Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for dry cooling hot bulk material within a closed system with a cooling gas, said method comprising: a. directing a cooling gas through said bulk material to thereby cool said material and heat said cooling gas; b. removing said heated cooling gas from said bulk material and mixing therewith a cold cooling gas; c. cooling said mixture of heated and cold cooling gases to provided a cold stream of cooling gas; and d.i selectively diverting a portion of said cold stream of cooling gas to the removed heating cooling gas for mixing therewith in step b; and ii directing the undiverted portion of said cold stream of cooling gas to said bulk material for cooling same.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for dry cooling hot bulk material within a closed system with a cooling gas, said method comprising: a. directing a cooling gas through said bulk material to thereby cool said material and heat said cooling gas; b. removing said heated cooling gas from said bulk material and mixing therewith a cold cooling gas; c. cooling said mixture of heated and cold cooling gases to provided a cold stream of cooling gas; and d.i selectively diverting a portion of said cold stream of cooling gas to the removed heating cooling gas for mixing therewith in step b; and ii directing the undiverted portion of said cold stream of cooling gas to said bulk material for cooling same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heated cooling gas is cleaned of coarse particles after mixing with said cold cooling gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said diverted portion is selectively controlled to maintain a constant quantity of gas to be cooled and a temperature of less than about 650° C. after mixing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said diverted portion of said cold cooling gas is conditioned to maintain the chemical analysis within selected limits prior to mixing with the heated cooling gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cooling gas is removed from said bulk material under reduced pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps: i. intermittently supplying hot bulk material to a cooling station within said closed system; and ii. after cooling at least a portion of said bulk material, removing said cooled portion of material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said bulk material has a residence time within said cooling station of from between 3 and 4 hours.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said hot bulk material is cooled to a temperature of less than about 200° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
A means for dry cooling hot bulk material comprising: a. a cooling station for receiving and holding hot bulk material; b. a hot gas discharge duct connected to said cooling station at one end and to a gas mixing means at its other end; c. a gas mixing means connected to said discharge duct; d. a heat exchanger having an inlet connected to said gas mixing means; e. a circulation fan in communication with the discharge end of said heat exchanger; f. a gas inlet duct connected to the outlet of said blower and to said cooling station; and g. a by-pass line in communication with said gas inlet duct and said mixing means for diverting a selected portion of gas from said inlet duct to said mixing means for mixture with hot gases discharged from the cooling station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
A means for dry cooling hot bulk material comprising: a. a cooling station for receiving and holding hot bulk material; b. a hot gas discharge duct connected to said cooling station at one end and to a gas mixing means at its other end; c. a gas mixing means connected to said discharge duct; d. a heat exchanger having an inlet connected to said gas mixing means; e. a circulation fan in communication with the discharge end of said heat exchanger; f. a gas inlet duct connected to the outlet of said blower and to said cooling station; and g. a by-pass line in communication with said gas inlet duct and said mixing means for diverting a selected portion of gas from said inlet duct to said mixing means for mixture with hot gases discharged from the cooling station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cooling station includes a distributor means connected to said inlet duct to direct a cooling gas within said cooling station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cooling station includes an inlet having an air lock means and a discharge outlet having a lock gate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said by-pass line includes means for conditioning the gas circulating in said closed circuit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A means as set forth in claim 9 wherein by-pass line and main inlet duct includes valve means for selectively controlling the flow of gas therethrough.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said heat exchanger comprises a steam generator having a vertical steam drum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A means as set forth in claim 9 including a coarse particle separator positioned between said mixing means and heat exchanger.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A means as set forth in claim 9 including at least one dust separator positioned between said heat exchanger and circulation fans.