Importance

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Abstract

The invention provides a process for bringing particulate material into contact with a moving fluid in an annular processing zone to create processed material. The zone has a base and the process includes generating a circumferentially directed flow of gas in the zone to develop a circumferentially circulating turbulent bed of particulate material within the processing zone. Particulate material is supplied to the processing zone so that the particulate material is circulated in the processing zone to provide a predictable particle flow path both circumferential of the processing zone and helically of the zone. The flow path has the following characteristics: (i) the flow of fluid is controlled to develop the circulating bed with a width between about 2% to 20% of the bed outer extremity diameter, an inner bed depth of less than 1% of the bed diameter, and an outer bed depth between about 2% to 5% of the bed diameter; and (ii) the flow of fluid is directed at an angle relative to the base of the processing zone in the range of about 10.degree. to 45.degree.; and discharging particulate material from the processing zone after processing in the processing zone.

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First Claim