The invention discloses improvements and additional uses of thermo-mechanical processes using a rotary kiln for the separation of parts from a device that are held together by various means such as solder, epoxies, glues, and/or any other thermally degradable adhesives or underfills, and which is suitable for material size reduction via thermal decomposition of encapsulant materials such as integrated circuit casings or thermally degradable materials such as carbon-based hydro processing catalysts. The invention includes further sorting the materials according to predetermined size either in-situ or in series using a meshed vibrating table downstream of the rotary kiln. These devices can include, but not limited to, printed circuit boards, catalysts, solar panels, and the like.

The invention discloses improvements and additional uses of thermo-mechanical processes using a rotary kiln for the separation of parts from a device that are held together by various means such as solder, epoxies, glues, and/or any other thermally degradable adhesives or underfills, and which is suitable for material size reduction via thermal decomposition of encapsulant materials such as integrated circuit casings or thermally degradable materials such as carbon-based hydro processing catalysts. The invention includes further sorting the materials according to predetermined size either in-situ or in series using a meshed vibrating table downstream of the rotary kiln. These devices can include, but not limited to, printed circuit boards, catalysts, solar panels, and the like.

A cooling system for a ball mill used for production of a lead oxide is disclosed. The system has an internal nozzle configured to introduce water into an interior of a rotating ball mill drum, and a water conduit on an exterior of the rotating drum and configured for external water delivery so as to deliver water on the drum exterior. A control system may also be provided for control of the cooling system. A method is also disclosed.

A cooling system for a ball mill used for production of a lead oxide is disclosed. The system has an internal nozzle configured to introduce water into an interior of a rotating ball mill drum, and a water conduit on an exterior of the rotating drum and configured for external water delivery so as to deliver water on the drum exterior. A control system may also be provided for control of the cooling system. A method is also disclosed.

A lifting wall arrangement at an end wall of a drum mill, having a plurality of segments which are removably installable on the end wall. Each segment includes an inner wall and an opposing outer wall. At least one lifting blade is arranged on said outer wall, such that the outer wall, the lifting blade and the inner wall define a discharge channel leading to a discharge cone. The inner wall forms a part of a sieving wall in the drum mill. Each segment constitutes an integrated unit adapted to be installed on the end wall. The disclosure also relates to a segment of a lifting wall arrangement and a drum mill comprising a lifting wall arrangement.

A lifting wall arrangement at an end wall of a drum mill, having a plurality of segments which are removably installable on the end wall. Each segment includes an inner wall and an opposing outer wall. At least one lifting blade is arranged on said outer wall, such that the outer wall, the lifting blade and the inner wall define a discharge channel leading to a discharge cone. The inner wall forms a part of a sieving wall in the drum mill. Each segment constitutes an integrated unit adapted to be installed on the end wall. The disclosure also relates to a segment of a lifting wall arrangement and a drum mill comprising a lifting wall arrangement.

Apparatus and method for detecting seal failure of a sealed region within a conveyor component. A fluid line extends out of the sealed region, and a sensor is connected to the fluid line. A valve is connected subsequent to the sensor, and a fluid pump is connected subsequent to the valve. A controller is connected to the sensor, the valve, and the fluid pump. The sensor is external to the sealed region, and the valve is a solenoid valve. The sealed region is within an idler pulley that has a drum shell with an end lid affixed at an axial end thereof, and a shaft. The sealed region can be contained within a motorized drum, an idler pulley, or a hollow conveyor frame structure. A method detects seal failure by forming a sealed region bounded by a surface and a seal and by altering a fluid pressure, the time rate of change of which is monitored.

Apparatus and method for detecting seal failure of a sealed region within a conveyor component. A fluid line extends out of the sealed region, and a sensor is connected to the fluid line. A valve is connected subsequent to the sensor, and a fluid pump is connected subsequent to the valve. A controller is connected to the sensor, the valve, and the fluid pump. The sensor is external to the sealed region, and the valve is a solenoid valve. The sealed region is within an idler pulley that has a drum shell with an end lid affixed at an axial end thereof, and a shaft. The sealed region can be contained within a motorized drum, an idler pulley, or a hollow conveyor frame structure. A method detects seal failure by forming a sealed region bounded by a surface and a seal and by altering a fluid pressure, the time rate of change of which is monitored.

A flue gas desulfurization unit is converted from operating with lime or magnesium enhanced lime under inhibited oxidation into a unit that operates using limestone under inhibited oxidation conditions. A ball mill grinding unit may be installed to crush the limestone thereby producing a suspended slurry of fine limestone particles which is pumped to the reaction vessel. When installed, the ball mill may be installed in the process immediately downstream of the existing slaking equipment. The suspended solution may be maintained at a pH in the range of 3.0 to 6.5, optimally at approximately 5.0 to increase the dissolution rate of the limestone reagent produced by the ball mill. The post-conversion process may also require the addition of organic acids and oxidation inhibitors to achieve better SO.sub.2 removal from the flue gas.

Provided is a simple, fast, scalable, and environmentally benign method of producing a graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite directly from a graphitic material, the method comprising: (a) mixing multiple particles of a graphitic material and multiple particles of a solid polymer carrier material to form a mixture in an impacting chamber of an energy impacting apparatus; (b) operating the energy impacting apparatus with a frequency and an intensity for a length of time sufficient for peeling off graphene sheets from the graphitic material and transferring the graphene sheets to surfaces of solid polymer carrier material particles to produce graphene-coated or graphene-embedded polymer particles inside the impacting chamber; and (c) forming graphene-coated or graphene-embedded polymer particles into the graphene-reinforced polymer matrix composite. Also provided is a mass of the graphene-coated or graphene-embedded polymer particles produced by this method.