Flash Rockwell™ Technologies, LLC has developed, patented, and launched an innovative low-thermal “flash drying” technology utilizing sub-atmospheric pressure and elevated temperature air flow. The “Flash Dryer” is a low temperature, pneumatic, dilute phase drying process which rapidly conveys subject materials through a proprietary venturi design in which the combined effects of limited heat and low pressure work to instantaneously ‘flash’ off free and even bound water held in the material’s particle matrix. The flash process occurs by creating a vacuum in the modified venturi chamber which lowers the vapor pressure threshold, and thereby, lowers the energy (heat) necessary to initiate vaporization and phase change of the liquid H2O to gas. A TRULY INSTANTANEOUS moisture flashing effect.
Critically, the material or particulate adjoining the liquid H2O receives a very limited introduction of energy (heat) relative to traditional thermal drying processes. This is a crucial factor in processing thermally sensitive media streams such as specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, polymers, food additives, bio-fuel feedstock such as algae, and more. Even in heavier and more volumetric media production such as coal, the material adjoining the liquid H2O receives a very low introduction of energy (heat) relative to traditional thermal drying processes. By limiting the energy applied during the drying process, this maintains the subject material below the heat of combustion threshold for many pollutant producing substances. Release of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulates, among others, can be limited by maintaining the material being dried well below their relative flash points and/or heats of combustion.
This innovative drying method enables clients in multiple industries to safely, efficiently and effectively dewater/dry various solids, suspended solids and dissolved solids media streams. Many industries require material to have very low or even no moisture content in order to produce an optimal end product. For example, with a specialty chemical manufacturing customer, the technology provides both the benefits of drying as well as conveyance requirements necessary to facilitate an efficient production process. Furthermore, the moisture removed may be either exhausted or recovered for reuse or tracking of exhaust streams as requested and as it may benefit each specific application.
In low rank coal(LRC) for example, Flash Rockwell’s ‘flash drying’ process has lowered moisture content by as much as 15% in a single pass, which has increased the energy value, measured in British Thermal Units (BTU), by up to 30%. This provides a significant increase in the value of the commodity to both producer and customer. Despite billions of dollars being spent on research and development in various industries over the last three decades to solve this moisture challenge, existing technologies have not adequately solved this need as efficiently, safely and cost effectively as Flash Rockwell’s patented and patent-pending technologies.