Energy efficient tobacco curing and drying system with heat pipe heat recovery
US6742284B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S165/909
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention is a drying system and a method for its use, the drying system having a container containing a product to be dried and a dryer. The dryer includes an inlet for providing the drying air, a drying air pathway, and a furnace for heating the drying air. The drying air flows through a supply route to the container, where the drying air dries the product and is converted into a return air. The return air flows through a return route back to the dryer. The return air flows through a return air pathway and a heat exchanger which intersects the return air pathway and the drying air pathway. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the return air to the drying air. The return air is exhausted through an outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the container is a tobacco barn and the product is tobacco.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.