A process for producing instant noodles starting from noodles divided in portions or blocks, includes the steps of: transporting the portions of noodles by means of a conveyor along a transport direction (D), the conveyor including a plurality of cup-shaped receptacles for receiving the portions of noodles, each cup-shaped receptacle having a holed bottom; subjecting the portions of noodles arranged in the cup-shaped receptacles to an upper air flow having a temperature that is comprised between 100 C. and 300 C., the upper air flow being directed from a first zone above the conveyor to a second zone under the conveyor; and subjecting the portions of noodles arranged in the cup-shaped receptacles to a lower air flow having a temperature that is comprised between 100 C. and 300 C., the lower air flow being directed from the second zone to the first zone.

A material drying apparatus is disclosed, including a fluidizing bed plate attached to an interior surface of a fluid bed dryer. A side entry for fluidizing air delivery is provided to the fluid bed dryer to enable multiple fluid bed dryer modules to be connected in series, making possible drying of materials which require a high length-to-width ratio and for extended drying time. A fan directs heated fluidizing air through a perforated bottom of the fluidizing bed plate. Turning vanes are positioned within the fluid bed dryer to reduce turbulence of the heated fluidizing air. An expanded upper plenum reduces upflow velocity within the fluid bed dryer. An access door enables efficient cleaning and maintenance access to an interior of the fluid bed dryer.

The invention provides an arrangement for reducing static charge in a fluid bed dryer. The arrangement includes a hollow cylinder having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface has a plurality of slotted projections formed radially at equal intervals along the axis of the hollow cylinder. The outer surface has an ionizing apparatus mounted on each of the slotted projections through a retention means. The arrangement further includes a pair of coupling means at both ends of the hollow cylinder for coupling the arrangement to the hot air supply duct of the fluid bed dryer. On applying a voltage, the ionizing apparatus, generate positive and negative ions into the hollow cylinder. The generated positive and negative ions are carried by the hot air to the sample drying unit of the fluid bed dryer for neutralizing the static charge generated during the drying of the sample.

A method and a fluidization apparatus unit for treating a large number of batches of a material having a moisture content and having a material temperature. The fluidization apparatus unit includes a fluidization apparatus. The fluidization apparatus has a fluidization chamber which has a material inlet and a material outlet, and also includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for a drying gas which fluidizes the material in the fluidization chamber and which has a drying gas moisture content.

A method and a fluidization apparatus unit for treating a large number of batches of a material having a moisture content and having a material temperature. The fluidization apparatus unit includes a fluidization apparatus. The fluidization apparatus has a fluidization chamber which has a material inlet and a material outlet, and also includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for a drying gas which fluidizes the material in the fluidization chamber and which has a drying gas moisture content.