below the permeable conveyor to draw the fluid from the product stream through the permeable conveyor. At least one vibration inducing mechanism is mounted to the table to provide vibratory motion directly to the table and indirectly to the conveyor. The table is supported by oscillating mounts that provide oscillatory motion to the table.

The present invention relates to the use of a mechanical apparatus to convey a workpiece through a fluidized bed dryer. In particular, the invention relates to a single or multiple stage vibrating fluidized drag conveyor having spaced apart conveyor paddles attached to a continuous chain or a similar device, and driven by a variable frequency motor drive. The invention is of particular applicability in the case of low-density workpieces where chaotic motion of air may disrupt or reverse the orderly flow of workpieces through the dryer.

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.

An installation for carrying out a continuous multi-stage industrial process includes a housing that defines a first space and a second space that is connected to the first through a first connecting channel. Different pressure conditions prevail in these spaces during the course of the process. A process material is passed sequentially through the first space, the first connecting channel and the second space. A transported material is provided in the first connecting channel to form a free-flowing sealing zone with the process material and ensures that different process conditions will be maintained in the two spaces, and in particular that different pressures will be maintained in the two spaces. The invention also relates to a multi-stage continuous industrial process using such an installation.

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 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.