SEED AND GRAIN COOLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: processing of bulk materials, in particular, seed and grain cooling and drying method and equipment. SUBSTANCE: method involves feeding bulk material onto gas distributing grid; supplying liquefying agent through collectors to zone under grid; moving seed and grain in fluidized bed from charging device to discharge device. Apparatus has chamber equipped with gas distributing grid, charging and discharge devices, and air duct with collectors. Collectors have longitudinal section made in the form of Laval nozzle, said section being arranged under grid in bulk material charging zone. Area of collector discharge openings is at least equal to area of base of cone formed by charged material. Grids are made so that material flow is discharged at an angle of 30-60 deg with respect to apparatus longitudinal axis. Upon supplying of liquefying agent together with material to be charged to zone under grid, liquefying agent is subjected to expansion for providing continuous flow and eliminating formation of vortex cavities. EFFECT: increased efficiency and storage life owing to uniform cooling of bulk material. 5 cl, 2 dwg