Method and apparatus for hydrating calcitic and dolomitic quicklimes

Claim 1

IN THE METHOD OF HYDRATIG DOLOMITIC QUICKLIME CONSTITUTING A MIXTURE OF CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM OXIDES IN WHICH THE MAGNESIUM OXIDE CONTENT OF THE DOLOMITIC QUICKLIME IS MORE DIFFICULT TO HYDRATE THAN THE CALCIUM OXIDE CONTENT OF THE DOLOMITCI QUICKLIME AND IN WHICH THE HYDRATION IS CARRIED OUT IN AN ELONGATED HYDRATIG ZONE HAVING INLET AND DISCHARGE ENDS, THE STEPS COMPRISING MIXING THE DOLOMITIC QUICKLIME TO BE HYDRATED WITH WATER IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT OF WATER REQUIRED FOR THE COMPLETE HYDRATION OF THE DOLOMITIC QUICKLIME, ADVANCING THE RESULTING MIXTURE AND THE HYDRATE AS FORMED THEREFROM THROUGHN SAID ELONGATED HYDRATING ZONE FROM ITS INLET END TO ITS DISCHARGE END, PASSING A HEAT-TRANSFER LIQUID IN HEAT EXCHANGE WITH BUT OUT OF DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE MIXTURE IN THE HYDRATING ZONE IN THE DIRECTION OF ADVANCE OF THE MIXTURE THROUGH THE HYDRATING ZONE, SAID HEAT-TRANSFER LIQUID HAVING A TEMPERATURE ALONG THE INLET END PORTION OF THE HYDRATING ZONE SUCH THAT IT ABSORBS HEAT FROM THE MIXTURE UNDERGOING HYDRATION IN THE INLET END PORTION OF THE HYDRATING ZONE WHERE HYDRATION OF THE CALCIUM OXIDE CONTENT OF THE FOLOMITIC QUICKLIME PRIMARILY TAKES PLACE, SAID HEAT-TRANSFER LIQUID HAVING A TEMPERATURE ALONG THE DISCHARGE END PORTION OF THE HYDRATING ZONE SUCH THAT IT TRANSFER HEAT TO THE MIXTURE IN THE DISCHARGE END PORTION OF THE HYDRATING ZONE WHERE THE HYDRATION OF THE MAGNESIUM OXIDE CONTENT OF THE MIXTURE IS COMPLETED, THEREBY CONTROLLING THE HYDRATION TEMPERATURES IN THE INLET AND DISCHARGE END PORTIONS OF THE ELONGATED HYDRATED ZONE, AND DISCHARGING THE RESULTING DOLOMITIC HYDRATE AT THE DISCHARGE END OF THE HYDRATING ZONE.