| 主权项 |
1. A system comprising:
a hopper configured to receive a raw material having a first moisture content in a range of about 13% to about 90% by weight and an initial temperature; a multiple stage dehydrating compressor unit connected to the hopper for receiving the raw material from the hopper and configured to remove moisture from at least a portion of the raw material in sequential stages to produce a substantially dry final product having a second moisture content in a range of about 0% to about 12% by weight, wherein at least some stages of the sequential stages is configured to substantially remove the moisture from the portion of the raw material; each of the at least some stages of the sequential stages is configured to remove about 10% to 30% of moisture from the raw material; the multiple stage dehydrating compressor unit includes a plurality of extruders connected in multiple stages, wherein one of the extruders is operated at each of the sequential stages; each extruder includes an elongated housing having an inlet end for receiving the raw material to be treated, an outlet end for discharging the raw material, and a screw assembly provided within the housing and extending between the inlet end and the discharge end, the screw assembly having a plurality of screws wherein each screw assembly includes:
at least a first screw and a second screw housed within a barrel, wherein the at least first screw and the second screw comprises at least a portion of intermeshing flights to shear the raw material, wherein, as the at least first screw and the second screw rotate, the intermeshing flights shear the raw material generating mechanical heat, without additional heating, so that the raw material undergoes a physical change as the at least first screw and the second screw rotates, such that compressing the raw material between the at least first screw and the second screw squeezes moisture from the raw material and vaporizes the moisture from the raw material by substantially increasing the initial temperature of the raw material, without additional heating; at least one compressor and dehydrating mechanism provided in a portion of at least one of the plurality of extruders and configured to simultaneously apply a compressive force and dehydration to the raw material to assist with removal of the moisture from the raw material as the at least first screw and the second screw rotate moving the raw material longitudinally along and between the at least first screw and the second screw; a chute interdisposed between the outlet end of a preceding extruder and the inlet end of a next extruder and providing fluid communication between the preceding extruder and the next to discharge the raw material from the outlet of the preceding extruder to the next extruder; a processor connected to the multiple stage dehydrating compressor unit and configured to control the multiple stage dehydrating compressor unit to remove the moisture from the at least portion of the raw material; at least one moisture content sensor connected to the processor and positioned proximate a portion of the chute between the outlet of the preceding extruder and the next extruder, the at least one moisture content sensor being configured to detect the moisture content data corresponding to the moisture content of the portion of raw material moving through the chute between the outlet of the preceding extruder and the next extruder; and a diverter positioned within the chute and connected to the processor for selectively redirecting, based on the detected moisture content data in comparison to a predetermined moisture content data for a respective stage, a specific quantity of the at least a portion of the raw material from a flow path of the at least one chute to the next extruder; wherein the processor controls the sequential stage moisture removal from the raw material by the multiple stage dehydrating compressor unit based on the moisture content data. |
