Method and apparatus for reducing the moisture bound by capillary action in fiber cells

US 6,499,232 B2
Method and apparatus for reducing the moisture bound by capillary action in fiber cells
Friedrich B. Bielfeldt, Pähl (Germany)
Assigned to Maschinenfabrik J. Dieffenbacher GmbH & Co, Eppingen (Germany)
Filed on 09-Apr-2001, as Appl. No. Maschinenfabrik J. Dieffenbacher GmbH & Co, Eppingen (Germany)
Int. Cl.7F26B 3/08

US 6,499,232 B2 Method and apparatus for reducing the moisture bound by capillary action in fiber cells Friedrich B. Bielfeldt, Pähl (Germany) Assigned to Maschinenfabrik J. Dieffenbacher GmbH & Co, Eppingen (Germany) Filed on Apr. 09, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/828,468. Claims priority of application No. 100 16 944 (DE), filed on Apr. 09, 2000. Prior Publication US 2002/0000416 A1, Jan. 03, 2002 Int. Cl.7F26B 3/08 U.S. Cl. 348212;384 7 Claims 1. Method for the reduction of the water content bound by capillary action in fiber cells in solids and/or sludges, ground and screened to form a mat of spread material, by the action of thermal energy and pressure on the input material that is to be dewatered, wherein the thermal energy comprising saturated steam and the mechanical energy as surface pressure on the input material is fed into and exercised on an MTE pressure chamber of a filter press, characterized by the following process steps: processing the input material separately by grinding and screening the input material and then feeding it into a plurality of spreader hoppers depending on grain size and screened grain size distribution, wherein coarse material, thus separated, is fed to a first spreader hopper, which contains only a residue of fine material below a permeability limit; and wherein the fine material, thus separated, with a grain size under 3 mm, is simultaneously fed into a second spreader hopper; from the second spreader hopper, which precedes the first spreader hopper for the coarse material, spreading a thin layer of fine material as a first deposit onto a spreading, loading and filtering belt; withdrawing by a transfer conveyor belt, from the first spreader hopper, a substantially thicker coarse material layer and then laying that coarse material layer as a second deposit onto the fine material layer to form a sandwich mat of spread material; moving the sandwich mat by the spreading, loading and filtering belt into the MTE pressure chamber of the filter press for dewatering; and taking out pressed dry material from the filter press.