STEEL BELT DRYING

摘要

Apparatus (10) for dehydrating a mouldable sludge body (22) comprises a perforated steel belt (12) for receiving and holding the sludge body. The apparatus comprises a dehydration station (24) comprising a heating arrangement (26) located adjacent a first surface (12.1 ) of the belt and a suction arrangement (28) located adjacent an opposite surface (12.2) of the belt. The heating arrangement comprises one of a microwave emitting source and an infrared wave emitting source. A drive arrangement (14) causes the belt to move along a path (13) past the dehydration station. A moulding arrangement (30) upstream of the dehydration station forms alternate ridges and groves in the body, thereby to improve the efficiency of the drying at the dehydration station.