Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids – Material treated by electromagnetic energy – Radio or high-frequency energy
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-17
2001-06-12
Wilson, Pamela (Department: 3749)
Drying and gas or vapor contact with solids
Material treated by electromagnetic energy
Radio or high-frequency energy
C034S266000, C034S275000, C034S062000, C034S093000, C034S201000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243968
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a turning device for sludge and/or deposits and a solar drier having a turning device. Sludge or deposits are often dried on a stable floor or in flat pools. In order to increase the drying efficiency, the product to be dried is turned over when the uppermost layer is dry and moisture transport from the lower sludge layers into the air is impaired.
In a conventional turning device categorizing the invention (DE OS 4315321 A1), the device extends across the entire width of the drying surface and is guided and driven at the sides thereof. This turning device has the disadvantages of having substantial structural difficulty and expense, of being limited by the width of the drying surface, of requiring guiding means on both sides of the drying surface as well as of requiring a drive device on at least one side thereof. In addition, this complicated and expensive device is not efficiently utilized. The entire product to be dried is turned during one single passage of the turning device over the drying surface. Since the drying proceeds slowly, the inactive time of the turning device is long in comparison to the active time.
The invention also concerns a solar drier having a turning device. In view of the limited amount of natural resources, increased efforts have been made in recent times to utilize solar energy for drying processes of various kinds. This is attractive from an economical point of view when no particular requirements are made for the drying speed and for high temperatures. In this manner, deposits or other sludge can often be dried using solar means, resulting in low operational costs for the drying procedure and conservation of natural resources in an environmentally sound fashion.
A device and a method for solar drying of sludge and soiled liquids is described in a solar drier of conventional construction categorizing the invention (DE OS 4315321 A1) with which the sludge is transported into a precipitation pool, wherein a portion of the water is removed using a drainage pipe. A turning and transport device, extending across the entire width of the pool and of the adjacent drying surface, is then used to transport the somewhat thickened sludge from the precipitation pool onto the drying surface. The sludge is disposed at this location in the form of a relatively thin layer and is dried by an opposing stream of air. The drying speed is increased using a greenhouse structure erected over the drying surface and the precipitation pool. The incident solar radiation heats the sludge and the air located within the greenhouse leading to the above mentioned increase in drying speed. The required convection within the greenhouse is produced by a chimney installed, as seen in the flow direction of the air, on the rear end of the greenhouse. In the event that natural convection is insufficient, an electrically driven fan can increase the draft in the chimney. This conventional solar dryer for solar drying of sewage sludge has the disadvantage of being associated with a relatively high degree of structural difficulty and expense related to the chimney, the complicated and expensive turning and transport device, the precipitation pool, a pressurized installation, an external solar collector as well as dehumidifying devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In contrast thereto, the turning device in accordance with the invention has the advantage that the degree of structural difficulty and expense is substantially reduced, wherein use of a smaller and flexibly controllable turning device not only saves substantial investment and operation costs but allows the turning device to be operated in a manner which is adapted to the product being dried. In addition, the efficiency of use of the turning device is increased by a plurality of passages through the product to be dried and the drying device can be loaded to an increased extent and thereby utilized in a more efficient manner due to the intense mixing of the product to be dried.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the distribution tool is fixed to a frame so that the penetration depth of the distribution tool into the sewage sludge can be easily adjusted.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the distribution tool is motor-driven so that mixing of dried and moist sludge layers is intensified.
According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the invention associated therewith, the processing speed and the processing direction of the distribution tool can be regulated and controlled in dependence on the consistency of the sludge and the driving mechanism.
In accordance with an additional advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive device and, optionally, the distribution tool are electrically powered so that the drive mechanism requires little maintenance, is economical and is robust.
In accordance with an additional advantageous embodiment of the invention associated therewith, the turning device is provided with electrical energy via a tracking device disposed on the building and a power cable so that the motors can be operated with power from the mains, leading to low power loss. In addition, electrical energy coming from the mains is regularly available end-user energy, which is relatively inexpensive.
In accordance with an additional advantageous embodiment of the invention, the turning device is supplied with electrical energy via storage batteries so that the turning device can be operated in an isolated fashion.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the drive device and, optionally, the distribution tool are at least indirectly driven by a combustion engine so that high drive power is possible with low weight.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the direction of motion and the speed of the turning device are controlled by a shifting system disposed on the turning device which is actuated by at least one delimiting device disposed on the edge of the floor.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the path of the turning device is determined in a stochastic fashion via the collision between the turning device and the delimiting device so that an even mixing is also guaranteed in the edge regions of the floor.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the path of the turning device is adjusted by an actuator disposed between portions of the frame to move the turning device along predetermined paths.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the turning device moves along fixed paths so that the path length or the efficiency of the turning device can be optimized.
In accordance with an additional advantageous embodiment of the invention associated therewith, the path is determined by a stationary ultrasonic or infrared transmitter in conjunction with a receiver disposed on the turning device, the receiver controlling the direction of motion of the turning device via appropriate actuators to easily adapt control to differing external boundary conditions.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the paths are defined by induction loops disposed in the floor so that the control of the turning device on predetermined paths is robust and insensitive to soiling.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the path control of the turning device is effected with the assistance of a satellite navigation apparatus so that no devices are required in addition to the turning device.
In accordance with an additional advantageous configuration of the invention, the active width of the distribution tool is substantially smaller than the length or the width of the floor, to thereby improve efficiency of use of the distribution tool and to reduce investment costs.
In addition, the solar drier in accordance with the invention has the advantage that it
Bux Markus
Conrad Tilo
Vincent Paul
Wilson Pamela
LandOfFree
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