Today’s photo shows an indirect batch rotary kiln in the FEECO Innovation Center. Indirect kilns heat solids to the point where a desired chemical reaction or phase change takes place. Unlike their direct-fired counterparts, indirect kilns are used when a material cannot come into contact …
Soda ash, or sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), is a versatile alkali material, critical in the production of a litany of products and materials. From detergents and chemicals, to consumer products and water softeners, this material can be found in many of the products we interact with throughout …
An important consideration in rotary kiln design is air flow, or the direction in which the process gas moves through the kiln in relation to the material. The cross-flow configuration is specific to indirect-fired rotary kilns. Here, the material and the process gas flow perpendicular …
Catalysts are an invaluable tool in many industrial processes, helping to facilitate reactions between materials. They are so important in fact, that some experts estimate they are responsible for 85-90% of products in the chemical industry.¹ As the role of catalysts in industry continues to …
This week’s photo shows the interior of a rotary kiln, as a technician works to remove build-up on the refractory. Build-up can sometimes occur in an over-temperature condition which causes product to melt and become sticky. A primary design requirement with all rotary kilns is …
As the world continues to move away from fossil fuels, pyrolysis is becoming an increasingly important tool, helping to create a more circular economy by opening up opportunities in the production of alternative fuels from a variety of wastes. The rotary pyrolysis kiln is chosen …
Rotary coolers are often an integral part of a thermal process, cooling material as it exits a rotary kiln or rotary dryer, to a manageable temperature for the next step in the process. There are two main types of rotary coolers: a convective rotary cooler, …
Though far less common than the need to dry or thermally treat a bulk solid material, some process settings call for preheating a material in preparation of downstream processing. In achieving this objective and meeting the high tonnages associated with bulk solids processing, rotary dryers …
Rotary dryer sizing and design is based around a material’s unique processing needs, or at least they should be. A custom rotary dryer will produce the most ideal results. The following material characteristics should be considered in sizing and designing a dryer: For more in-depth …
Catalysts continue to play a growing role in modern industry, carrying out an array of processes that otherwise might not be possible, promoting more sustainable industries through efficient processing, reducing toxic emissions, and more. As the use of catalysts grows, so too does the amount …