METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING OF BULK MATERIALS

摘要

Heat is applied to a solid or semi-solid material in a cylindrical container in such a way that a precise, predetermined amount of heat is transferred to a horizontal layer of the material until it softens sufficiently to allow the heating element to sink into the material where it will heat the next layer. The container is rotated about a vertical axis, and a horizontally-oriented heating element is lowered into contact with the material to apply heat to a horizontal layer. The heating element is lowered through the material in a controlled manner to heat progressively lower layers within the container, until the whole container has been heated. The heating element may be heated by pumping hot water therethrough, or by other means. A container of hot liquid may be cooled in a similar fashion, by gradually raising a cooling element from the bottom of the container.