United States Patent m
Tuot
[ii] Patent Number: 4,702,799 [45] Date of Patent: Oct. 27, 1987
[54] DRYER AND DRYING METHOD
[75] Inventor: James Tuot, Dublin, Ohio
[73] Assignee: Nestec S.A., Vevey, Switzerland
[21] Appl. No.: 772,150
[22] Filed: Sep. 3,1985
[51] Int. Q." B01D1/14
[52] U.S. CI 159/48.1; 159/4.01;
159/16.1; 159/DIG. 2; 159/DIG. 28; 203/90;
202/236; 34/57 R; 426/471
[58] Field of Search 159/4.01, 16.1, 4.4,
16.3; 43.1, 4.08, 4.05; 34/57 A, 57 R, 10, 57 B;
202/236; 203/90; 426/471, 474
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
1,432,635 10/1922 Stevens 159/4.4
2,297,726 10/1942 Stephanoff 159/4.1
2,353,459 7/1944 Gruber 159/4.1
2,859,155 11/1958 Cichelli et al 159/4.4
2,868,523 1/1959 Cundiffetal 159/4.4
3,083,099 3/1963 Swanson et al 159/4.1
3,620,776 11/1971 Miskin et al 159/48.1
4,020,564 5/1977 Bayliss 34/57 R
4,187,617 2/1980 Becker, Jr. et al 159/4.02
4,229,249 10/1980 Felsvang et al 159/4.1
4,323,424 4/1982 Secunda et al 159/48.1
4,361,965 12/1982 Goumondy et al 34/57 R
4,376,010 3/1983 Gauvin 159/4.4
4,380,491 4/1983 Joy et al 159/4.01
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 0599890 6/1980 Canada 426/471
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Torek et al., "Methanol for Motor Fuel Via the Ethers Route", Chemical Engineering Progress, Aug. 1982, pp. 36-45.
Primary Examiner—S. Leon Bashore
Assistant Examiner—V. Manoharan
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Vogt & O'Donnell
[57] ABSTRACT
A finely atomized liquid is projected in a stream and dried by contact with drying gas. The drying gas is projected in turbulent flow from opposite sides of the stream such flow being distributed along the length of the stream. The material may be atomized and projected by a jet of gas issuing from a nozzle, and the drying gas may be projected around the jet so that the drying gas meets the entrainment demand of the jet, thereby preventing recirculation of gases outside the jet.
23 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
