Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – Forming articles by uniting randomly associated particles – Agitating to form larger particles
Patent
1995-12-21
1997-12-09
Theisen, Mary Lynn
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
Forming articles by uniting randomly associated particles
Agitating to form larger particles
264 401, 23313FB, 425222, B01J 216
Patent
active
056957017
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for the preparation of an agglomerated material from a powder or a liquid or both and a process for such an agglomeration by use of the apparatus.
An increasing and widespread interest in the agglomeration of powdery materials exist within a large number of industries including the chemical and pharmaceutical industries not to mention the food industry.
There may be many reasons why it is desirable to transform a powdery material consisting of fine particles into a product consisting of relatively big, preferably homogenous agglomerates. As examples of such reasons may be mentioned the attainment of dust-elimination, free flowing property and a desired appearance as well, in particular in respect of foodstuff and feeding stuff products, the attainment of a good reconstitution ability, i.e. the ability to, without any essential mechanical stirring, quickly regenerate a liquid product corresponding to the one, on basis of which the powdery product was originally prepared. This ability to easily reconstitute is dependent on the ability of the material, when in contact with a liquid, to disperge, to be humidified and to dissolve, and particularly in respect of the dispersibility of powdery foodstuff and feeding stuff comparatively big homogenous agglomerates are desirable.
Various different processes and apparatuses are known for agglomerating powdery materials either in connection with the production thereof or as a subsequent processing step.
Processes of this type will in connection with atomization drying typically result in fine particles formed by the atomization drying being brought back to the atomization zone thereby getting in contact with atomized droplets, or only partially dried and therefore tacky particles, with which they are united. This back flow to the atomization zone, however, results in the fine, relative dry particles conveyed back being brought in contact with the hot drying gas and consequently exposed to damage from heat, as they, unlike the atomized droplets, are not protected against this through cooling caused by the evaporation of liquid. This entails that in connection with such an atomization drying an agglomeration is not normally carried out to an extent, which might actually be desirable.
For this reason, among others, it is usual to carry out the agglomeration as a separate after-processing step.
Other reasons why it may be desirable to carry out the agglomeration as a separate after-processing step are that hereby an increased operational reliability and flexibility and a better control of the product quality is attained. Furthermore, the use of a separate agglomeration step makes it possible in connection therewith to admix other components, for instance compounds which would be damaged by passing through the atomization dryer, or which in advance are present as powder. Finally, agglomeration as a separate after-processing step is used, when it is desired to use existing atomization drying plants which deliver unagglomerated products in connection with the preparation of agglomerated products.
Such an agglomeration in a separate step may be carried out in accordance with differing principles depending on the desired product properties, for instance by spraying on of a liquid during mechanical processing, when compact agglomerates are desired, or by spraying a liquid on the powdery material when it is present in a fluidized bed.
The present invention is related to agglomeration according to the last-mentioned principle.
In a typical embodiment of a process using this principle the powdery material is introduced into the fluidized bed with a moisture content so low that an effective fluidization of the material is secured by means of the fluidizing ability inherent in the bed in question.
The fluidized powder will then, by passing a number of successive nozzles and intermediary areas without nozzles alternatingly, be humidified for the attainment of an agglomeration-enhancing moisture content and then dried t
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Funder Christian Reedtz
Hansen Morten Mohr
S.o slashed.rensen Jens Mourits
Niro Holding A/S
Theisen Mary Lynn
LandOfFree
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