Fluid bed air distribution apparatus and drying method

Claim 2

A fluidized bed apparatus for drying of particulate material which comprises: a. a vertically disposed fluidizing chamber adapted to contain a product for drying, said chamber having air inlet and outlet passage means; b. means for passing a current of air through the fluidizing chamber; c. a product supporting means extending across said inlet passage, said means comprising a screen-like element having a plurality of apertures which permit the passage of air through said means but is capable of supporting the product to be dried thereon; d. a disc shaped element rotatably mounted below the product supporting means and substantially coextensive therewith adapted to interrupt a current of air passing through the chamber, said disc being provided with apertures therein, the apertures having an area of from one-sixth to one-half of the open area of said retaining means; and e. a means for rotating said disc to direct currents of air in rotating fashion through the product supporting means and through product in said chamber.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means has an open area of from 10 to 50 percent.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the fluidizing chamber is provided with a porous means disposed across the outlet means to retain product within the chamber.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the chamber is cylindrical.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises a screen element and an apertured supporting element.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apertures in said disc are of such area as to provide a local air velocity of from 1 1/2 to 4 times the apparent linear velocity through the screen-like product supporting means.

Claim 8

A process for drying a particulate under fluidized bed conditions which comprises maintaining a bed of finely divided particulate material in a fluidizing chamber having an air permeable product retaining means having a predetermined open area in the bottom thereof and passing a rotating current through said product retaining means and said product bed to fluidize the product, said rotating current being provided by rotating air passing apertures having a cross sectional area of from one-sixth to one-half the open area of the retaining means.

Claim 9

A process for drying a particulate under fluidized bed conditions which comprises maintaining a bed of finely divided particulate material in a fluidizing chamber having an air permeable product retaining means having a predetermined open area in the bottom thereof and passing a rotating current through said product retaining means and said product bed to fluidize the product, said rotating current being provided by rotating air passing apertures having a cross sectional area of from one-sixth to one-half the open area of the retaining means.

Claim 10

A fluidized bed apparatus for drying of particulate material which comprises: a. a vertically disposed cylindrical fluidizing chamber adapted to contain a product for drying said chamber having air inlet and outlet passage means; b. confined passage means for passing a current of heated drying air through the fluidizing chamber; c. a product supporting means extending across said inlet passage, said means comprising a screen-like element having a plurality of apertures which permit the passage of air through said means but is capable of supporting the product to be dried thereon, said means having an open area of from 10 to 50 percent; d. a disc shaped element rotatably mounted below the product supporting means and substantially coextensive therewith adapted to interrupt a current of air passing through the chamber, said disc being provided with apertures having an area of from one-sixth to one-half of the open area of said retaining means; e. a means for rotating said disc to direct currents of air in rotating fashion through the product supporting means and through product in said chamber; and f. sealing means for sealing the juncture between the fluidizing chamber and the passage means.

Claim 11

A fluidized bed apparatus for drying of particulate material which comprises: a. a vertically disposed cylindrical fluidizing chamber adapted to contain a product for drying said chamber having air inlet and outlet passage means; b. confined passage means for passing a current of heated drying air through the fluidizing chamber; c. a product supporting means extending across said inlet passage, said means comprising a screen-like element having a plurality of apertures which permit the passage of air through said means but is capable of supporting the product to be dried thereon, said means having an open area of from 10 to 50 percent; d. a disc shaped element rotatably mounted below the product supporting means and substantially coextensive therewith adapted to interrupt a current of air passing through the chamber, said disc being provided with apertures having an area of from one-sixth to one-half of the open area of said retaining means; e. a means for rotating said disc to direct currents of air in rotating fashion through the product supporting means and through product in said chamber; and f. sealing means for sealing the juncture between the fluidizing chamber and the passage means.

Claim 12

A process for drying a delicate product under fluid bed drying conditions and without mechanical agitation which comprises passing a rotating cuRrent of air through a body of particulate material at a sufficient air velocity to form fluid bed of said particulate and a rotating wave form therein to provide an agitation to the fluidized bed during the drying step.

Claim 13

A process for drying a delicate product under fluid bed drying conditions and without mechanical agitation which comprises passing a rotating cuRrent of air through a body of particulate material at a sufficient air velocity to form fluid bed of said particulate and a rotating wave form therein to provide an agitation to the fluidized bed during the drying step.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 9 wherein the rotating air stream has an apparent linear velocity of from 200 to 600 feet per minute.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 9 wherein said particulate is cheese.