Counter flow cooling drier with integrated heat recovery

Abstract

A drier apparatus for removing water or other liquids from various materials includes a mixer, drying chamber, separator and regenerator and a method for use of the apparatus. The material to be dried is mixed with a heated media to form a mixture which then passes through the chamber. While passing through the chamber, a comparatively cool fluid is passed counter current through the mixture so that the mixture becomes cooler and drier and the fluid becomes hotter and more saturated with moisture. The mixture is then separated into drier material and media. The media is transferred to the regenerator and heated therein by the hot fluid from the chamber and supplemental heat is supplied to bring the media to a preselected temperature for mixing with the incoming material to be dried. In a closed loop embodiment of the apparatus, the fluid is also recycled from the regenerator to the chamber and a chiller is utilized to reduce the temperature of the fluid to a preselected temperature and dew point temperature.

1 . A method of drying a wet material comprising the steps of:
 a) heating the material to be dried to a heated state;   b) passing the material to be dried in a heated state into a drying chamber;   c) flowing air that is initially cool compared to the material into the drying chamber; and   d) passing the air, while in the drying chamber, in generally overall counterflow to the material and so as to absorb moisture and heat from the material in the drying chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the material is fully heated to the heated state thereof prior to entering the drying chamber and the air flows counter flow to the material in the heating chamber.