US4070765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and apparatus for converting a solution or suspension into a dried particulate, granulate product
Assignee: NORO HOLDING AS
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Filing: 1976-04-26
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Granted: 1978-01-31
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Expires: 1996-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A mixer-granulator, preferably a spiral path granulator, is combined with a pneumatic conveyor dryer in a process for converting a solution or suspension into a dried particulate product. In a preferred embodiment, the particles formed in the mixer-granulator show a non-equilibrium moisture distribution with an interior part of lower moisture content and a surface part of higher moisture content.
Inventors
- 👤 Svend Hovmand
- 👤 Erik Liborius
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:03
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A process for converting a solution or suspension including recycled material into a dried particulate product in a material cycling system including a pneumatic conveyor dryer and a mixer-granulator, said process comprising: a. mixing in said mixer-granulator, the solution of suspension with recycled material consisting of dried particulate material of smaller particle size than the desired final product, to obtain particles of a higher moisture content than that of the desired final product, b. feeding the resulting particles into and conveying them through said pneumatic conveyor dryer without any substantial disintegration of said particles, c. classifying dried particulate product discharged from the pneumatic conveyor dryer into a fraction of desired particle size range, an undersize fraction, and, if present, an oversize fraction, d. withdrawing particles of desired size range as final product, e. disintegrating oversize particles, if any, and f. recycling the disintegration product together with undersize particles into said mixer-granulator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for converting a solution or suspension including recycled material into a dried particulate product in a material cycling system including a pneumatic conveyor dryer and a mixer-granulator, said process comprising: a. mixing in said mixer-granulator, the solution of suspension with recycled material consisting of dried particulate material of smaller particle size than the desired final product, to obtain particles of a higher moisture content than that of the desired final product, b. feeding the resulting particles into and conveying them through said pneumatic conveyor dryer without any substantial disintegration of said particles, c. classifying dried particulate product discharged from the pneumatic conveyor dryer into a fraction of desired particle size range, an undersize fraction, and, if present, an oversize fraction, d. withdrawing particles of desired size range as final product, e. disintegrating oversize particles, if any, and f. recycling the disintegration product together with undersize particles into said mixer-granulator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein part of the fraction of desired particle size range is disintegrated and recycled to the mixer-granulator together with undersize particles and disintegrated oversize particles, if any.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein a high speed rotary mixer-granulator is used.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 3, wherein the high speed rotary mixer-granulator used is an upright spiral path granulator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the particles discharged from the mixer-granulator are passed from the mixer-granulator through a tube or duct to the pneumatic conveyor dryer essentially by gravitational pull.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein any part of the lower generatrix of the tube or duct defines an angle with vertical of no more than 35°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein the angle is less than 25°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process according to claim 7, wherein the angle is 10°-25°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process according to claim 8, wherein the angle is 15°-20°.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the relative amount of recycled material to feed solution or suspension is above 5:1, calculated on dry solids basis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein the total solids of the feed solution or suspension is 10-75% by weight, and the total solids content of the recycled material is 80-100% by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the particle size distribution of the recycled material and the relative amounts of recycled material and solution or suspension are so selected that the particles formed in the mixer-generator and passed into the conveyor drier show substantially a non-equilibrium moisture distribution with an interior part of lower moisture content and a surface part of higher moisture content.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 12, wherein the particles discharged from the mixer-granulator are passed from the mixer-granulator through a tube or duct to the pneumatic conveyor dryer essentially by gravitational pull.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 13, wherein any part of the lower generatrix of the tube or duct defines an angle with vertical of no more than 35°.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 12, wherein the total solids content of the feed solution or suspension is 15-35% by weight, and the total solids content of the recycled material is 85-95% by weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 15, wherein the feed is a single cell protein suspension, and the ratio of the relative amount of recycled material to feed suspension is 20-30:1, calculated on dry solids basis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 16, wherein at least 90% by weight of the recycled material has a mean particle size which is 70-95% of the mean particle size of the final product.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 17, wherein at least 90% by weight of the recycled material has a mean particle size which is 80-90% of the mean particle size of the final product.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the particle size distribution of the recycled material and the relative amounts of recycled material and solution or suspension are so selected that the particles formed in the mixer-granulator show substantially a non-equilibrium moisture distribution with an interior part of higher moisture content powdered with fragments of lower moisture content.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 19, wherein the total solids content of the feed solution or suspension is 15-35% by weight, and the total solids content of the recycled material is 85-95% by weight.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 20, wherein the feed is a single cell protein suspension, and the ratio of the relative amount of recycled material to feed suspension is 10-20:1, calculated on dry solids basis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 21, wherein at least 10% by weight of the recycled material has a mean particle size which is smaller than 25% of the mean particle size of the final product.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 22, wherein 15-25% by weight of the recycled material has a mean particle size which is smaller than 25% of the mean particle size of the final product.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the velocity of the drying air in the throat section of the pneumatic conveyor dryer is 40-100 meters per second, and the velocity of the drying air in the pneumatic conveyor dryer duct is 8-20 meters/second.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 24, wherein the velocity of the drying air in the throat section of the pneumatic conveyor dryer is 50-80 meters/second, and the velocity of the drying air in the pneumatic conveyor dryer duct is 10-16 meters/second.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 24, wherein the inlet temperature of the drying air is 250°-600° C.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 26, wherein the inlet temperature of the drying air is 400-500° C.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the drying air is introduced into the throat section of the pneumatic conveyor dryer in a state of turbulent flow.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product produced by the process of claim 1.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for converting a solution or suspension into a dried particulate product comprising a mixer-granulator means for mixing a solution or suspension with a particulate recycle material, a non-disintegrator pneumatic conveyor dryer, means for feeding particles formed in the mixer-granulator means into the pneumatic conveyor drier, means for classifying particles discharged from the pneumatic conveyor dryer for recovering a dried particulate product and particulate recycle material, and means for recycling particles from the classifying means into the mixer-granulator.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for converting a solution or suspension into a dried particulate product comprising a mixer-granulator means for mixing a solution or suspension with a particulate recycle material, a non-disintegrator pneumatic conveyor dryer, means for feeding particles formed in the mixer-granulator means into the pneumatic conveyor drier, means for classifying particles discharged from the pneumatic conveyor dryer for recovering a dried particulate product and particulate recycle material, and means for recycling particles from the classifying means into the mixer-granulator.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the mixer-granulator is a high speed rotary mixer-granulator.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the high speed rotary mixer-granulator is an upright spiral path granulator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the means for feeding the particles from the mixer-granulator into the pneumatic conveyor dryer is a tube or duct.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein any part of the lower generatrix of the tube or duct defines an angle with vertical of no more than 35°.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the angle is less than 25°.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the angle is 10°-25°.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the angle is 15°-20°.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 30, comprising means for obstructing the flow of the drying air upstream of the throat section of the pneumatic conveyor dryer for providing turbulent flow of the drying air into said throat section.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said obstructing means is a right angle tube joint.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-30 | 1981-08-01 | 1982-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-30 | 1985-08-01 | 1986-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-30 | 1989-08-01 | 1990-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |