A rotary dryer for resin dehydration, comprising: a cylindrical body which rotates about an axis perpendicular to a diameter of the cylindrical body; an air filter located outside the cylindrical body; coils located outside the cylindrical body, wherein the coils are oriented vertically and oriented parallel to the diameter of the cylindrical body, wherein the coils do not comprise horizontal surfaces; and lifters located within the cylindrical body.

A freeze drying system (200) having a nozzle (30) operated at a setpoint pressure to generate fluid product drops (242) for freezing in a freezing chamber (244) of a freezing vessel (228). The freezing chamber includes an inner wall (250) that defines a cavity (254) and an outer wall (252) having an inlet (260) that extends from a location on the outer wall that is lower than an outlet (262). A cooling fluid flows through the inlet, cavity and outlet to form a freezing zone (280). A drying chamber (304) having sloped shelves (352) receives frozen particles (282) from the freezing chamber. A heating element (418) is associated with each shelf that heats the frozen particles to promote sublimation. Vibration elements (396, 398, 400, 402) located outside the drying chamber vibrate the shelves causing the frozen particles to move from shelf to shelf to form freeze dried product (284).

A freeze drying vessel (302) having a freeze drying chamber (304) that includes sloped horizontal shelves (352) that receive frozen particles (282). Each shelf is sloped relative to a horizontal axis (390) and arranged such that a downward slope between successive shelves alternates between first (392) and second (394) directions. At least one connecting member (374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 386, 388) is attached between pairs of shelves. At least one connecting member is attached to an associated vibration element (396, 398, 400, 402) located outside the drying chamber. Each vibration element vibrates a pair of shelves to cause the frozen particles to advance relative to an associated shelf and drop downward from shelf to shelf wherein the shelves heat the frozen particles to promote sublimation to form freeze dried product (284).

A freeze drying vessel (302) having a freeze drying chamber (304) that includes sloped horizontal shelves (352) that receive frozen particles (282). Each shelf is sloped relative to a horizontal axis (390) and arranged such that a downward slope between successive shelves alternates between first (392) and second (394) directions. At least one connecting member (374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 386, 388) is attached between pairs of shelves. At least one connecting member is attached to an associated vibration element (396, 398, 400, 402) located outside the drying chamber. Each vibration element vibrates a pair of shelves to cause the frozen particles to advance relative to an associated shelf and drop downward from shelf to shelf wherein the shelves heat the frozen particles to promote sublimation to form freeze dried product (284).

A method and apparatus for the continuous sublimation of a substance includes cascading a material containing a substance capable of sublimation, such as water, between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within a processing zone provided within a processing chamber. A substantially atmospheric environment is maintained within the processing zone at a temperature whereby the substance sublimes forming a sublimate within the environment. The environment containing the sublimate is contacted with a drying agent such as a desiccant to maintain the environment whereby the substance sublimes at substantially atmospheric pressure and at the controlled temperature.

A method and apparatus for the continuous sublimation of a substance includes cascading a material containing a substance capable of sublimation, such as water, between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within a processing zone provided within a processing chamber. A substantially atmospheric environment is maintained within the processing zone at a temperature whereby the substance sublimes forming a sublimate within the environment. The environment containing the sublimate is contacted with a drying agent such as a desiccant to maintain the environment whereby the substance sublimes at substantially atmospheric pressure and at the controlled temperature.

A method and apparatus for the continuous sublimation of a substance includes cascading a material containing a substance capable of sublimation, such as water, between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within a processing zone provided within a processing chamber. A substantially atmospheric environment is maintained within the processing zone at a temperature whereby the substance sublimes forming a sublimate within the environment. The environment containing the sublimate is contacted with a drying agent such as a desiccant to maintain the environment whereby the substance sublimes at substantially atmospheric pressure and at the controlled temperature.

A method and apparatus for the continuous sublimation of a substance includes cascading a material containing a substance capable of sublimation, such as water, between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within a processing zone provided within a processing chamber. A substantially atmospheric environment is maintained within the processing zone at a temperature whereby the substance sublimes forming a sublimate within the environment. The environment containing the sublimate is contacted with a drying agent such as a desiccant to maintain the environment whereby the substance sublimes at substantially atmospheric pressure and at the controlled temperature.

A method and apparatus for the continuous sublimation of a substance includes cascading a material containing a substance capable of sublimation, such as water, between a plurality of trays vertically stacked within a processing zone provided within a processing chamber. A substantially atmospheric environment is maintained within the processing zone at a temperature whereby the substance sublimes forming a sublimate within the environment. The environment containing the sublimate is contacted with a drying agent such as a desiccant to maintain the environment whereby the substance sublimes at substantially atmospheric pressure and at the controlled temperature.

The present invention relates to a method for moisture determination and control using real time measurement of the moisture content of the material being processed. The present invention also provides a device that is used for moisture determination and control based on real time measurement of moisture content of a material being processed. The present invention is particularly suitable for controlling the moisture content of a material in a drying process, such as in a drying hopper, where the material moisture content is measured at an inlet and an outlet of the drying process. The drying process is further controlled by anticipating the drying load by measuring the moisture content of the incoming material to be dried.