METHOD OF DRYING LOOSE THERMOSENSITIVE MATERIALS AND PLANT FOR REALIZATION OF THIS METHOD Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: food- processing, microbiological, pharmaceutical and chemical technologies; drying thermosensitive materials containing volatile components and components which are likely to oxidize in air. SUBSTANCE: proposed method consists in performing alternating heating and cooling processes in double-chamber plant within limited temperature range; heating is effected by blowing the layer of material with preheated gas and cooling is effected by evacuation; released vapors are condensed and are discharged to condensate receiver and dehumidified gas is directed for recirculation. Double-chamber plant includes gas blower, calorifier, cyclone, dust receiver, gas lines, vacuum gate valves for changing-over the gas flows, control instruments and gate valve automatic control system; plant is provided with vacuum condensing unit and condensate receiver; gas discharge branch pipes of chambers are independently provided with gas lines fitted with suction branch pipe of gas blower and intake branch pipe of condenser through gate valves; discharge branch pipe of vacuum pump is communicated with suction branch pipe of gas blower. Plant is also provided with compressed gas bottles and pipes for delivery of this gas to drying chambers. In the course of operation, vacuum pump forms rarefaction in one chamber and increased pressure in other chamber in turn. Oscillating barothermal mode considerably intensifies mass exchange inside particles of material; losses of drying gas and volatile components into atmosphere are considerably reduced due to complete recirculation of gas and tightness of plant; neutral gas (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. ) may be used as drying agent, thus excluding oxidation of material by oxygen contained in air. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency and reliability. 4 cl, 1 dwg