NO339254B1 - Apparatus for swirling and drying at least one fragmented substance - Google Patents

Description

Device for swirling and drying at least one fragmented substance

The present invention relates to a device for swirling and drying at least one substance which is received in a fragmented state in a limited space in the device.

More specifically, the device comprises at least one set of rotating vanes which are placed in said space, and an entrance to the space which is designed to receive desiccant via a heater for injection into substance(s) which are fragmented, the at least one fragmented substance subjected to swirling action from said at least one set of vanes, where a filtering unit is placed in said space and above or laterally in relation to said at least one set of rotating vanes, such set being attached to a rotating shaft, where desiccant outlet devices is placed in communication with the filtering unit at an upper end or at a lateral area of said space to allow flow of desiccant which has passed through said swirled substance(s) to exit said space, and where the space has at least one outlet where it/ the fragmented, swirled and dried substance(s) can leave said room at a lower area thereof as said final product,

If in this context more than one substance is processed, i.e. delivered to the system as a mixture of substances, there may be a selection of types of substances, such as e.g. one or more organic and inorganic types, or one or more types within a single category. Material types for processing could e.g. be edible or inedible material, textiles, plastic materials, tin metal, ingredients for making other products, or ingredients for treatment as waste material. Other applications are the treatment of substances to give an end product using the method and system according to the invention, such an end product being useful for making an industrial product using a further and different method and device.

Although the present invention is to be described in relation to the handling of waste material, this should in no way be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention, as the invention could just as well be used to treat ingredients for the production of edible products, such as e.g. from seafood, meat and/or vegetables, or products for use in making e.g. pharmaceutical products and fertilizers.

In grocery stores that sell edible products, such as meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, etc., it is a well-known challenge to get rid of products that are too old with regard to the sell-by date or that have deteriorated in quality. Not only the volume, but also any smell, moisture or incipient decomposition caused by bacteria, fermentation and/or fungi are serious environmental problems. There is also a high risk of attracting mice and rats or other vermin. To some extent, public cleaning services provide regular collection and can transport to incinerators or biogas plants, but the waste is often smelly and wet, which causes dripping from the collection container.

Handling products such as these can under certain circumstances entail health risks for personnel who handle such goods. In addition, many such products are linked to packaging, such as tin cans, containers lined with metal or plastic, plastic, cardboard, cellulose-based or cornmeal-based trays, cling film or blister-type packaging. It is also a challenge that it is a time-consuming and sometimes messy job to remove packaging for source sorting.

Not only in grocery stores, but also in food supply companies, hotels, restaurants, public health facilities (e.g. hospitals or nursing homes), on board ships and offshore installations as well as collection services from trains and aircraft, handling waste in a hygienic way is a daily and serious challenge.

In this context, it is important to be able to reduce the volume and weight of the substance(s) and provide a dried end product material that is substantially homogeneous per unit volume.

In the known technique, there are numerous devices for mixing and/or swirling particles or fragmented substances, or for swirling at least one fragmented substance. Such devices are at least partially described in e.g. the Norwegian patent applications 19890434, 19905274 (=NO patent 176552), 19931642 (=NO patent 177415 or US patent 5984520 or EP patent 0738182), 19952255 (=PCT publication WO96/404422), 19971044 (=NO patent 306242), and 20021512.

For further elucidation of prior art, reference is made to EP 0611937-A1 which deals with a device for drying and mixing particulate material in a drying chamber which has a rotating agitator. WO 2003/052336-A1 describes a device for evaporating liquid that is trapped in a solid, particulate material using superheated steam as a drying medium. Furthermore, EP2511637-A1 describes a method for drying a wet, particulate material, where a stream of the material is brought into contact with superheated steam in a drying chamber where the material is caused to swirl as a fluid. Furthermore, a mixer is known in which the vanes have a surface with a convex cross-section and in which the outer periphery of the vanes has a front surface which forms an angle with the convex surface.

In addition, a method and a plant for the pretreatment of source-separated, wet, organic waste is known from Norwegian patent application 20035803 (=WO2005/061114-A1). Another reference is an article entitled: "Microbial Inactivation during Superheated Steam Drying of Fish Meal" by Halvor Nygaard and Øistein Høstmark", Drying Technology, 26:222-230, 2008; URL: http:// dx. doi. ore / 10. 1080/ 07373930701831648 .

The present invention aims to provide means for treating at least one substance into a fragmented or ground, swirled and dried product in order to overcome the well-known disadvantages and risks of the previously known handling of e.g. waste material or the challenges encountered when processing substances or materials destined for further use.

According to the invention, a device of the type mentioned at the outset is provided and which is characterized by: that a feeding device is in communication with said desiccant outlet devices and a heat exchanger to allow at least part of the moist desiccant that comes out of the room to be supplied to the heat exchanger which is designed for dehydration of the moist desiccant, the heat exchanger having an outlet in communication with the heater for delivery of dehydrated desiccant from the heat exchanger to the room via the heater,

that at least two sets of rotating vanes are provided which are located on a respective rotating shaft, their shafts having parallel axes of rotation, and are designed to rotate in a first mutually counter-rotating mode when operating to swirl the fragmented material(s)/ the drugs,

that the vanes in the set or each set of vanes extend radially from a respective surface of a common rotating shaft, where each vane as seen radially from the rotating shaft has a curved cross-section so that when rotating the vane set presents a convex surface to to face the fragmented material(s) to be swirled,

that a concave side of the vane from the respective surface of the shaft and partially or completely to an outer area of the vane is either covered by a plate element extending between side edges of the vane, or covered by an aerodynamic element extending rearward from the concave side of the vane, across the radial direction of the vane, and that a cavity between said concave side and the plate element or the aerodynamic element is closed to give a closed cavity.

Further embodiments of the device appear from the attached sub-claims 2 - 14.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following description and with reference to the attached drawings, which describe and illustrate non-limiting examples of the presented embodiments which are related to the handling of e.g. waste material in grocery trade, even if other types of material handling or treatment are within the ideas and teachings according to the invention.

On the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in a frontal perspective view and from one end the inventive system for carrying out the method, according to the invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of one side of the system of Fig. 1, generally illustrating the first, second and third sections of the system.

Fig. 3 is a view from the underside of the system in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view from said one end of the system in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the system as seen from said one side thereof, with some covers removed for clarity. Fig. 6 is a side view of the system as seen from said one side thereof, with some covers removed for clarity. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a first section of the system for transporting substance(s) and using a grinding feature downstream thereof to deliver substance(s) in a fragmented state. Fig. 8 is a further perspective view and top view of the first section including a modification thereof.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the first section as seen from a downstream end thereof.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the first section as seen in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an exploded view of a downstream part of the first section of the system.

Fig. 12 is a partial view of an inside of a transport channel in downstream part one of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a half-side part of said downstream part, and where to the left of this is shown part of a second section of the system. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a downstream end of the first section, as well as a perspective view of a lower area of a second section of the system, where the second section provides a swirling and drying of said fragmented substance(s).

Fig. 15 is a top perspective view of said lower area of the second section.

Fig. 16 is a downstream end view of the lower region of the second section.

Fig. 17 is a side view of the lower region of the second section.

Fig. 18 is a top view of the lower region of the second section with first and second counter-rotating sets of vanes. Fig. 19a is a perspective view of a first set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section, Fig. 19b is a view from above of the first set rotated 90° in relation to the view of Fig. 19a, and Fig. 19c is a top view of the first set rotated 90° relative to the drawing on

Fig. 19b.

Fig. 20a is a perspective view of a second set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section, Fig. 20b is a view from above of the second set rotated 270° in relation to the view in Fig. 20a, and Fig. 20c is a view from above of the first set rotated 180° in relation to the view in Fig. 20a. Fig. 21 is a top view of the lower area of the second section with a first alternative of first and second counter-rotating sets of vanes. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the first alternative of the first set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section. Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the first alternative of the second set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section. Fig. 24 is a top view of the lower area of the second section with a second alternative of first and second counter-rotating sets of vanes. Fig. 25 is a perspective view of the second alternative of the first set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section. Fig. 26 is a perspective view of the second alternative of the second set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section. Fig. 27a - 27c are three different perspective views of a third type of vane to be used with the two sets of vanes. Fig. 28 is a perspective view of a third alternative of the first set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section, using a vane type according to Figs. 27a - 27c. Fig. 29 is a perspective view of a third alternative of the second set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section, using a vane type according to Figs. 27a - 27c. Fig. 30 is a top perspective view of a fourth vane type for use with the two sets of vanes. Fig. 31 is a perspective view of a fourth alternative of the first set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section, using a vane type according to Fig. 30. Fig. 32 is a perspective view of a fourth alternative of the second set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section, using a vane type according to Fig. 30. Fig. 33 is a top perspective view of a fifth vane type to be used with the two sets of vanes. Fig. 34 is a perspective view of a fifth alternative of the first set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section, using a vane type according to Fig. 33. Fig. 35 is a perspective view of a fifth alternative of the second set of rotating vanes in said lower area of the second section, using a vane type according to Fig. 33.

Fig. 36 is a side view of a modified embodiment of the system as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 37 is an upstream end view of a modified lower area of a second section of the system and with a modified third section for discharging treated, fragmented material(s).

Fig. 38 is a bottom view of the lower area as shown in Fig. 37.

Fig. 39 is a top perspective view of the modified lower area of a second section.

Fig. 40 is a perspective view of an upstream end of a lower region of a second section.

Fig. 41 is a top view of the modified lower area of a second section.

Fig. 42 is a bottom perspective view of a housing for a fabric particulate filtering device forming part of the second section and the modified second section. Fig. 43 is a side view of the housing in Fig. 42 and which illustrates a filtering device which is placed therein and with the closure panel on the housing removed for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 44 is a simplified method flow chart.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the system comprises three main modules, such as infeed and chopper module 100, a whirling and drying module 200, and an outfeed module 300. Although not shown in Fig. 1-4, these modules could have a protective and surrounding house 400, as indicated in Fig. 5 and 6, where parts of the house have been removed for the sake of clarity and to be able to view construction devices inside the house.

In order to avoid any odor from inside the house, a pressure therein below atmospheric pressure can be provided to avoid in particular any odor from modules 100 and 300, but also module 200. Any odor inside the house can easily be vented out of a building where the system is installed and to the atmosphere. The process itself, especially when superheated steam is used as a drying agent, will reduce odors and bad smells when drying smelly products, and due to the condensation of steam it is possible to achieve a non-scented process. Downstream treatment of the condensate then also means, in terms of volume, treating smaller amounts compared to treating and cleaning a gas fraction.

The housing has a bottom plate 401 and legs 402, and a plurality of openings for access to and from the devices inside the housing. The house also enables ventilation through e.g. openings 403 in an upper surface, as shown in Fig. 5 and a lid 404 for access to e.g. electronics and operational management system 405. The locations of these funds are not critical and are only mentioned as possible.

The first module has an infeed hopper 101, and a screw conveyor 102 with a conveyor screw 103 attached to a rotating drive shaft 104, the drive shaft 104 being rotated by means of a motor 105 and a gearbox 106.

The conveyor screw 103 rotates inside a channel 107 which is curved 180° at the bottom of the funnel 101 and inside a tube 108 which is curved 360° downstream in relation to the channel 107.

Both the channel 107 and the tube 108 have along their inner wall a plurality of guide rails 109 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor, said guide rails 109 being angularly separated from each other. The purpose of these guide rails 109 is to prevent fabric(s) from rotating with the wings of the conveyor screw 103, instead of being moved towards a conveyor exit. The rails 109 which are placed in the tubular section 108 of the conveyor 102 improve axial pressure on the material to be cut, so that the cutting operation is optimized.

The rotating drive shaft 104 is fixed at its downstream end to a smaller surface of a truncated cone 110 which reduces the cross-sectional open space, thereby causing an increased internal pressure on the material(s) to be cut downstream, and increasing the speed of the material(s). A high internal pressure is considered significant in the case of e.g. grocery waste that has cling film or packaging with plastic material in order to then achieve effective cutting of the plastic material, as it is necessary to retain the plastic material so that parts of it can be cut up adequately.

The truncated cone 110 has along its outer surface a plurality of mutually separated, straight scraper rails 111 which are provided to grind the raw material (substance/substances) at the inner zone, i.e. the zone which has the smallest cross-sectional free area of the conveyor. If the raw material is seafood such as shells and shellfish, the grinding provides an efficient pre-breakdown thereof. The fact that the raw material is under pressure from rotating vanes on the conveyor screw 103 causes internal revitalization of the raw material and thus contributes to the improvement of subsequent downstream cutting.

A chopping device 112 is positioned downstream in relation to the conveyor screw 103 and the truncated cone 110, the chopping device enabling further fragmentation of the at least one substance before delivery to the module 200. The chopping device comprises a first set of mutually angularly separated, stationary knives and a second set of angularly spaced, rotating blades 113 downstream of and interacting with the first set.

A larger surface of the truncated cone 110 is attached by means of spring-biased bolts to an upstream surface 115 of a hub 116 of the set of rotating knives 114. Spring pre-biasing takes place appropriately by using disc springs which are compressed, as the disc springs provide a movement capability equal to e.g. 10 mm at the end of the largest diameter of the shears formed by the blades. In the event that massive material, such as stainless steel cutlery, is accidentally among the substances to be processed, it will be able to pass without damaging or even destroying the cutter. The main task of the cutter (or scissors) is to cut the fabric(s) (raw material) into several parts, e.g. four parts, per revolution of the knives 114, and enable the cutting of e.g. bone and plastic, so that a subsequent process can take place without problems in a drying zone or room or too large flakes of plastic. Large flakes of plastic can, if they are physically long enough, accumulate around the drive shaft over time, and can eventually cause operational problems.

If unwanted materials tend to clog module 100, the conveyor screw can be rotationally reversed and objects or objects that cannot be processed can be removed through an operating port 117 (Figs. 8 and 10) at a lower end of hopper 101.

As will be noted, the blades 114 cut towards and along the downstream end of the blades 113. The blades 113, which are welded to the inside of the pipe 108, are angled outwards in the downstream direction, which means that if e.g. a plastic carrier bag accompanies the material downstream axially at the outer part of the pipe 108, e.g. at its maximum diameter, it will then be forced into the raw material (substance/substances) towards the truncated cone and towards the narrowest cross-sectional area, i.e. resulting in it encountering a massive resistance force from the remaining raw material or substance(s) and will be chopped up together with that raw material.

It should be noted that e.g. flakes of plastic or plastic foil or other potentially problematic material to be treated in the present context is considered one of at least one substance to be treated.

It will be noted that the stationary knives 113 in the cutting device have an upstream area which is there designed as an inclined or stepped, sharp edge 113', and where a downstream area of the stationary knives has a cutting surface which is parallel to an upstream surface of the rotating knives 114. The cutting edge is suitable as a preliminary divider for the raw material. Each stationary knife 113, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor, has its longest dimension where it is attached to the inner pipe wall 108 of the conveyor 102. Also, it is noted that the guide rail 109 at its downstream end joins the upstream end 113' of the stationary knife 113 adjacent to the pipe's 108 wall. However, there may be more blades 113 present than a number of guide rails 109 to connect with them.

A downstream end of the conveying screw 103 of the conveyor 102 is separated from an upstream surface 115 on the hub 116 of said rotating knife 114. In reality, the screw 103 preferably terminates at a short distance from the location of the stationary knives 113. The longitudinal small space, which thus has no conveyor screw present, forms a volume which has no influence other than from the raw material or the substance(s) to be processed and which is pushed by the conveyor and further raw material on its way to said volume when using the conveyor.

This temporary accumulation of raw material (substance(s)) at said small space causes a kind of "plug" of the raw material prior to its cutting by means of the cooperating knives 113,114 and will give a high internal pressure which prevents or reduces leakage upstream of materials and desiccant from the whirling and drying module 200 into module 100.

The blades 113 and 114 effectively form a plurality of scissors. The number of knives 113 is shown in the embodiment to be eight, and the number of knives 114 is shown in the embodiment to be four. The number of blades is not critical and the number of blades shown is what is currently preferred. Generally, the number of knives will largely depend on the type of material(s) to be processed. The number of knives shown is thus a non-limiting example.

When there is no more raw material or substance(s) to process, the "plug" will gradually dry from the inside and eventually collapse because its material noticeably shrinks as it dries out. The drying sequence in module 200 can then be safely stopped without any risk of decomposition of the waste or raw material that is in that area of the system.

At such a time, the control unit 405 will detect from temperature sensors belonging to module 200 that there is too little water or moisture in the drying process carried out by module 200, which results in an increased exhaust gas temperature from a drying and swirling room in module 200, and module 200 can then appropriately enter an idle state with a low maintenance temperature inside that room, eg. 50-100 °C, and for a limited period.

The invention will now be described further with regard to the second module 200.

Mainly, the module comprises a swirling, drying, filtering and condensing unit 201 which is designed to receive in a room 202 of it said at least one substance in a fragmented or cut state at a first entrance 203 to it. The unit 201 has a lower area 204 with at least two sets of rotating vanes 205, 206 located in said space 202. At least one other entrance 207 in the lower area 204 of the space 202 is designed to receive desiccant, e.g. hot gas, hot air, steam or superheated steam for injection into the substance/substances present in the unit's swirling and drying room 202, the at least one fragmented substance being subjected to swirling action from said set 205, 206 of vanes. The desiccant entering the space can suitably be at atmospheric pressure and is driven into space 202 by a fan 240. A filtration unit 208 is placed in said space 202 at a distance above said at least two sets 205, 206 of vanes. Desiccant outlet 209 forming a "clean zone" is located in communication with the filtration unit 208 at an upper end of said space 202 to allow exit flow of used desiccant (gas, steam or air) which has passed through the swirled fabric(s) a /substance one to exit said room 202 and thereby contain any proportion of moisture that has been collected from the substance(s). Also, the fragmented, swirled and dried substance(s) may be caused to exit the compartment 202 at a lower region thereof as an end product, suitably through an outlet 210.

The at least two sets 205, 206 of rotary vanes have respective rotary shafts with their axes of rotation parallel, and rotate in a first mutually counter-rotating mode when operating to swirl the fragmented material(s). The vanes 213 - 216 and 217 - 220 extend radially from their respective shafts 211 and 212, as is clearly shown in Figs. 18, 19a - 19c and 20a - 20c.

The shovels 213 - 217; 218 - 222 in each set 205; 206 of vanes extend radially from a respective surface of the respective common rotating shaft 221; 212.

Each vane, as seen radially from the rotating shaft, has an arcuate cross-section to thereby produce, by rotation of the set of vanes, a convex surface, e.g. 213' and 218' to face the fragmented substance(s) and the substances to be swirled. The vanes are at a radially outer area, e.g. as shown at 213" and 218" bent forward in a direction of rotation for a swirling mode, the outer region thereby having a forward facing surface forming an angle with the rotating forward facing convex surface, e.g. 213' and 218', of the remainder of the vane. The angle must be determined as a function of the material(s) to be treated, but is often greater than 90° and less than 180°, preferably between 120° and 150°.

The shafts 211 and 212 have ends 211' and 212' which are connected to drive motors and gearboxes 223, 224 and 225, 226, see Fig. 1 - 4.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 21 - 23, the concave side, e.g. 213"' and 218"' of the vane between said outer area and the respective surface of the shaft covered by a flat rear plate element 227, 228 extending between side edges of e.g. the vanes 213, 218. These plates are more visible by looking at the vanes 214, 217 and 219, 220 in Fig. 22 and 23 respectively. It will be noted that a space thus present between said concave side and the plate element is closed off by a first and second radial edge of the plate element to provide a sealed cavity. In Fig. 22 and 23 it will be seen that at the radially outermost end of the plate element 227; 228, a closing element 227' is provided there; 228', while the radially innermost end of the cavity is substantially closed by means of the respective shafts 211; 212.

Although not shown in Figs. 21 - 23, it could be imagined that the closure element 227'; 228' extend all the way up from the radially outermost edge of the plate element to the most radial edge area of the vane, i.e. at the edge area of the forwardly bent part of the vane. This will generally be a matter of choice depending on the type of fragmented substance(s) to be treated.

In connection with the further improved embodiment shown in Figs. 30a - 30c, 31 and 32, such "all-the-way-up" closing element 227"; 228" is shown in detail in Figs. 30c, 31 and 32.

The directions of rotation of the at least two sets 205, 206 of vanes could be mutually reversed at an operational stage which causes the final product to exit the chamber 202, thereby providing a second mutually counter-rotating mode, i.e. a mode of rotation opposite to that shown in FIG.

Fig. 18 and 21.

Suitably, upon discharge, the first set 205 rotates in a direction opposite to that shown in Figs. 18, 21 and 24, and then the second set 206 will rotate in a direction opposite to that shown in Figs. 18, 21 and 24. It is also possible to let the sets rotate in this way simultaneously or at different speeds of rotation.

The advantage of the plates 227 and 228 is that they improve the output from the lower area 204 of the unit 201. If the vanes do not have such rear plates 227, 228, then it may be necessary to have conveyor means from the lower area 204 to stick more into the outlet area 210 than would normally be required, and in addition let the conveyor have less inclination than is normally required.

Furthermore, the rear plate member 227 prevents; 228 and the closing element 227'; 228' on the back (concave) side of the vane an unwanted build-up of substance(s) if they are of a powder type or a finely divided material, as will be further discussed below.

The rear plates 227; 228 can be of a somewhat flexible type, such as e.g. of a material known as Viton® or may have a non-stick coating such as e.g. Teflon®.

To improve the swirling properties of certain types of fragmented material(s) to be processed, an aerodynamic element 229 is proposed; 230, as e.g. has a drop-shaped or wedge-shaped design and which extends backwards from the concave side, e.g. 213"' and 218"', on the scoop. The aerodynamic element 229; 230 has its widest dimension closest to the aforementioned concave surface. As with the previously described and shown plate and closure elements 227, 227' and 228, 228', the aerodynamic element prevents the build-up of "particle cakes" and a situation with a product mixture having a non-uniform composition. The top and bottom of element 229; 230 will be closed, so that the element in cooperation with the concave side of the vane forms a closed cavity. The aerodynamic element can be of a somewhat flexible type, such as e.g. of a material known as Viton® or may have a non-stick coating such as e.g. Teflon®. It could be made of a rigid material if it e.g. provided with a non-stick coating.

Such rear plate element 227; 228 or aerodynamic element 229; 230 may be particularly suitable for use in the case that the substances to be treated, i.e. to be dried and swirled, include proportions of fine particulate materials, and/or are combined with the addition of liquids from low to high viscosity.

The situation with respect to a build-up of finely divided particulate material on the reverse side (the concave side) is of real concern when processing certain specific types of material. The problem is that when such a build-up of material detaches from the shovel, it will be in the form of large lumps. This must be avoided when processing such finely divided particulate material or powder-type material that has air-entraining powders and powders with properties related to the build-up of static electricity or the formation of crystalline bonds. With the use of a plate element 227; 228 (with closing element 227'; 228') or with the use of an aerodynamic element 229; 230 as generally described, there will thus no longer be a concave area on the bucket for the build-up of such problematic material to be treated.

As shown in Fig. 18 - 26, the vanes are placed on tubular shafts 211; 212 which has a square cross-section. This gives a most suitable division of the vanes from a production point of view with the vanes on either side of the square profile. In the examples shown, one side can have two vanes and the other sides only one vane. However, this should not be interpreted as a limitation of the embodiment, as there may be several vanes on each side, depending on the shafts 211; 212 axial length. The vanes can also be mounted diagonally, with 180° between them in each longitudinal segment, or even at every 90° for certain processes.

In order to achieve with the at least one rotating set of vanes improved properties with regard to lifting properties of the fragmented material(s) to be swirled and dried or otherwise treated, both in a radial and tangential direction, as well as to achieve a increased arc length in the axial direction, a third type of vane 231 is provided as shown in Fig. 27a - 27c. In reality, this third type of vane represents a modification of the vane as shown in e.g. Fig. 14, 18, 19a - 19c and 20a - 20c. The vane has a convex side 231' which is bent forward in a direction of rotation for swirling mode, as indicated by the arrow, the outer region thereby having a forward facing surface forming an angle with the rotating forward facing convex surface 231' of the remainder of the vane. Compared to the embodiment shown in Figs. 18, 19a - 19c, 20a - 20c, this third embodiment has a wing-like side element 232 at a radially extending side edge of the convex side 231' and of the area 231". The element 232 has a radially extending part 232' and a forwardly deflected portion 232" at a radially outer region thereof. In an embodiment of the invention, these two parts are suitably turned forward in the direction of rotation, thereby forming an angle with said side 231' and said area 231". The element 232 contributes to the improved properties mentioned above. It will be understood that the vanes which is placed on a rotating shaft 211; 212, as shown in Figures 28 and 29, could be placed in any suitable position thereon, for example as tentatively shown.

The embodiments shown in Fig. 30a - 30c, 31 and 32 and Fig. 33a, 33b, 34 and 35 will now be described. As can be seen in all the drawings, the wing-like element 232 is present with its components 232', 232". The advantages of the element 232 have just been discussed in connection with Figs. 27a - 27c, 28 and 29, and the properties of the element 232 are the same in the further embodiments which will be briefly described.

Also, as discussed in connection with Figs. 21 - 23 and 24 - 26, the situation is with a built-up, finely divided particulate material on the rear (concave side) 231"' (see Figs. 28 and 29) of a vane 231 really of concern when processing certain specific types of materials. Thus, with the use of a plate element 227; 228 (with closure element 227'; 228'), or with the use of an aerodynamic element 229; 230 as generally described, it will not longer be present a concave area on the bucket for the build-up of such problematic material to be processed.

In Fig. 30a and 30b it can be seen that the closing element 227'; 228' belonging to the rear plate member 227; 228 extends between the radially outermost end of element 227; 228 and the radially innermost area of the outwardly deflected part 231" of the vane 231 as shown for example in

Fig. 27a - 27c. However, when powder-type materials are processed, as discussed above, it will be advantageous to allow the closure element 227'; 228' extend all the way up from it

radially outermost edge of the plate element to the most radial edge area of the vane, i.e. at the edge area of the forwardly deflected part of the vane. This will generally be a matter of choice, depending on the type of fragmented substance(s) to be processed. In connection with the further improved embodiment shown in Figs. 30a-30c, 31 and 32, such "all-the-way-up" closing element 227"; 228" is therefore shown in detail in Figs. 30c, 31 and 32. Thus, no convex surface present to cause problematic vane characteristics when handling powder type materials. The wing-like element 232 will also, as mentioned above, effect improved particle lifting and propagation/dispersion.

Figures 33a - 33c, 34 and 35 relate to the advantageous use of the wing-like element 232 together with the previously described advantageous properties of the aerodynamic element 229; 230. When considering Fig. 33b, 33c, 34 and 35, it is noted that depending on the angle at which the vane 231 together with the element 229; 230 forms with a longitudinal axis for the rotating shaft 211; 212, a radially innermost region 229' can; 230' of element 229; 230 project beyond a longitudinal edge of the shaft 211; 212.1 such a case, a kind of hollow pyramid construction 229"; 230" can connect such an innermost area 229'; 230' to an adjacent side of the shaft 211; 212. The structure 229"; 230" forms obtuse angles with the shaft 211; 212, thereby preventing problematic particulate material from collecting in that area.

Although only two sets 205; 206 of shovels are shown, it would be obvious to provide additional sets if available space permits at a location where the system is to be located. In certain cases it would be conceivable to use only one set of vanes or operate only one set of vanes at a time, e.g. alternately, even if more than one set of blades is present, e.g. the two sets currently shown in the drawings.

By using a square cross-section for the shafts 211; 212, it becomes very easy to place the respective vanes on the shafts with the correct and preferably angled orientation or "twist" in relation to an axial direction of the shaft or the rectilinear sides of the shaft. An axle with a square cross-section also has a naturally high stiffness against twisting and bending in relation to its longitudinal axis, as well as a large circumference which may prove necessary to avoid any long webs or flakes or foils of e.g. plastic wraps around the shafts and forms a build-up of plastic material, which could then cause operational problems or at least cause reduced efficiency with regard to swirl. Although the shafts may have, viewed from their outside, a square cross-section, a circular cross-section shaft may be mounted inside the shaft having a square cross-section and be fixed thereto by the use of welding, gluing, bolts or screws and be supported by one end 111'; 112' of roller bearings 233; 234 and let the other end 111"; 112" form engagement with the respective gearbox 224; 226 which are operated by respective motors 223; 225.

The shafts of circular cross-section, as they pass through the walls of portion 204, are sealed against fluid leakage to the outside by means of a packing material (not shown) which rides on the circumference of the shafts.

It is clear from e.g. Fig. 14 that the two sets 205,206 of rotating vanes paddle along a respective curved or semi-circular floor 233; 234 in the lower area 204 of the unit 201. The radius of curvature is approximately equal to or slightly more than half the diameter of rotation of each of the two sets 205 and 206. A clearance of 10-15 mm between a sweeping vane and the floor 234; 236 may be appropriate, but in cases where a substance/substance to be handled e.g. is not grocery waste, the clearance can be increased or reduced. One main thing is to avoid the shovels being wedged against the floor due to e.g. legs or other foreign objects which could cause such wedging and even damage the vanes or overload the drive motors 223; 225 for the shovel sets 205; 206.

Although the desiccant, e.g. hot gas, hot air or superheated steam is generally indicated to pass through the space 202 of the unit 201 in the process of drying the fragmented or cut substance(s) therein, it will be understood that if it is a gas, then this could be any suitable gas or gas mixture or an inert gas. When superheated steam is used, it should preferably be dry, superheated steam or with as little moisture in it as possible when it enters the room 202. Furthermore, the air will normally have a certain percentage of moisture, which thus means that it could also be referred to as steam.

The vanes in the drying and swirling unit 201 are capable of throwing the fragmented or cut-up particles of fabric and/or fabrics up into the space 202 in an ideal throwing path, vectored mainly upwards, to provide optimal energy exchange from the desiccant, e.g. hot air, with the longest possible intervening contact with the particles. In order to achieve that all raw material or cut substances are dried in a satisfactory manner, there is also an axial component associated with such vectorization, typically referred to as a controlled transport pattern. This results in a combination of operating vectors that results in optimal energy exchange, thereby also enabling compact machinery in the provided system.

As indicated above, a filtering unit 208 is located above the lower area, which is suitably designed as a replaceable filter cartridge 237 which is insertable along rails 238 at the top of the unit 208. The filtering unit is provided to prevent swirling particles in the space 202 from enter a loop for the desiccant to be heated and used for drying the particles or fragments in room 202.

In the process of letting the desiccant, e.g. hot gas, hot air, steam or superheated steam, pass through the filter from room 202, the outside of the filter, suitably filter bags in the filter cassette 237, will eventually become covered with dust and require cleaning. Cleaning can be done by introducing compressed air into the aforementioned bags using e.g. a shock impulse supply of compressed air from a tank 239 via a pipeline 240 and introduction nozzles 241. The filter bags in the cassette 237 have internal springs or other devices to prevent the bags from collapsing during normal operation. The unit 208 has a lid (not shown) to access the interior of the unit (compartment 202) through an opening 245 to enable easy replacement of the filter cartridge 237 when needed.

The circulation loop consists of the filter unit 208 and its cartridge 237, the clean zone 209 above the filter unit, the fan 242 which is driven by a motor 243 and which causes circulation of the desiccant, and a heater 244 which heats the desiccant, such as gas, air or steam (which must be overheated), to achieve a desired state of dryness of the agent when this is blown into the swirling and drying chamber 202 by the fan 242. The heater 244 is suitably an electric heater, but can be a gas-powered heater. The desiccant causes an evaporation of moisture or water in the chopped, swirled material that is present in said room 202. The desiccant will experience a temperature drop when it is moistened due to the evaporation from the raw material in said room 202.

Passage from the zone 209 into the fan 242 takes place via channel 246, as seen in Fig. 2, 6 and 42.

The fan 242 and the heater 244 are thus provided to blow in a loop solution hot desiccant into said room 202 through said second entrance(s) 207 at the lower end thereof and cause the desiccant and any moisture added to it from the at least one fragmented ( or chopped up) and swirled the substance to leave the room 202 via the filter cassette 237 at the upper exit end 209 of the room by suction from the fan 242 and for further, at least partial re-entry into said room 202 through said second entrance(s) 207.

A desiccant property sensor 247 is located downstream in relation to said output end 209, the sensor 247 being able to detect at least one of temperature, humidity and pressure of the gas, air or steam, which forms the desiccant. In addition, a temperature sensor 248 is placed upstream in relation to said second entrance 207 to monitor said gas or air entering as desiccant in the space 202 at a lower end thereof through said second entrance 207.

An adjustable flow diverter valve 249, which is controllable by said property sensor 247 or is manually adjustable, is placed in said loop upstream in relation to or at a blow-out point from the fan 242 upstream in relation to the flow inlet to the heater 244. The valve 249 puts desiccant with any added moisture leaving said space into the exit end 209 and having moisture above a certain threshold, capable of being at least partially diverted from the loop.

Ideally, the amount of desiccant diverted should be equal to the amount of steam that has evaporated from the swirled raw material/cut material(s). However, the diverted volume will normally be larger to ensure that not too much moisture is reintroduced into the drying chamber 202.

The flow velocity from the fan 242 could be in the range of 5-20 m/s (or a maximum of e.g. 0.1 m<3>/s and/or with no limitations in volume for other applications), which would be sufficient to cause the evaporated moisture from the raw material together with derived desiccant to pass via a pipeline 250 to a heat exchanger 251 (Fig. 5) and through the exchanger. The water present in the diverted desiccant is caused to condense in a conventional manner and be delivered to a sump or sewer or public drain 252. By supplying public water to the heat exchanger at inlet 253 and allowing it to pass out through outlet 254, the public water is heated and can be used for other purposes. The dehydrated, diverted desiccant can either pass out to ambient air through an outlet 255 or, more preferably, be returned to an inlet 257 of the heater 244 via a return pipe 256. Normally, there is no need for a booster fan in the return pipe 256. If if necessary, a venturi device driven by the fan 242 can be included in the heater to enhance the flow return from the heat exchanger. Thereby, any remaining heat in the return flow can be used, whereby less heat input from the heater 244 is required.

In this way, the public water can feed a hot water tank (not shown) with the desired temperature and at a rate that is adapted to the drying capacity in the drying room 202. In such a case, the hot water tank will not require its own heating circuits, whereby power consumption is saved for the heating water.

In a variant, only indicated with a dashed line, the inlet 253 and the outlet 254 of the heat exchanger 251 can form part of a closed loop 258 which passes through a further heat exchanger 259 belonging to the return pipeline 256 to preheat the returned, diverted desiccant. In such further loop 258, a fluid with a high boiling point could advantageously be used. It will also be understood that this solution could also be used for further heating of public water, in which case the fluid in the loop 258 could simply be public water.

If inert gas is used as drying agent, in such a case release of the dehydrated agent through outlet 255 will be undesirable, which is why re-introduction through return pipeline 256 is recommended, particularly from a cost perspective.

Steam-based drying in room 202 is currently the preferred mode of operation, also from a safety aspect. Even if the desiccant that passes through the heater 244 is fairly dry, the raw material in the room will normally contain a certain amount of moisture, which thus means that the desiccant in the room will contain some moisture and thus be as steam when it leaves the room 202, i.e. have a greater proportion of moisture when it leaves the room 202 than when it entered the room.

However, in certain operational situations, it may be advantageous to let the drying agent be steam or superheated steam, depending on the material to be treated in room 202.

For treatment of e.g. food waste, it will be possible to use an inlet temperature for drying in the range of 125 °C -150 °C, preferably on average 135 °C, which gives an outlet temperature equal to approx. 105 °C in the outlet 209. The final product to be delivered from room 202 through e.g. an outlet 210 would in such a case be a highly sanitary product, sterilized and substantially free of bacteria. Preferably, the outlet 210 can have a non-adherent coating, such as e.g. Teflon®. Moreover, the vanes, the rotating shafts and the interior or space 202 may have such a coating, or that at least some of these structural parts of the module 200 could have such a coating.

An advantage of the module 200 is a short drying cycle in the range of 10 - 30 seconds. In certain cases and for special/special substance(s) to be treated, superheated steam with inlet temperatures in the range 200°C - 350°C may be necessary or desirable. Even higher temperatures can be imagined, but may require special safety measures.

Due to the fact that the raw material is in any case exposed to the desiccant during a very short time equal to e.g. 10 seconds, if the treated substance(s) are to be edible and have storage capacity, the nutritional quality will thus not be impaired. However, to safely remove any harmful bacteria from certain substances and avoid their oxidation during storage, longer drying exposures may be required, which may affect the nutritional value to some extent.

Substance(s) that have been cut up, dried and swirled will show a significantly reduced output volume in relation to the input volume. If the substances are everyday goods and food waste, the end product (which is a mixture of e.g. organic and inorganic materials) can be used to produce biogas.

The dried product will arbitrarily move to the outlet 210. A conveyor module 300 can be connected to the outlet 210 of the module 200.

A conveyor 301 of the screw type is provided to be operationally connected to the outlet 210 from the room at a lower location thereof, thereby enabling the final product to leave the room 202. If the conveyor does not have its entrance, i.e. upstream, sufficiently into the outlet 210 , this will mean that reversing the direction of rotation of the blade sets becomes necessary, appropriately with the back plates as shown in Fig. 21 - 23 and 30a - 32, or aerodynamic elements, as shown in Fig. 24 - 26 and 33a - 35, on the blades in order to achieve efficient output to conveyor module one 300.1 such a case, the conveyor must be placed at a shallow angle in relation to the horizontal. The conveyor 301 has a conveyor screw 302 attached to a drive shaft 303 and is driven by a motor 304 and a gearbox 304'. The conveying screw rotates within a tubular housing 305. The conveying screw 302 has its downstream end 302' at a beginning 306' of a transverse discharge area 306 for the final product. A sealing zone has thereby been created downstream in relation to the end of the transport screw where there will be swirled, dry material as a continuous "plug" which thereby thermally and flow-wise isolates the swirling and drying space 202.

As with the infeed conveyor 102 in the first module 100, the conveyor 301 has guide rails 307 on the inner wall of the tubular housing to ensure axial transport of the final product from the outlet 210 to the discharge area 306. The housing 305 is not thermally insulated, which means that the final product leaving the area 306 is sufficiently cooled. The conveyor screw 302 has a blade diameter which is adapted for the largest particle size of substance(s) or raw material which has been cut up and dried, e.g. for grocery waste such as a banana peel which typically has a straight length equal to 150 mm. Moreover, the transition between the room 202 and the conveyor 301 should be adapted to any size of the largest, cut-up particle in order to prevent possible wedging there or some kind of bridging that could cause an interruption of operation.

In order to avoid transporting by means of the conveyor 301 raw material which has not been suitably dried, the conveying screw 302 in the conveyor 301 is controlled with respect to its rotation, so that rotation only starts after a certain time after moist raw material has been cut up and fed into the drying and swirling room.

The final product can be delivered to a transport container 308 or a suitably placed large sack.

Reference number 405 in Fig. 1 -3 typically denotes a box for screens, control panels and operating monitor outputs.

Finally, reference is made to drawing Figs. 27 - 32 which are shown to indicate an alternative to module 300, i.e. an alternative conveyor module 500 which causes the final product to leave the room 202 in a manner different from that described for the cooperative between the modules 200 and 300. According to this embodiment, a pair of trapdoors 501, 502 are provided which are hinged at 503 and 504 to the rest of the bottom parts 235, 236 of the lower area 204. The trapdoors are movable by means of electrically operated, hydraulic or pneumatic jacks 505; 506. An advantage of this embodiment is that it can be of a more compact design and thus require less space in a grocery store's "back room", and in cases where only small amounts of waste are processed at a time. The end product can be dropped into a container or large sack.

From the above description, it will be seen that the drying and swirling process inside the chamber 202 is limited to a process which is related to moist, raw and chopped material or substance(s) being fed into the chamber 202 and which causes raw material or substance(s) to be dried, swirled, cut up from space 202 in the system as an end product of the system.

The invention solves serious problems related to nutrients in particular by treating and getting rid of these in a hygienic way, without - as is known in the prior art - causing food waste to be stored in a wet, smelly and degrading way, and which subsequently needs a lot demanding cleaning operations on collection containers to avoid insects, rats, mice, birds or other vermin, and any health risks for personnel. The final product is stable with regard to storage properties, as it has been essentially sterilized, so that bacteria cannot cause further deterioration or fermentation that could cause odors, and the final product is therefore suitable for flexible logistics solutions until the final product, if food waste, is incinerated or used for production of biogas.

Claims (14)

1. Device for swirling and drying at least one substance which is received in a fragmented state in a defined space (202) in the device, where the device comprises: at least one set (205; 206) of rotating vanes (213 - 217; 218 - 222) which is placed in said space, and an entrance (207) to the space (202) which is designed to receive desiccant via a heater (244) for injection into substance(s) that are fragmented, the at least one fragmented substance being exposed to swirling action from said at least one set of vanes, where a filtering unit (208) is placed in said space (202) and above or laterally in relation to said at least one set (205; 206) of rotating vanes (213 - 217; 218) - 222), such set being attached to a rotating shaft (211; 212), wherein desiccant outlet devices (209) are placed in communication with the filtering unit (208) at an upper end or at a lateral area of said space (202) for to allow flow of desiccant which has passed through said vortex s toff(s) to leave said space (202), and where the space (202) has at least one outlet (202) where the fragmented, swirled and dried substance(s) can leave said space at a lower area thereof as said final product , characterized by- that a feeding facility (249; 250) is in communication with said desiccant outlet devices (209) and a heat exchanger (251) to allow at least a part of moist desiccant coming out of the space (202) to be supplied to the heat exchanger (251) which is designed for dehydrating the moist desiccant, as the heat exchanger (251) has an outlet (256; 242) in communication with the heater (244) for delivery of dehydrated desiccant from the heat exchanger (251) to the room (202) via the heater (244), - that it is provided at least two sets (205; 206) of rotating vanes (213 - 217; 218 - 222) which are located on a respective rotating shaft (202), their shafts (211: 212) having parallel axes of rotation, and designed to rotate in a first mutually counter-rotating mode when operating to swirl the fragmented material(s) one(s), - that the vanes (213 - 217; 218 - 222) in the set or each set (205; 206) of vanes extend radially from a respective surface of a common rotating shaft (211; 212), where each vane so it is seen radially from the rotating shaft has a curved cross-section so that when rotating the vane set (205; 206) to present a convex surface (213' - 217'; 218' - 222') to face the fragmented substance(s) to be swirled, - that a concave side (213"' - 217"'; 218 "' - 222"'; 231') of the vane from the respective surface of the shaft and partially or completely to an outer area of the vane is either covered by a plate element (227; 228) extending between side edges of the vane, or covered by an aerodynamic element (229; 230), extending rearwardly from the concave side (213"' - 217"'; 218"' - 222"': 231') of the vane, across the radial direction of the vane , and - that a cavity between said concave side (213"'-217"'; 218"' - 222"'; 231') and the plate element (227; 228) or the aerodynamic element (229; 230) is closed to give a closed cavity.. 2. Device according to claim 1, where the aerodynamic element (229; 230) is drop-shaped or wedge-shaped. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, where the vane at a radially outer area (213" - 217"; 218" - 222"; 231") is bent forward in a direction of rotation for swirling mode, the outer area thereby having a forward surface which forms a angle with the rotating forward facing convex surface of the remainder of the vane. 4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, where a radially extending side edge area of the blade is provided with a wing-like side element (232) which projects laterally from said side edge area. 5. Device according to claim 4, where the wing-like side element (232) is turned forward in the direction of rotation of the blade, thereby forming an angle with an edge of the convex side of the blade and the forwardly bent area of the blade. 6. Device according to claim 1, where the direction of rotation of the axes (211; 212) is reversible to a second mutually counter-rotating mode when discharging the end product from the defined space (202). 7. Device according to claim 1 or 2, where the aerodynamic element (229; 230) has its widest dimension closest to said concave surface. 8. Device according to claim 1, where a fan (242) is provided in a desiccant flow loop to blow desiccant into said space (202) and to cause the desiccant and any moisture added to it from the at least one fragmented and swirled substance to exit the space (202) at an output end (209) via the filtering unit (208) by means of suction from the fan (242) for further, at least partial reintroduction into said room (202) after any necessary dehydration and/or heating of the desiccant.. 9. Device according to claim 1 or 8, where a desiccant property sensor (247) is placed downstream in relation to said output end (209), the sensor being capable of detecting at least one of the desiccant's temperature, humidity and pressure. 10. Device according to any one of claims 1, 8 and 9, where a temperature sensor (248) is placed upstream in relation to said desiccant inlet (207) to the room (202) for monitoring or controlling said desiccant entering the room at a lower end through the desiccant inlet. 11. Device according to any one of claims 1, and 8 - 10, wherein an adjustable flow diverting valve (249) is associated with said loop, and wherein the valve is designed to allow desiccant exiting the chamber (202) with moisture over a set threshold value be at least partially diverted from the loop to be dehydrated in the heat exchanger (251) before re-entry into the loop and into the room (202) via the heater (244). 12. Device according to claim 11, wherein a heat exchanger (251) is provided to receive desiccant from the loop via the diverting valve (249), the heat exchanger (251) providing a temperature increase in a fluid entering and then leaving the exchanger (251) , the fluid being one of gas, air or liquid, e.g. water. 13. Device according to claim 12, where said fluid provides a partial heating contribution to the heating provided to a desiccant by means of the heater (244). 14. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 8 - 13, wherein an air impulse generator (209) is operatively connected to nozzles opening into an interior of filter bags (237) in the filtration unit (208) to enable shock cleaning of the bags (237) .