PROCESSING POWDERED MATERIAL
A method in described in which a heated gas is conveyed. A powdered material is introduced to the heated gas at a first location, and powdered material is separated from the heated gas at a second location downstream of the first location. The heated gas causes contaminants in the powdered material to vaporize between the first location and the second location.
1 . A method comprising:
conveying a heated gas;
introducing powdered material to the heated gas at a first location; and
separating powdered material from the heated gas at a second location downstream of the first location,
wherein the heated gas causes contaminants in the powdered material to vaporize between the first location and the second location.
2 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises cooling the heated gas at a location downstream of the second position.
3 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein conveying the heated gas comprises conveying a gas and heating the gas, and heating the gas comprises exchanging heat between the gas at a location upstream of the first location and the gas at a location downstream of the second location.
4 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein powered material is separated from the heated gas by cyclonic separation.
5 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method comprises recycling powdered material separated from the heated gas by introducing the separated powdered material to the heated gas at the first location.
6 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein conveying the heated gas comprises conveying a gas, heating the gas at a location upstream of the first location, and further heating the gas between the first location and the second location.
7 . A powder processing system comprising:
piping;
a pump to convey a gas through the piping;
a heater to heat the gas;
an introduction mechanism to introduce powdered material to the gas; and
a separator to separate powdered material from the gas, the separator being located downstream of the introduction mechanism.
8 . A system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the system comprises a heat exchanger located downstream of the separator to cool the gas.
9 . A system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the pump is located downstream of the heat exchanger.
10 . A system as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger reclaims heat from the gas downstream of the heater to heat the gas upstream of the heater.
11 . A system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the heater heats the gas to a temperature above the boiling point of contaminants within the powdered material.
12 . A system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the separator comprises a cyclonic separator.
13 . A system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the piping comprises a serpentine section located between the heater and the separator.
14 . A system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the system comprises a first container to receive powdered material, a valve for introducing powdered material from the first container to the gas, a second container to receive powdered material separated by the separator, and a pump to convey powdered material from the second container to the first container.
15 . A system comprising:
a container to receive a metal or ceramic powder,
piping to convey a heated gas;
a mechanism to introduce the powder from the container to the heated gas, the heated gas causing contaminants in the powder to vaporize; and
a separator to separate the powder from the heated gas.