Mortimer Technology Holdings Limited

Torftech Limited

Christopher E Dodson

The present invention provides an apparatus for the processing of a particulate material, the apparatus comprising:

Toroidal bed reactor

Heating matter

Matter to be treated is passed through at least two treating regions sequentially wherein a bed of the matter is moved in a band continuously along an annular path by passing fluid through the bed along the path. The annular paths of the regions are concentric.

Treating matter

Processes in which matter is subjected to fluid flow

A bed 26 of particulate material is moved in a band continuously along an annular path by passing fluid media having both circumferential and vertical components through the bed along that path. The fluid media comprises combustion gases which are passed through the bed along a portion of the path for heating the particulate material as it passes therethrough and fluid matter to be heated which passes through the bed along another portion of its path such that the fluid matter is heated as it passes through the particulate material which has been heated by the combustion gases.

Treating fluid matter

A method of carrying out a process on or with liquid comprises moving a bed of the liquid in a band 28 continuously along an annular path defined in a chamber 12 by passing fluid 38 having both circumferential and vertical components through the bed along the path during the carrying out of the process.

Process on or with liquid

For processing matter in a turbulent mass of particulate material, a substantially annular processing region (14; 104; 206) is provided and is preferably in the form of a substantially annular processing chamber having a radially inner wall which includes a waist (38; 122). A flow of fluid and matter to be processed are admitted to the processing region through one or more inlets (28, 46; 108, 124; 214, 220) with the flow of fluid being directed generally circumferentially into the processing region. In the processing region, matter to be processed is embedded in a compact turbulent band of particulate material for processing. Once processing is complete, the processed matter is withdrawn from the processing region, preferably by entrainment in an exhaust flow of the fluid.

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Reading, United Kingdom

Christopher E Dodson