Steam atmosphere drying exhaust steam recompression system

Patent · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:869177

Becker, Frederick E ^[1]; Smolensky, Leo A ^[2]; Doyle, Edward F ^[3]; DiBella, Francis A ^[4]

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1. Reading, MA
2. Concord, MA
3. Dedham, MA
4. Roslindale, MA

This invention relates to a heated steam atmosphere drying system comprising dryer in combination with an exhaust recompression system which is extremely energy efficient and eliminates dangers known to air dryers. The system uses superheated steam as the drying medium, which recirculated through the system where its heat of evaporation and heat of compression is recovered, thereby providing a constant source of heat to the drying chamber. The dryer has inlets whereby feedstock and superheated steam are fed therein. High heat transfer and drying rates are achieved by intimate contact of the superheated steam with the particles being dried The dryer comprises a vessel which enables the feedstock and steam to enter recirculate together. When the feedstock becomes dry it will exit the dryer with the steam and become separated from the steam through the use of a curvilinear louver separator (CLS). The CLS enables removal of fine and ultrafine particles from the dryer. Water vapor separated from the particles in the CLS as superheated steam, may then be recovered and recirculated as steam through the use of a compressor to either directly or indirectly heat the dryer, and a heat exchanger or a heater to directly provide heat to the dryer. This system not only provides a very efficient heat transfer system but results in a minimum carry-over of ultrafine particles thereby eliminating any explosive hazard.

• Research Organization: Tecogen, Inc. (Waltham, MA)
• DOE Contract Number: FC07-89ID12826
• Assignee: Tecogen, Inc. (Waltham, MA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5291668
• OSTI ID: 869177
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/34/
achieved
air
atmosphere
atmosphere drying
carry-over
chamber
cls
combination
compression
compressor
comprises
comprising
constant
contact
curvilinear
dangers
directly
dried
dry
dryer
dryers
drying
drying chamber
efficient
efficient heat
eliminates
eliminating
enables
energy
energy efficient
enter
evaporation
exchanger
exhaust
exit
explosive
extremely
fed
feedstock
fine
fine particle
fine particles
hazard
heat
heat exchange
heat exchanger
heat transfer
heated
heated steam
heater
indirectly
inlets
intimate
intimate contact
louver
medium
minimum
particles
provide
provide heat
provides
providing
rates
recirculate
recirculated
recompression
recovered
relates
removal
results
separated
separator
source
steam
steam atmosphere
superheated
superheated steam
therein
transfer
ultrafine
ultrafine particle
ultrafine particles
vapor
vessel
water
water vapor
whereby