Granted Patent B2

US 7,651,565 · App. 10/506,567 · Granted Jan 26, 2010

Abstract

Claims (48)

1. A process for the calcining of gypsum, in a gypsum dryer/calciner comprising:

a calcining space;

a first pipe having an inlet connected to a source of hot gas and an outlet emerging in the calcining space;

a second pipe having an inlet connected to a source of gypsum and an outlet emerging in the calcining space, the second pipe being concentric with the first pipe;

a force-feeding screw positioned at least partially in the second pipe, the screw carrying the gypsum along in the calcining space;

the process comprising the stages of:

(i) supplying hot gases to the inlet of a first pipe;

(ii) supplying gypsum to the inlet of a second pipe concentric with the first pipe;

(iii) carrying the gypsum along in the second pipe via a force-feeding screw;

(iv) indirect heat exchange between the gypsum and the hot gases; and

(v) calcining the gypsum to plaster.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the gypsum is gypsum from flue gas desulphurization or natural gypsum or a mixture thereof.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the stages (iii) of carrying the gypsum along and (iv) of indirect heat exchange comprise drying of the gypsum.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the stages (iii) of carrying the gypsum along and (iv) of indirect heat exchange comprise drying and at least partially the calcining (v) of the gypsum to plaster.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the calcining (v) comprises bringing the gypsum into contact with the hot gases, and wherein the calcining is a flash calcination.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the time between bringing the gypsum into contact and its complete calcining is less than 10 sec.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the calcining (v) comprises bringing the gypsum into contact with the hot gases, the calcining being carried out in a fluidized bed.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the calcining stage comprises transportation of the gypsum from the outlet of the second pipe by entertainment by hot gases.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the residence time of the gypsum or plaster or a mixture thereof in the second pipe is between 30 seconds and 5 minutes.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the stage of indirect heat exchange between the gypsum and the hot gases comprises the calcining stage.

11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the stages (iii) of carrying the gypsum along and (iv) of indirect heat exchange comprise the drying and at least partially the calcining (v) of the gypsum to plaster, the calcining (v) being completed by bringing the gypsum into contact with the hot gases, wherein the completed calcining is a flash calcination, the duration of the stages (iii) and (iv) being between 30 seconds and 5 minutes and the duration of the calcining by contact with the hot gases being between 1 and 10 seconds.

12. The process according to claim 11 , the duration of the stages (iii) and (iv) being between 1 and 2 minutes and the duration of the calcining by contact with the hot gases being between 2 and 5 seconds.

13. The process according to claim 11 , additionally comprising a stage (iiib) of milling the gypsum during the stage (iii) of carrying along.

14. A process for the calcining of gypsum, in a gypsum dryer/calciner comprising:

a calcining space;

a first pipe having an inlet connected to a source of hot gas and an outlet emerging in the calcining space;

a second pipe having an inlet connected to a source of gypsum and an outlet emerging in the calcining space, the second pipe being concentric with the first pipe;

a force-feeding screw positioned at least partially in the second pipe, the screw carrying the gypsum alone in the calcining space;

the process comprising the stages of:

(i) supplying hot gases to the inlet of a first pipe;

(ii) supplying gypsum to the inlet of a second pipe concentric with the first pipe;

(iii) carrying the gypsum along in the second pipe via a force-feeding screw;

(iv) indirect heat exchange between the gypsum and the hot gases; and

(v) calcining the gypsum to plaster, by bringing the gypsum into contact with the hot gases, wherein the calcining is a flash calcination.

15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the time between bringing the gypsum into contact and its complete calcining is less than 10 sec.

16. A process for the calcining of gypsum, in a gypsum dryer/calciner comprising:

a calcining space;

a first pipe having an inlet connected to a source of hot gas and an outlet emerging in the calcining space;

a second pipe having an inlet connected to a source of gypsum and an outlet emerging in the calcining space, the second pipe being concentric with the first pipe;

a force-feeding screw positioned at least partially in the second pipe, the screw carrying the gypsum along in the calcining space;

the process comprising the stages of:

(i) supplying hot gases to the inlet of a first pipe;

(ii) supplying gypsum to the inlet of a second pipe concentric with the first pipe;

(iii) carrying the gypsum along in the second pipe via a force-feeding screw

(iv) indirect heat exchange between the gypsum and the hot gases; and

(v) calcining the gypsum to plaster;

wherein the stages (iii) of carrying the gypsum along and (iv) of indirect heat exchange comprise the drying and at least partially the calcining (v) of the gypsum to plaster, the calcining (v) being completed by bringing the gypsum into contact with the hot gases, wherein the completed calcining is a flash calcination, the duration of the stages (iii) and (iv) being between 30 seconds and 5 minutes and the duration of the calcining by contact with the hot gases being between 1 and 10 seconds.

17. The process according to claim 16 , the duration of the stages (iii) and (iv) being between 1 and 2 minutes and the duration of the calcining by contact with the hot gases being between 2 and 5 seconds.

Assignments (10)