Carl A Weber

US Patent:

42099110, Jul 1, 1980

Filed:

Sep 22, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/945026

Inventors:

Carl L. Weber - Pipersville PA

Assignee:

Hydrocarbon Research, Inc. - Lawrenceville NJ

International Classification:

F26B 300

US Classification:

34 9

Abstract:

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for drying moisture-containing particulate materials. The process comprises feeding the particulates to a drying vessel containing therein a hydrocarbon liquid maintained at a temperature sufficiently high to rapidly evaporate the moisture; stirring the articulate-liquid slurry in the vessel so as to maintain particle flow therein; feeding a hot hydrocarbon liquid to the vessel; heating the vessel wall above the liquid level to a temperature above the slurry temperature to prevent foaming; removing from the vessel an overhead vapor product; and condensing the vapor product to recover water and hydrocarbon liquid. An apparatus useful for carrying out the above-mentioned process is also claimed.