There is provided an apparatus for use in drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a means for providing a flow of heated fluid, and a means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid. The means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid is arranged operable with the means for providing a flow of heated fluid so that exposure of the sample to the flow of heated fluid facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while substantially preserving one or more chemical and/or physical properties of the portion.

A facility for industrial drying and/or encapsulation of thermolabile substances comprising at least one injection unit (1) wherein the thermolabile substance is introduced, an encapsulating material when the facility is used to encapsulate, a solvent, additives and an injection gas flow for obtaining droplets from the thermolabile substance. It further comprises a drying unit (2) through which the droplets and a drying gas are introduced for evaporating the solvent and comprises a collection unit (3) configured to separate the microcapsules generated from the drying gas and which is selected from a cartridge filter collector, a cyclone collector or a combination of the two. It also describes a method for the industrial encapsulation of thermolabile substances which is carried out at the proposed facility.

A facility for industrial drying and/or encapsulation of thermolabile substances comprising at least one injection unit (1) wherein the thermolabile substance is introduced, an encapsulating material when the facility is used to encapsulate, a solvent, additives and an injection gas flow for obtaining droplets from the thermolabile substance. It further comprises a drying unit (2) through which the droplets and a drying gas are introduced for evaporating the solvent and comprises a collection unit (3) configured to separate the microcapsules generated from the drying gas and which is selected from a cartridge filter collector, a cyclone collector or a combination of the two. It also describes a method for the industrial encapsulation of thermolabile substances which is carried out at the proposed facility.

A method and a fiber-treatment system dry wet or damp fibers. A fiber mat (13) including wet or damp fibers is formed on a treatment band (31) which is moved in a conveying direction (x). An air flow (36, 36a) composed of heated drying air is generated in the fiber dryer (30). The heated drying air is guided in an upward direction through the treatment band and the fibers contained in the fibre mat (13, 14) are loosened and dried. Linters (16) possibly produced by any moving fibers are captured by a filter band (32) arranged above the treatment band, which is also moved in the conveying direction (x). At the outlet of the fiber dryer, the fibers are detached from a support (17) formed on the filter band, in particular when guiding the detached fibers back towards the dried fibers guided to the treatment band (31, 31c).

A method and a fiber-treatment system dry wet or damp fibers. A fiber mat (13) including wet or damp fibers is formed on a treatment band (31) which is moved in a conveying direction (x). An air flow (36, 36a) composed of heated drying air is generated in the fiber dryer (30). The heated drying air is guided in an upward direction through the treatment band and the fibers contained in the fibre mat (13, 14) are loosened and dried. Linters (16) possibly produced by any moving fibers are captured by a filter band (32) arranged above the treatment band, which is also moved in the conveying direction (x). At the outlet of the fiber dryer, the fibers are detached from a support (17) formed on the filter band, in particular when guiding the detached fibers back towards the dried fibers guided to the treatment band (31, 31c).

A process for drying resinous materials, comprising: delivering, by way of a plurality of resin channels, resin fluid comprising polymer and solvent into at least first and second steam channels (101) having within a flow of steam, the first and second steam channels (101) each receiving resin fluid from a plurality of resin channels, the first and second steam channels each (101) being received by a stage 1 manifold (121), the steam and resin being delivered under conditions so as to separate at least some of the solvent from the resin fluid; and collecting at least some of the polymer from the resin fluid.

There is provided an apparatus for use in drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a means for providing a flow of heated fluid, and a means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid. The means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid is arranged operable with the means for providing a flow of heated fluid so that exposure of the sample to the flow of heated fluid facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while substantially preserving one or more chemical and/or physical properties of the portion.

There is provided an apparatus for use in drying a sample of geological material having a substantial moisture content. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a means for providing a flow of heated fluid, and a means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid. The means for managing the thermal state of the flow of heated fluid is arranged operable with the means for providing a flow of heated fluid so that exposure of the sample to the flow of heated fluid facilitates a reduction of the moisture content of a portion of the sample while substantially preserving one or more chemical and/or physical properties of the portion.

An apparatus for calcination of gypsum includes a gypsum calciner having an interior wall surface with a circular or annular configuration as seen in its plan view, and a tubular combustor positioned at a center part of a body of the calciner. Raw gypsum is calcined or dehydrated by a high temperature gas spouting flow (Hg) ejected from a lower portion of the combustor. The calciner has a stationary-vane-type or movable-vane-type auxiliary device, which circumferentially energizes the raw gypsum in the vicinity of the interior wall surface toward a circumferential direction of the calciner. The auxiliary device has a plurality of stationary vanes circumferentially arranged in an outer peripheral zone of a lower portion of the combustor and spaced apart from each other at an angular interval, or an agitator extending through a conical or inner circumferential surface defined by the interior wall surface.

An apparatus for calcination of gypsum includes a gypsum calciner having an interior wall surface with a circular or annular configuration as seen in its plan view, and a tubular combustor positioned at a center part of a body of the calciner. Raw gypsum is calcined or dehydrated by a high temperature gas spouting flow (Hg) ejected from a lower portion of the combustor. The calciner has a stationary-vane-type or movable-vane-type auxiliary device, which circumferentially energizes the raw gypsum in the vicinity of the interior wall surface toward a circumferential direction of the calciner. The auxiliary device has a plurality of stationary vanes circumferentially arranged in an outer peripheral zone of a lower portion of the combustor and spaced apart from each other at an angular interval, or an agitator extending through a conical or inner circumferential surface defined by the interior wall surface.