IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,382,672
Granted Patent B2
US 9,382,672 · App. 14/478,828 · Granted Jul 5, 2016

Apparatus and method for dryer performance optimization system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,382,672
App. No.
14/478,828
Granted
Jul 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dryer performance optimization system comprising a dryer having an inner wall and being adapted to rotate at variable speeds and a variable frequency drive being adapted to vary the rotational speed of the dryer. The preferred system also comprises a baghouse having an inlet end being adapted to receive exhaust gas from the dryer and an outlet end and a controller being adapted to control the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer. A method for controlling the temperature of exhaust gas in a baghouse comprising providing a dryer performance optimization system as described herein and varying the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer by varying the rotational speed of the dryer.

Claims (41)

1. A dryer performance optimization system, said system comprising:

(a) a dryer, said dryer having a drum with a plurality of flights on an inner wall, said drum being adapted to rotate at variable speeds;

(b) a variable frequency drive, said variable frequency drive being adapted to vary the rotational speed of the dryer drum;

(c) a baghouse, said baghouse having an inlet end being adapted to receive exhaust gas from the dryer and an outlet end;

(d) a controller, said controller being adapted to control the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer; and

(e) a humidity sensor, said humidity sensor being adapted to determine a humidity level in the baghouse.

2. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 further comprising a burner, said burner having a variable firing rate and a variable amount of excess air.

3. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to control the variable frequency drive.

4. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 wherein the variable frequency drive is adapted to vary the firing rate of the burner.

5. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 wherein the variable frequency drive is adapted to vary the amount of excess air in the burner.

6. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 wherein the variable frequency drive is adapted to vary the rotational speed of the dryer drum.

7. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 wherein the variable frequency drive is adapted to vary the speed of a dryer drum drive.

8. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to determine the temperature of exhaust gas at the inlet end of the baghouse.

9. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 wherein the controller is adapted to determine the temperature of exhaust gas at the outlet end of the baghouse.

10. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 further comprising a mixing chamber.

11. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 further comprising a duct adapted to convey exhaust gas from the dryer to the baghouse.

12. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of flights on the inner wall of the dryer drum has a V-shaped notch.

13. The dryer performance optimization system of claim 12 wherein the V-shaped notch extends from the distal end of the flight toward the proximal end of the flight.

14. A dryer performance optimization system, said system comprising:

(a) a burner, said burner having a variable firing rate and a variable amount of excess air;

(b) a dryer, said dryer having a plurality of flights on an inner wall and being adapted to rotate at variable speeds;

(c) a variable frequency drive, said variable frequency drive being adapted to vary the rotational speed of the dryer, the amount of excess air in the burner and the firing rate of the burner;

(d) a baghouse, said baghouse having an inlet end being adapted to receive exhaust gas from the dryer and an outlet end;

(e) a controller, said controller being adapted to control the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer; and

(f) a humidity sensor, said humidity sensor being adapted to determine a humidity level in the baghouse;

wherein the controller is adapted to vary the humidity level in the baghouse.

15. A method for controlling the temperature of exhaust gas from a dryer, said method comprising:

(a) providing a dryer performance optimization system, said system comprising:

(1) a dryer, said dryer having a drum with a plurality of flights on an inner wall, said drum being adapted to rotate at variable speeds;

(2) a variable frequency drive, said variable frequency drive being adapted to vary the rotational speed of the dryer drum;

(3) a baghouse, said baghouse having an inlet end being adapted to receive exhaust gas from the dryer and an outlet end; and

(4) a controller, said controller being adapted to control the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer; and

(5) a humidity sensor, said humidity sensor being adapted to determine a humidity level in the baghouse; and

(b) varying the humidity level in the baghouse by varying the rotational speed of the dryer drum.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

(c) varying the humidity level in the baghouse by varying the temperature of the exhaust gas in the baghouse.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the system further comprises a burner.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(c) varying the humidity level in the baghouse by varying the amount of excess air in the burner.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

(c) varying the humidity level in the baghouse by varying the firing rate of the burner.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: ASTEC INDUSTRIES, INC.; ASTEC, INC.; ASTEC MOBILE SCREENS, INC.; BREAKER TECHNOLOGY, INC.; CARLSON PAVING PRODUCTS, INC.; JOHNSON CRUSHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; KOLBERG-PIONEER, INC.; POWER FLAME INCORPORATED; ROADTEC, INC.; TELSMITH, INC.; TERRASOURCE GLOBAL CORPORATION; CMI/CSI LLC; TABOR MACHINE COMPANY, LLC; ELGIN POWER AND SEPARATION SOLUTIONS, LLC; ELGIN SEPARATION SOLUTIONS INDUSTRIALS, LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 071787/0859 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 062153/0169 Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ASTEC, INC.; ASTEC INDUSTRIES, INC.; ROADTEC, INC.; TELSMITH, INC.; CARLSON PAVING PRODUCTS, INC.; KOLBERG-PIONEER, INC.; BREAKER TECHNOLOGY, INC.; POWER FLAME INCORPORATED; ASTEC MOBILE SCREENS, INC.; JOHNSON CRUSHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; GEFCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 071787/0926 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2022
From: ASTEC, INC.; ASTEC INDUSTRIES, INC.; ROADTEC, INC.; TELSMITH, INC.; CARLSON PAVING PRODUCTS, INC.; KOLBERG-PIONEER, INC.; BREAKER TECHNOLOGY, INC.; POWER FLAME INCORPORATED; ASTEC MOBILE SCREENS, INC.; JOHNSON CRUSHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; GEFCO, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062153/0169 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2016
From: SWANSON, MALCOLM L.
To: ASTEC, INC.
Reel/Frame 038834/0917 →