A method and plant for cooling a mixture of concrete, includes: loading in a hermetically sealed tank a given quantity of ingredients to form the concrete, the ingredients including a predetermined quantity of water; regulating the pressure in the tank to obtain a transitory degree of vacuum in the tank; regulating the pressure inside a hermetically sealed condensation chamber to obtain a basic degree of vacuum in the condensation chamber that is greater than the transitory degree of vacuum, such that the pressure in the condensation chamber is lower than the pressure in the tank; operatively connecting the tank and the condensation chamber to substantially equalize the internal pressure in the tank and in the condensation chamber to a resulting degree of vacuum and to cause at least partial evaporation of the water from the tank towards the condensation chamber to lower the temperature of the ingredients in the tank.

The invention provides compositions and methods directed to carbonation of a cement mix during mixing. The carbonation may be in a stationary mixer or a transportable mixer, such as a drum of a ready-mix truck.

A device for manufacturing hot-mix coated materials includes an oven (1) having an enclosure (2) provided towards its two opposite ends with a main inlet (3) designed to receive granular materials and with a main outlet; and a heater (10) defining a combustion section (5) inside the enclosure (2). The enclosure (2) starting with the combustion section (5) and continuing with a drying section (6), and then with a mixing section (7). The device is further provided with a bypass outlet (11) and with an external mixer (12) that is connected to the bypass outlet (11), which outlet is fitted with a blocking system (15) allowing granular materials to pass towards the inlet (13) of the external mixer (12) and a closed position allowing granular materials to pass towards the mixing section (7).

A system and associated methods for processing unhardened concrete are disclosed. It at least one embodiment, the system for processing unhardened concrete includes a means to estimate a quantity of returned concrete; a foam adder to add foam to the quantity of returned concrete; a mixer to mix the added foam and returned concrete together to create treated concrete; a discharger to discharge the treated concrete; a discharge area configured in which to allow the treated concrete to set and harden; a converter to convert the hardened treated concrete into a particulate or aggregate form; and a user to determine the specific utilization of the particulate or aggregate form loose material.

A stirrer (1; 100) for stabilizing liquid binding unfinished products intended to form ceramic items comprising a support shaft (2) individuating a longitudinal rotation axis (Y) and contained into a mixing tank (V) of the liquid binding unfinished product, motorization means (3) operatively connected with the support shaft (2) in order to rotate it around the longitudinal axis (Y), and a main operating blade (4), coupled with the support shaft (2) through interconnection means (5) in such a way as to be contained into the mixing tank (V) in order to interfere with the liquid binding unfinished product and cause its continuous mechanical mixing action inside the mixing tank (V) itself when the support shaft (2) rotates around the longitudinal axis (Y). In this case, the stirrer (1) includes a thermoregulation circuit (6), which extends within the support shaft (2) and within the main operating blade (4) and is connected with an external source for supplying a heat transfer fluid crossing the thermoregulation circuit (6) in such a way as to exchange heat with the liquid binding unfinished product within the mixing tank (V), in order to bring the it to a predefined temperature, while the support shaft (2) and the main operating blade (4) integral with it rotate around the longitudinal axis (Y).

A stirrer (1; 100) for stabilizing liquid binding unfinished products intended to form ceramic items comprising a support shaft (2) individuating a longitudinal rotation axis (Y) and contained into a mixing tank (V) of the liquid binding unfinished product, motorization means (3) operatively connected with the support shaft (2) in order to rotate it around the longitudinal axis (Y), and a main operating blade (4), coupled with the support shaft (2) through interconnection means (5) in such a way as to be contained into the mixing tank (V) in order to interfere with the liquid binding unfinished product and cause its continuous mechanical mixing action inside the mixing tank (V) itself when the support shaft (2) rotates around the longitudinal axis (Y). In this case, the stirrer (1) includes a thermoregulation circuit (6), which extends within the support shaft (2) and within the main operating blade (4) and is connected with an external source for supplying a heat transfer fluid crossing the thermoregulation circuit (6) in such a way as to exchange heat with the liquid binding unfinished product within the mixing tank (V), in order to bring the it to a predefined temperature, while the support shaft (2) and the main operating blade (4) integral with it rotate around the longitudinal axis (Y).

Compositions and methods are provided for a system in which liquid carbon dioxide, or a mixture of liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide, is converted to solid carbon dioxide by exiting an orifice at a sufficient pressure drop, e.g., for delivery of carbon dioxide to a concrete mixture in a mixer.

Compositions and methods are provided for a system in which liquid carbon dioxide, or a mixture of liquid and gaseous carbon dioxide, is converted to solid carbon dioxide by exiting an orifice at a sufficient pressure drop, e.g., for delivery of carbon dioxide to a concrete mixture in a mixer.

Aspects involve an aggregate plow system that may be used in a system for cooling aggregate, such as may be found in a batch plant involved in producing concrete. The plow system generally contacts aggregate as it is conveyed by a conveyor belt to create a furrow within the aggregate prior to dispensing of liquid nitrogen or other coolant onto the aggregate. Additionally, the plow assembly may mix the ingredients of the aggregate on the belt by disputing the aggregate piled on the conveyor belt. The formation of the furrow, in place of a mound of aggregate on the belt, aids in retaining liquid nitrogen in the furrow such that it may better penetrate into the aggregate and thereby improving cooling. In either and both ways, the plow assembly improves dispersion of the coolant on and into the aggregate as it is conveyed by the conveyor belt.

Method and installation (100) for providing a batch of fresh concrete having a temperature in a predetermined temperature range at a remote point of use, whereby a control unit (140) controls at least one step of cooling of cement and/or aggregate and/or mixing water before mixing and/or of the fresh concrete, during the production of the batch.