Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
159003000 | SPRAY TYPE | 39 |
20090199972 | WATER EVAPORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A fluid evaporation system includes a housing bounding a fluid reservoir and an air flow path that is disposed over top of the fluid reservoir. The housing has an inlet opening and a spaced apart outlet opening that both provide communication between the outside environment and the air flow path. A fan is positioned to draw the air out of the air flow path through the outlet opening. A baffle projects into the air flow path at a location between inlet opening and the outlet opening so as to constrict the area of the air flow path thereat. A plurality of spray nozzles are positioned within air flow path between the baffle and the first end of the housing. A pump is configured to draw fluid from the reservoir and deliver it to the plurality of spray nozzles. | 08-13-2009 |
20130025798 | SOLID AND LIQUID SEPARATION PROCESS - A process for separation of solid and liquid components in a distillation whole stillage utilizing airless spray drying is disclosed, which is more efficient and economical than conventional processes. In the process, distillation whole stillage resulting from distillation of fermented biomass is first subjected to an evaporation step for separating the whole stillage into a condensate and a concentrate including water, dissolved solids and suspended solids. The concentrate is then subjected to airless steam spray drying for converting the concentrate into dried solids, steam and vapors. All steam and vapors resulting from the airless steam spray drying step are then redirected as energy source to a processing step upstream of the airless spray drying step. At least some of the steam generated in the airless spray drying step is airless steam. | 01-31-2013 |
20140102645 | NONMETALLIC SPRAY SYSTEM - This invention relates to apparatus for a methods of crystallization of salt from brine on top of any soil surface, including repeating spraying of a ground surface, evaporation in air, controlling a moisture depth, capillary action and enhanced renewable energy to grow a layer of salt which can be collected. The brine is pumped from an underground source, sprayed in ambient air over a solid surface at a rate to either produce salt upon the ground and, if water is not completely evaporated, allowed to seep through the surface to saturate the capillary zone. In the use of a structural truss extension, a plastic or PVC pipe is isolated from the truss extension as the truss extension carries it about a hub with flow rate and speed to produce salt on the ground. | 04-17-2014 |
20140166210 | Subterranean Well Production Saltwater Evaporation Station - A production saltwater disposal facility comprising a separator configured to receive production saltwater from a pipeline or a vehicle and separate hydrocarbons from the production saltwater, wherein the production saltwater received from the pipeline or vehicle is substantially the same composition as when the production saltwater was located in a subterranean formation, a hydrocarbon storage tank configured to receive hydrocarbons from the separator, a settling pit configured to receive the production saltwater from the separator and separate metals and/or other solids from the saltwater, an evaporator in fluid communication with the settling pit and comprising a nozzle configured to emit a stream of the saltwater along a path in air such that water in the saltwater evaporates, and a collection pit positioned under the path and configured to collect the salt from the saltwater after the water has evaporated. | 06-19-2014 |
20140311683 | ANTI-GRAVITY LIQUID EVAPORATOR - An anti-gravity liquid evaporator comprises a tank body ( | 10-23-2014 |
20160030859 | APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SALT - The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing salt, and more particularly to an apparatus for manufacturing salt, which is capable of obtaining mineral salt containing a high concentration of minerals, manufacturing salt at relatively low cost in a relatively small space, and exhibiting maximum efficiency of drying or evaporation since seawater is heated and sprayed onto a cloth or net. | 02-04-2016 |
20160113302 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF LOW THERMOPHILE AND LOW SPORE MILK POWDER - A system and method is provided for processing milk for spray drying. The system may have a pre-evaporator configured to receive and concentrate the milk stream producing an intermediate concentration milk. The system may also have a first buffer tank configured to receive the intermediate concentration milk and store the intermediate concentrate milk at a reduced temperature. The system may further have a first finisher evaporator configured to draw the intermediate concentration milk from the first buffer tank and concentrate the intermediate concentration milk producing a final concentration milk. The final concentration milk may be suitable for spray drying. | 04-28-2016 |
159400010 | Gaseous current | 32 |
20080283199 | Techniques used with solutions of solids in a liquid for separating the liquid from a solid - Techniques used with a solution in which a solid is dissolved in a liquid. In one technique, drops of the solution are sprayed into a stream of gas. The drops are sized to fall through and out of the stream of gas before they are completely evaporated. The partial evaporation leaves the solid entrapped in the drops and the evaporated vapor in the stream of gas. In another technique, the drops are carried by the stream of gas. As the drops are carried, most of the drops are completely evaporated, producing vapor and particles of the solid. A filter filters out the particles. Some of the drops are not completely evaporated when they reach the filter and solution from these drops continuously rinses the filter. Large drops of the rinsing solution fall from the filter, through the stream of gas, and out of the stream of gas. | 11-20-2008 |
20100139871 | DRY POND WATER EVAPORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF EVAPORATING WATER - Dry pond water evaporation systems and methods are used to evaporate large quantities of water from industrial waste water sources, such as water produced by oil and gas wells. Dry pond systems include a water evaporation system that emits waste water into the air as a fine spray or mist to promote evaporation. Water that falls to the ground and any initially dissolved solids are captured in a water capture depression. Water and solids are transferred from the water capture depression to a water collection pool. Water from the water collection pool is recirculated through the water evaporation system to further concentrate the total dissolved solids (TDS). When the TDS are sufficiently concentrated, they may be harvested, such as by evaporating off the water and recovering salts or minerals as a solid. | 06-10-2010 |
20110061816 | COMPACT WASTEWATER CONCENTRATOR USING WASTE HEAT - A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor. | 03-17-2011 |
20110139378 | WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A fluid evaporation system includes a housing bounding a fluid reservoir and an air flow path that is disposed over top of the fluid reservoir. The housing has an inlet opening and a spaced apart outlet opening that both provide communication between the outside environment and the air flow path. A blower is positioned to draw the air into the air flow path and force the air through the outlet opening. A misting system positioned within the air flow path increases the water content of the air stream. A demister is positioned upstream from the outlet opening and downstream from the misting system. | 06-16-2011 |
20110220298 | SALT BRINE CAPILLARY CRYSTALLIZATION - This invention relates to apparatus for a method of crystallization of salt from brine on top of any soil surface through airborne brine droplet crystallization, controlled moisture depth, capillary action and enhanced renewable energy to grow a layer of salt which can be collected. The brine is pumped from an underground source, sprayed in ambient air over a solid surface and, if water is not completely evaporated, allowed to seep through the surface to saturate the capillary zone. Water is evaporated while the sprayed brine is in the air or on the surface where capillary action brings it up to the surface for the water component to be evaporated by net heat gained from the environment resulting in salt crystallization. The evaporation of sprayed brine is enhanced by smaller droplet size, residence time due the spray height and wind machines to reduce humidity and increase natural thermal input. The salt layer thus formed further grows by capillary action of the soil and the crystalline salt to a depth suitable for standard mechanical harvesting. Instrumentation is included to optimize the method through the measurement of evaporation and moisture content of the lower boundary of the capillary zone of the soil and or crystalline salt as well as atomizing heads and a cleaning system. | 09-15-2011 |
20120018100 | FRACTIONATING AND REFINING DEVICE - A fractionating and refining device includes a solution sending flow path for supplying a solution including a fractionated target component from a tip end thereof, a gas supply flow path for supplying gas from a tip end thereof, a collecting vessel, and a warming mechanism for warming the collecting vessel to such a temperature as to facilitate evaporation of a solvent in the solution in the vessel. The collecting vessel includes a vessel main body having a bottom and a lid which closes an opening portion of the vessel main body and which can be opened and closed. The lid includes a solution inlet to which the tip end portion of the solution sending flow path is connected and through which the solution from the solution sending flow path is supplied into the vessel main body, gas inlets to which the tip end portion of the gas supply flow path is connected and through which the gas from the gas supply flow path is supplied into the vessel main body, and gas discharge ports connecting an inside and an outside of the vessel main body. | 01-26-2012 |
20120103536 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPRAY DRYING A LIQUID - Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material. | 05-03-2012 |
20120216963 | Forced Air Thermal Turbine Evaporation System - A forced air thermal turbine evaporation system wherein industrial waste water is pumped from a water source through a stainless steel hose to a flow meter, pressure switch and into a distribution header. The water leaves the distribution header through a plurality of spiral nozzles that atomize the water into fine water droplets that are introduced into a turbine exhaust pipe in which the droplets are vaporized and disbursed into the atmosphere. | 08-30-2012 |
20130037223 | LIQUID CONCENTRATOR - A liquid concentrator having an evaporator assembly and a cyclonic separator includes features designed to improve the performance of the liquid concentrator. A settling chamber is separated from a sump of the cyclonic separator. A liquid inlet opening into a mixing chamber of the evaporator injects wastewater at low pressures. Features to aid in the cleaning of the liquid concentrator include easy open doors and clean water injection ports for cleaning interior portions of the liquid concentrator. | 02-14-2013 |
20130048225 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPRAY DRYING A LIQUID - Described herein are devices and techniques for spray drying a fluid to produce a dried powder. Assemblies include a spray drying head attachable to a gas supplier and a liquid sample, such as a standard unit of blood product. The spray drying head can be adapted to provide an aerosolized flow of liquid sample exposed to a drying gas. The assembly also includes a drying chamber adapted to separate the aerosolized flow of liquid sample into a dried powder and humid air. The assembly can be disposable, provided in a sterilized kit and having simplified attachments allowing quick connect and disconnect from the gas and liquid sample. Separation of the powder from the humid air exiting the drying chamber occurs within a filtered collection bag. In some embodiments, one or more of the drying chamber and collection bag are formed form a thin-walled, collapsible material. | 02-28-2013 |
20130126101 | SPRAY DRIED HUMAN PLASMA - The technology relates to spray dried plasma and methods of making the same. The method includes providing plasma to a spray drying apparatus, spray drying the plasma, at the spray drying apparatus, to form physiologically active plasma powder, the spray drying apparatus configured utilizing one or more parameters, and storing the physiologically active plasma powder. | 05-23-2013 |
20130174988 | COMPACTED AIR FLOW RAPID FLUID EVAPORATION SYSTEM - A total water desalination system is disclosed that includes a centrifugal separator, a feed-water device controlled by a relative humidity sensor, an air pump, an evaporator core, an air dryer, a non-particulate coalescent air filter, and an air flow/brine gravity separating tank. The evaporator core typically contains multiple conical processing chambers and introduces a physical dynamic that increases the surface area of the water, using low-level thermal energy to vaporize micron-size water particles into a gaseous state, suitable for reconstitution into desalinated (or lower salt content) water. The evaporator core operation principles are based on creating a highly dynamic environment that separates impurities from sea, brackish, river, or turbid water; evaporating the water into a residual clean vapor, and returning the vapor to water composition with high efficiency. | 07-11-2013 |
20130206342 | APPARATUS AND LOW TEMPERATURE PROCESS FOR PRODUCING DRIED DISTILLERS SOLUBLES - Low temperature process and apparatus generally includes separating whole stillage into thin stillage and wet distillers grains, wherein the thin stillage comprises water soluble proteins in an amount greater than the wet distillers grains, and wherein the wet distillers grains has a higher solid content than the thin stillage; atomizing the thin stillage at an elevated temperature to remove at least a portion of moisture in the thin stillage and form particles and granules of the thin stillage; and removing additional moisture from the particles and granules in a fluidized bed to form dried distillers solubles. The apparatus includes an atomization section and a fluidized bed section configured to dry the thin stillage. | 08-15-2013 |
20140014276 | EXTERNAL MIXING PRESSURIZED TWO-FLUID NOZZLE AND A SPRAY DRYING METHOD - Disclosed herein is an external mixing pressurized two-fluid nozzle for atomising a liquid by means of liquid pressure and gas, comprising an inner feed liquid pipe ( | 01-16-2014 |
20140083627 | AUTOMATED SPRAY DRIER - A spray drier system is provided for spray drying a liquid sample such as blood plasma. The spray drier system may include a spray drier device and a spray drier assembly. The spray drier device may be configured to receive flows of an aerosolizing gas, a drying gas, and blood plasma from respective sources and couple with the spray drier assembly for transmission of the received aerosolizing gas, drying gas, and plasma to the spray drier assembly. Spray drying of the plasma is performed in the spray drier assembly under the control of the spray drier device. | 03-27-2014 |
20140083628 | SPRAY DRIER ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMATED SPRAY DRYING - A spray drier system is provided for spray drying a liquid sample such as blood plasma. The spray drier system may include a spray drier device adapted to couple with a spray drier assembly. The assembly may include an enclosure mounted to a frame. The assembly may receive a flow of drying gas which is directed by the enclosure shape towards a spray drying head mounted within the enclosure to the frame. Flows of a liquid sample may be further received by the head, which aerosolizes the liquid sample. Aerosolized liquid sample and drying air may be mixed within a drying chamber of the enclosure to produce dried sample and humid air. The dried sample and humid air may also be separated in a collection chamber of the enclosure, with the humid air exhausted from the enclosure. | 03-27-2014 |
20140144594 | PROCESS FOR CHLORIDE REDUCTION - Systems and methods are described for removing chlorides from a SOx-containing flue gas upstream of a flue gas desulfurization system. A wet sprayer can be configured to contact at least a portion of the SOx-containing flue gas with a first solution to produce (1) a SOx-containing treated flue gas that is substantially depleted of chlorides, and (2) a chloride solution product. The treated flue gas can then be fed into a flue gas desulfurization system, which allows the downstream components to comprise less-expensive materials because of the depletion of chlorides in the treated flue gas. | 05-29-2014 |
20140262054 | COMPACT WASTEWATER CONCENTRATOR USING WASTE HEAT - A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor. | 09-18-2014 |
20140284001 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPRAY DRYING IN MICROFLUIDIC AND OTHER SYSTEMS - The present invention generally relates to microfluidics, and to spray drying and other drying techniques. By at least partially drying fluids within a microfluidic channel, instead of or in addition to conventional spray drying techniques, better control of the drying process can be achieved in certain aspects of the invention. In addition, various embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems and methods for drying fluids contained within a channel such as a microfluidic channel. For example, a fluid may be partially or completely dried within a microfluidic channel, prior to being sprayed into a collection region. In some embodiments, gases such as air may be directed into a channel containing a fluid, which may facilitate drying of the fluid. In some cases, the fluid may be accelerated due to the introduction of gases into the channel, and in certain embodiments, droplets of fluid may be disrupted to form smaller droplets as a result. In certain cases, the fluids may also be dried to form supersaturated droplets. | 09-25-2014 |
20150027643 | EVAPORATION APPARATUS - An evaporation apparatus includes a vaporization chamber including a liquid inlet and a vapor outlet, a spray chamber which is connected to the vaporization chamber and sprays a vapor which has flowed out from the vapor outlet of the vaporization chamber, and a release chamber which is connected to the vaporization chamber and reduces a pressure of the vapor which has flowed out from the vapor outlet of the vaporization chamber. | 01-29-2015 |
159400020 | Combustion product gas | 4 |
20100236724 | Compact Wastewater Concentrator Using Waste Heat - A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor. | 09-23-2010 |
20110174447 | COMPACT WASTEWATER CONCENTRATOR USING WASTE HEAT - A compact and portable liquid concentrator includes a gas inlet, a gas exit and a flow corridor connecting the gas inlet and the gas exit, wherein the flow corridor includes a narrowed portion that accelerates the gas through the flow corridor. A liquid inlet injects liquid into the gas stream at a point prior to the narrowed portion so that the gas-liquid mixture is thoroughly mixed within the flow corridor, causing a portion of the liquid to be evaporated. A demister or fluid scrubber downstream of the narrowed portion removes entrained liquid droplets from the gas stream and re-circulates the removed liquid to the liquid inlet through a re-circulating circuit. Fresh liquid to be concentrated is also introduced into the re-circulating circuit at a rate sufficient to offset the amount of liquid evaporated in the flow corridor. | 07-21-2011 |
20130248121 | SPRAY-DRYING DEVICE FOR DEHYDRATED FILTRATE FROM DESULFURIZATION WASTEWATER, AIR POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND FLUE GAS TREATMENT METHOD - A spray-drying device includes a spray nozzle that sprays the dehydrated filtrate from the desulfurization wastewater, in a spray-drying device body, an inlet that is provided in the spray-drying device body and introduces flue gas for drying spray liquid, a dry area that is provided in the spray-drying device body and dries the dehydrated filtrate by the flue gas, an outlet that discharged the flue gas contributing to the drying, a plurality of thermometers that are provided in the dry area and measure temperatures of the inside, a determination unit that determines whether or not a spray-drying state of the dehydrated filtrate is satisfactory on the basis of the measurement results of the thermometers, and a control unit that adjusts the flue gas or the dehydrated filtrate when it is determined that the spray-drying is not satisfactory as a result of the determination of the determination unit. | 09-26-2013 |
20140083629 | SPRAY DRYING APPARATUS OF DEHYDRATION FILTRATE FROM DESULFURIZATION WASTE WATER, AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM - A spray drying apparatus includes a gas inlet provided on a side wall in the vicinity of a top portion of the spray drying apparatus, for introducing a flue gas for drying a spray liquid of a dehydration filtrate; a rectifying plate provided in a spray drying apparatus main body, for decelerating the introduced flue gas so as to alter the flue gas flow to a laminar flow; a spray nozzle for spraying the dehydration filtrate emitted from the desulfurization waste water into the flue gas altered to the laminar flow; a gas outlet provided in the vicinity of a bottom portion of the spray drying apparatus main body, for discharging the flue gas contributed to drying of the dehydration filtrate; and a discharge hopper provided on the bottom portion side of the spray drying apparatus main body, for discharging an ash as a spray-dried solid. | 03-27-2014 |
159400040 | Countercurrent | 2 |
20090120590 | Heating System, Heating and Laminarizing Method, Electrostatic Precipitator, Spray Dryer, Detaching Device and Method for Detaching Particles - A heating system for a spray dryer has a heating element, a heating unit having an open-pore metal foam, and a fluid input and a fluid output. The metal foam is arranged between the fluid input and the fluid output so that fluid which flows in through the fluid input and out through the fluid output is laminarized. A method for simultaneously heating and laminarizing a fluid with the aid of an open-pore metal foam is also disclosed, as is an electrostatic precipitator having a sleeve-shaped electrode connected to a base part of the precipitator. Also disclosed is a device for detaching particles from an inner surface of a sleeve-shaped electrode, a method for detaching particles, and a spray dryer with a heating system as above and/or with an electrostatic precipitator. | 05-14-2009 |
20110100560 | System and Method for Producing Dry Formulations - The invention relates to a spray drying system and a method for its operation that provides a composition of dry. or essentially solvent free, particles from a solution of an agent. The system comprises a generally vertical tube reactor arranged for counter-current removal of solvent from a process flow fed with aerosol droplets of solution descending from the top said reactor with an ascending gas flow. The reactor includes a perforated process tube for transportation of the process flow from the outlet of an aerosol generating device to a dry particle collecting device. A membrane sleeve essentially surrounds the peripheral area of said process tube and separates the descending process stream from the ascending gas stream. Vaporized solvent is transported from the process stream to the ascending gas stream. A reactor housing is sealingly covering said process tube and membrane sleeve and is provided with means for introducing and/or removing the process fluids. | 05-05-2011 |
159400100 | Heat recovery | 1 |
20130092327 | Spray Drying Apparatus - The present invention relates to a spray drying apparatus ( | 04-18-2013 |
159400200 | Spinning sprayer | 2 |
20100101737 | Filter Assembly Containing Metal Fibre Filter Elements - The present invention relates to a self-cleanable filter assembly capable of filtering small particles from a gas stream, the use of one or more metal fiber filter elements in said filter assembly, use of said filter assembly in a spray-dryer installation. The invention further relates to a system for cleaning the filter assembly, a method of cleaning the filter assembly and the filter elements contained therein, and a spray dryer installation comprising the filter assembly of the present invention. | 04-29-2010 |
20140174672 | Land Based or Floating Wastewater Evaporator - At least one electric atomizing fan is mounted on a portable land craft or a raft. An electric pump delivers pond water to the land craft or raft to evaporate the pond water. A land based power supply powers the pump and the atomizing fans. The either (submersible) pump sends the pond water to a dissipater adjacent the electric atomizing fan to produce a micro droplet mist. Preferably no additional evaporation chamber or heater is used. One embodiment uses a berm/platform to mount a plurality of land craft thereon. Either system could be mounted on a single trailer. | 06-26-2014 |
159400400 | Steam drying or atomizing | 3 |
20090065153 | Salt brine capillary crystallization - This invention relates to a method of crystallization of salt from brine on top of any soil surface through airborne brine droplet crystallization, controlled moisture depth, capillary action and enhanced renewable energy to grow a layer of salt which can be collected. The brine is pumped from an underground source, sprayed in ambient air over a solid surface and, if water is not completely evaporated, allowed to seep through the surface to saturate the capillary zone. Water is evaporated while the sprayed brine is in the air or on the surface where capillary action brings it up to the surface for the water component to be evaporated by net heat gained from the environment resulting in salt crystallization. The evaporation of sprayed brine is enhanced by smaller droplet size, residence time due the spray height and wind machines to reduce humidity and increase natural thermal input. The salt layer thus formed further grows by capillary action of the soil and the crystalline salt to a depth suitable for conventional mechanical harvesting. Instrumentation is included to optimize the method through the measurement of evaporation and moisture content of the lower boundary of the capillary zone of the soil and or crystalline salt. | 03-12-2009 |
20130126102 | VACUUM-PRESSURE SPRAY-DRYING METHOD AND VACUUM-PRESSURE SPRAY-DRYING DEVICE - Provided are a novel vacuum-pressure spray-drying method and a novel vacuum-pressure spray-drying apparatus suitable for drying and powdering a liquid raw material containing a substance susceptible to heat denaturation, such as a food raw material and a medicine raw material. The vacuum-pressure spray-drying method and the like include: an apparatus main body, which is kept at reduced pressure and includes a spray nozzle; superheated water vapor supplying means for supplying a superheated water vapor to the spray nozzle; liquid raw material supplying means for supplying a liquid raw material to the spray nozzle; cooling means for cooling the superheated water vapor and a vapor resulting from volatilization of the liquid raw material being discharged from the apparatus main body, and then collecting, as condensed water; pressure reducing means for keeping an inside of the apparatus main body at the reduced pressure through the cooling means; and product collecting means for collecting a powder product produced in the apparatus main body. The vacuum-pressure spray-drying method and the like include: simultaneously spraying the superheated water vapor supplied from the superheated water vapor supplying means and the liquid raw material supplied from the liquid raw material supplying means through the spray nozzle into the apparatus main body so as to atomize the liquid raw material in the apparatus main body; and subjecting an atomized raw material, which is produced by atomizing the liquid raw material, to heat exchange with the superheated water vapor, to thereby dry and powder the liquid raw material. | 05-23-2013 |
20130153157 | SPRAY-DRYING APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - A spray-drying apparatus includes a drying chamber that has a first end, a second end, and at least one side wall extending between the first and second ends to define an interior of the drying chamber having a center axis. A nozzle can be positioned at the first end of the drying chamber and be configured to atomize liquid and spray the atomized liquid into the interior of the drying chamber at a maximum spray pattern angle relative to the center axis. A ratio of the length between the first end and second end to a maximum width between opposing internal surfaces of the interior of the drying chamber can be at least 5 to 1. | 06-20-2013 |