Method and apparatus for the drying of solid materials by displacement

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, and further comprising the step, between said separating and drying steps of removing a first part of said displacing liquid from said finely divided particulate matter contained therein, leaving a second part of said displacing liquid wetting said finely divided particulate matter.

Claim 6

The method of of claim 2 and further comprising the step of subjecting said displacing liquid, and solids wetted thereby, to a counter-current flow of essentially pure displacing liquid, after said separating step and prior to said drying step.

Claim 7

The method of claim 3 and further comprising the step of subjecting said second part of said displacing liquid, and solids wetted thereby, to a counter-current flow of essentially pure displacing liquid, after said removing step and prior to sdid drying step.

Claim 8

The method of claim 2, wherein said drying results in the release of vapors of said displacing liquid, and further comprising the step of condensing said vapors to obtain a condensate of displacing liquid.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of adding at least a portion of said condensate of displacing liquid to said displacing liquid, and solids wetted thereby, after said separating step and prior to said drying step.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 and further comprising the step of adding at least a portion of said condensate of displacing liquid to said quantity of said displacing liquid of said admixing step.

Claim 11

The method of claim 3 and further comprising the step of adding the said first part of said displacing liquid removed in said separating step, to the said quantity of said displacing liquid of said admixing step.

Claim 12

The method of claim 2 and further comprising the step of subjecting the said separate phase of said admixing step to condensation of vapors entrained therein.

Claim 13

The method of claim 3 and further comprising the step of subjecting the said separate phase of said admixing step to condensation of vapors entrained therein.

Claim 14

The method of claim 2 and further comprising the step of condensing any vapors resulting from said drying step.

Claim 15

The method of claim 3 and further comprising the step of condensing vapors resulting from said drying step.

Claim 16

The method of claim 10 and further comprising the steps of condensing any vapors resulting from said drying, and coalescing said condensed separate phase of said admixing step with said condensed vapors resulting from said drying step.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11 and further comprising the step of coalescing said condensed separate phase of admixing step with said first part of said displacing liquid derived from said separating step.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13 and further comprising the step of coalescing said condensed vapors resulting from the drying of said finely divided particulate matter in said drying step with said first part of said displacing liquid derived from said separating step.

Claim 19

Apparatus for the removal of a first liquid from finely divided particulate matter wetted by said first liquid comprising heating means to heat said wetted finely divided particulate matter to a temperature less than the boiling point of said first liquid but greater than the boiling point of a second liquid, said second liquid being immiscible with said first liquid and having a density lying between the densities of said first liquid and of said finely divided particulate matter; reaction means for combining said heated wet finely divided particulate matter with a sufficient volume of said second liquid to cause said second liquid to boil and to displace the water from said finely divided particulate matter, whereby said finely divided particulate matter becomes wetted with said second liquid and separated from said first liquid; conduit means for conveying said heated wet finely divided particulate matter from said heating means to said reaction means; and separation means for separating said second liquid and said finely divided particulate matter wetted therein from said first liquid.

Claim 20

Apparatus for the removal of a first liquid from finely divided particulate matter wetted by said first liquid comprising heating means to heat said wetted finely divided particulate matter to a temperature less than the boiling point of said first liquid but greater than the boiling point of a second liquid, said second liquid being immiscible with said first liquid and having a density lying between the densities of said first liquid and of said finely divided particulate matter; reaction means for combining said heated wet finely divided particulate matter with a sufficient volume of said second liquid to cause said second liquid to boil and to displace the water from said finely divided particulate matter, whereby said finely divided particulate matter becomes wetted with said second liquid and separated from said first liquid; conduit means for conveying said heated wet finely divided particulate matter from said heating means to said reaction means; and separation means for separating said second liquid and said finely divided particulate matter wetted therein from said first liquid.

Claim 21

Apparatus for the removal of liquids from finely divided particulate matter wetted by a first liquid, comprising the apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising drying means for removing said second liquid from said finely divided particulate matter wetted therein.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18, and in which said drying means comprises concentration means for mechanically removing a first portion of said second liquid from said second liquid wetting said finely divided particulate matter, leaving a second portion of said second liquid wetting said finely divided particulate matter, and heating means for drying said second portion of said second liquid from said finely divided particulate matter.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 18 and further comprising coalescing means for combining together quantities of said second liquid removed by said drying means.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 17 and further comprising first liquid condensing means for condensing into liquid form gases contained in said first liquid after its said separation from said second liquid and finely divided particulate matter wetted therein.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 18 and further comprising second liquid condensing means for condensing into liquid form vapors of said second liquid resulting from the use of said drying means.