A method for treating process material using a plurality of autoclaves. The method includes: introducing steam into a hollow interior of a first autoclave; increasing the temperature within the hollow interior of the first autoclave by adding heat to the hollow interior of the first autoclave using an indirect heat source; reducing the temperature and pressure within the hollow interior of the first autoclave by flashing a portion of the steam within the hollow interior of the first autoclave to a second autoclave; increasing the temperature within the hollow interior of the first autoclave by continuing to add heat to the hollow interior of first autoclave using the indirect heat source; and reducing a moisture content of a process material in the hollow interior of the first autoclave to a predetermined value by venting a remaining portion of the steam from the first autoclave into a third autoclave.

A method for treating process material using a plurality of autoclaves. The method includes: introducing steam into a hollow interior of a first autoclave; increasing the temperature within the hollow interior of the first autoclave by adding heat to the hollow interior of the first autoclave using an indirect heat source; reducing the temperature and pressure within the hollow interior of the first autoclave by flashing a portion of the steam within the hollow interior of the first autoclave to a second autoclave; increasing the temperature within the hollow interior of the first autoclave by continuing to add heat to the hollow interior of first autoclave using the indirect heat source; and reducing a moisture content of a process material in the hollow interior of the first autoclave to a predetermined value by venting a remaining portion of the steam from the first autoclave into a third autoclave.

A vertical roller mill comprising a grinding table and a grinding roller having a rotational axis, each having a grinding surface and arranged to define a grinding zone between the grinding surfaces grinds particulate material. A feeder feeds the particulate material to the vertical roller mill, with the grinding roller is-arranged to roll around a grinding path on said grinding table. The feeder receives a supply of the particulate material and directs that material to flow to the grinding zone of the vertical roller mill. The feeder can constrain the flow of material to a defined cross-section by applying a momentum to and/or pushing, or to compact the flow of material prior to directing the material, or combinations thereof. In particular, the disclosure is applicable to grinding particulate materials like mining ores, industrial minerals and chemicals, sand, slag, ash, clay, pigments for coatings, pharmaceuticals and cement raw materials.

A food recycler includes a case, a control system within the case, and a set of user interface components that are usable to at least cause the control system to initiate a food recycling cycle. The food recycler also includes a motor within the case and a bucket that has a volumetric capacity between 2.51 and 10 liters. A filter system configured to accommodate air filters is also included in the case of the food recycler. To remove water from waste food items, the food recycler includes a drying component.

A crushing apparatus includes a tank including a first aperture and a second aperture, a first blower around the first aperture, a grinder disposed within the tank, a separating device including a first hole connected to the second aperture, and a second hole, and a second blower disposed around the second hole.

A system is disclosed. The system includes an impact processor comprising an inlet and an outlet, a secondary classifier comprising an inlet and an outlet, the secondary classifier being downstream of and coupled to the impact processor, a recirculation mixer valve downstream of and coupled to the outlet of the secondary classifier, and a recirculation line coupling the outlet of the first secondary classifier to the inlet of the impact processor.

A method for continuous production of a thermally insulating mixture comprising silica particles and opacifier particles, in which a premixed stream comprising a carrier gas, silica particles and opacifier particles is introduced into a fine impact mill, ground and mixed therein, after which the solid is separated from the gas stream, wherein the fine impact mill is an air-stream mill comprising grinding tracks arranged one above the other on a rotatable shaft.

A method for continuous production of a thermally insulating mixture comprising silica particles and opacifier particles, in which a premixed stream comprising a carrier gas, silica particles and opacifier particles is introduced into a fine impact mill, ground and mixed therein, after which the solid is separated from the gas stream, wherein the fine impact mill is an air-stream mill comprising grinding tracks arranged one above the other on a rotatable shaft.

Apparatus for distributing a solid, gel, powder, granular, liquid or viscous liquid test substance in an extraction fluid comprises: a) a flow cell for holding the test substance comprising an extraction chamber of uniform cross-sectional area, a grinding surface, an extraction fluid inlet and an extract outlet; b) a grinding head disposed within the extraction chamber and adapted to reciprocate therein; and c) a recirculating pump for driving extraction fluid: (i) into the flow cell via the extraction fluid inlet; (ii) through the extraction chamber; and (iii) back to the flow cell via the extract outlet.

A food recycler can include a housing having a housing volume, a motor in electrical communication with a controller, a grinding mechanism in mechanical communication with the motor, a bucket having a bucket volume, the bucket being configured with the grinding mechanism contained therein, and a removable filter having a side wall, a top surface, a bottom surface and a filter material, wherein the side wall, the top surface, the bottom surface and the filter material are all made from a compostable or biodegradable material. A ratio of the bucket volume to the housing volume can be between 0.0717 and 0.2857, inclusive. The motor can be configured within the housing adjacent, at least in part, to the bucket.