JP7827289B2 - Powder and granular material processing device and powder and granular material processing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing powdered or granular materials such as resin materials, and a gas processing device.

For example, in the manufacturing process of plastic products, pre-drying is performed to remove moisture from the plastic material before it is fed into the molding machine.

Plastic materials often contain a variety of additives, such as UV protection agents and flame retardants. Some additives contain VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), and when additives containing VOCs are mixed into plastic materials, the VOCs volatilize from the plastic materials during the pre-drying process. Volatile components such as VOCs not only emit an odor, but can also precipitate and adhere to the pipes through which they pass, contaminating the inside of the pipes.

For this reason, a configuration has been proposed in which a deodorizing device is installed in the drying line through which air that has removed moisture from the plastic material flows, and the deodorizing device removes odorous components such as VOCs contained in the air (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 6068969

However, in equipment equipped with gas lines other than the drying line through which gas flows, exhaust from these gas lines is often released directly into the outside air, raising concerns about the deterioration of the environment in factories where such equipment is installed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a powder and granular material processing apparatus and a powder and granular material processing method that can prevent contamination of the drying line and suppress environmental deterioration caused by exhaust from gas lines other than the drying line.

To achieve the above-mentioned objective, one aspect of the present invention provides a powder and granular material processing apparatus that includes a drying line through which dry gas flows, a regeneration line through which regeneration gas flows, a storage section provided in the drying line for storing powder and granular material, a heating section for heating the dry gas flowing along the drying line toward the storage section, a drying section through which the dry gas flowing along the drying line toward the storage section passes, and a regeneration section through which the regeneration gas flowing along the regeneration line passes, an adsorption section in which moisture contained in the dry gas passing through the drying section is adsorbed onto an adsorbent material, and the adsorbent material is regenerated in the regeneration section as the moisture is removed from the adsorbent by the regeneration gas in the regeneration section, and a gas processing section connected to the downstream end of the regeneration line for decomposing and processing the regeneration gas from the regeneration line and then discharging it.

With this configuration, heated and dehumidified dry gas is supplied to the storage section, drying the powder and granular material stored in the storage section. The adsorption section has a drying area and a regeneration area. In the drying area, moisture contained in the dry gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent, dehumidifying the dry gas. In the regeneration area, moisture is removed from the adsorbent by the regeneration gas, regenerating the adsorbent. During this process, odorous components are also adsorbed and desorbed by the adsorbent, and at least a portion of them migrate from the drying line to the regeneration line. The regeneration gas that has removed moisture and odorous components from the adsorbent is decomposed and then exhausted. This effectively removes organic components from the drying line and prevents environmental degradation caused by exhaust from the regeneration line through which the regeneration gas flows.

The adsorption section may use a combination of a moisture adsorbent that adsorbs moisture contained in the dry gas and an adsorbent for other components that adsorb components other than moisture contained in the dry gas.

A powder and granular material processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a drying line through which dry gas flows, a regeneration line through which regeneration gas flows, a storage section provided in the drying line for storing powder and granular material, a heating section for heating the dry gas flowing along the drying line toward the storage section, and a cylindrical adsorption tube having a drying region through which the dry gas flowing along the drying line toward the storage section and a regeneration region through which the regeneration gas flowing along the regeneration line passes, the adsorption tube having hydrophilic and hydrophobic adsorbents arranged along the centerline thereof, wherein the drying region adsorbs moisture contained in the dry gas onto the hydrophilic adsorbent and the organic components contained in the dry gas onto the hydrophobic adsorbent, the regeneration region adsorbs moisture from the hydrophilic adsorbent by the regeneration gas removing moisture from the hydrophilic adsorbent and the organic components from the regeneration gas by the regeneration gas removing the hydrophobic adsorbent, and a gas processing section connected to the regeneration line for decomposing and discharging the regeneration gas from the regeneration line.

With this configuration, heated and dehumidified dry gas is supplied to the storage unit, drying the powder and granular material stored in the storage unit. The adsorption unit has a drying region and a regeneration region. In the drying region, moisture contained in the dry gas is adsorbed onto a hydrophilic adsorbent, dehumidifying the dry gas. In the regeneration region, moisture is removed from the hydrophilic adsorbent by the regeneration gas, regenerating the hydrophilic adsorbent. Furthermore, organic components contained in the dry gas are adsorbed onto a hydrophobic adsorbent in the drying region. In the regeneration region, the organic components are removed from the hydrophobic adsorbent by the regeneration gas, regenerating the hydrophobic adsorbent. The regeneration gas that has removed the organic components (odor components) from the hydrophobic adsorbent is decomposed and then exhausted. This effectively removes organic components from the drying line while minimizing environmental degradation caused by exhaust from the regeneration line through which the regeneration gas flows.

The hydrophobic adsorbent and the hydrophilic adsorbent may be honeycomb structures made of zeolite.

The decomposition process may be a catalytic decomposition process using a low-temperature catalyst (low-temperature deodorizing catalyst).

This allows the processing temperature to be kept low, at between 200 and 400°C, thereby saving energy.

The powder and granular material processing device may further include a regeneration heater located upstream of the dehumidification section in the regeneration line to heat the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line. In this case, the regeneration heater may be used as a catalyst heater to heat the regeneration gas flowing into the low-temperature catalyst.

The powder and granular material processing apparatus may further include an exhaust/regeneration heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the exhaust gas from the gas processing apparatus and the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line, thereby lowering the temperature of the exhaust gas from the gas processing apparatus and raising the temperature of the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line.

With this configuration, the high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas treatment unit is cooled, minimizing the danger to nearby workers caused by exhaust heat. Meanwhile, the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line is heated, reducing the energy required to heat the regeneration gas.

The powder and granular material processing apparatus may further include a drying/regenerating heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the dry gas flowing through the drying line from the storage section toward the dehumidifying section and the regenerating gas flowing through the regenerating line, thereby lowering the temperature of the dry gas flowing through the drying line and raising the temperature of the regenerating gas flowing through the regenerating line.

With this configuration, the temperature of the dry gas flowing from the storage section to the dehumidification section drops, allowing the moisture contained in the dry gas to be effectively adsorbed by the adsorbent in the dehumidification section. As a result, the dew point of the dry gas can be effectively reduced. Meanwhile, the temperature of the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line rises, reducing the energy required to heat the regeneration gas.

The powder and granular material processing device may be configured to include both an exhaust/regenerative heat exchanger and a drying/regenerative heat exchanger.

It is preferable that the temperature of the exhaust from the gas processing unit be 110°C or less.

If the exhaust temperature is below 110°C, environmental degradation caused by the exhaust can be effectively prevented.

The gas treatment unit may be connected to a single regeneration line, or in a configuration in which multiple sets of drying lines, regeneration lines, storage units, heating units, and dehumidification units are provided, the gas treatment unit may be connected in common to multiple regeneration lines.

A powder and granular material processing method according to yet another aspect of the present invention is a method for processing powder and granular material in an apparatus including a drying line through which a dry gas flows, a regeneration line through which a regeneration gas flows, and a storage section provided in the drying line for storing powder and granular material. The method includes a heating step for heating the dry gas flowing through the drying line toward the storage section, a dehumidification step for dehumidifying the dry gas by adsorbing moisture contained in the dry gas flowing through the drying line toward the storage section onto an adsorbent, a regeneration step for regenerating the adsorbent by passing the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line through the adsorbent, and a gas treatment step for decomposing and then venting the regeneration gas after passing through the adsorbent.

This method can achieve the same effects as those achieved by the powder and granular material processing apparatus according to the aforementioned aspect.

A gas treatment device according to yet another aspect of the present invention includes a gas line through which gas flows, a gas treatment section connected to the downstream end of the gas line and discharging the gas from the gas line after decomposing it, and a heat exchange section that exchanges heat between the exhaust from the gas treatment section and the gas flowing in the gas line, thereby lowering the temperature of the exhaust from the gas treatment section and raising the temperature of the gas flowing in the gas line.

With this configuration, the gas flowing through the gas line is exhausted after being decomposed. Furthermore, the temperature of the exhaust from the gas processing unit is lowered through heat exchange between the exhaust from the gas processing unit and the gas flowing through the gas line. This makes it possible to render the exhaust from the gas line harmless, thereby minimizing environmental degradation caused by the exhaust.

In addition, heat exchange between the exhaust gas from the gas processing unit and the gas flowing through the gas line raises the temperature of the gas flowing through the gas line, so when it is necessary to heat the gas flowing through the gas line, the energy required for heating can be reduced.

This invention can prevent environmental degradation caused by exhaust from gas lines other than the drying line, such as the regeneration line through which regeneration gas flows.

1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a powder/granular material processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration in which a deodorizing device is connected to a plurality of dehumidifying dryers. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a powder or granular material processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an adsorption unit.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Powder and granular material processing equipment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a powder/granular material processing apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The powder and granular material processing device 1 is included in plastic product manufacturing equipment and processes powder and granular material such as plastic pellets, which are the raw material for plastic products. Specifically, the powder and granular material processing device 1 is a device that dries powder and granular material and transports the dried powder and granular material to a molding machine.

<Dehumidifying dryer>
The powder and granular material processing apparatus 1 includes a drying hopper 11 and a loader hopper 12 disposed above the drying hopper 11. Powder and granular material, which is the raw material for plastic products, is supplied from the loader hopper 12 to the drying hopper 11, dried while contained (stored) in the drying hopper 11, and then transported from the drying hopper 11 to a molding machine.

Drying gas for drying the powder and granular material is supplied to the drying hopper 11 from the drying line 13. One end of the drying line 13 is located inside the drying hopper 11. The other end of the drying line 13 is connected to an air discharge pipe 14 that penetrates the top wall of the drying hopper 11, and is connected to the inside of the drying hopper 11 via the air discharge pipe 14. Outside the drying hopper 11, the drying line 13 passes through a drying filter 15, an aftercooler 16, a drying blower 17, an adsorption section 18, and a drying heater 19, in that order, from the other end of the drying line 13, i.e., the air discharge pipe 14 side.

One end of the exhaust pipe 21 is connected to the suction port of the drying blower 17. The other end of the exhaust pipe 21 is connected to the air exhaust pipe 14. The drying filter 15 is installed midway through the exhaust pipe 21 and removes foreign matter from the drying gas flowing through the exhaust pipe 21. The exhaust pipe 21 passes through an aftercooler 16 between the drying filter 15 and the drying blower 17. One end of the first supply pipe 22 is connected to the outlet of the drying blower 17.

The adsorption section 18 includes an adsorber 23. The adsorber 23 is configured with lids 25 attached to both ends of a substantially cylindrical adsorption tube 24. The adsorption tube 24 has multiple air flow paths extending along its centerline. The inner surface of the air flow path (the surface that comes into contact with air) is formed of an adsorbent material (e.g., zeolite) that adsorbs moisture. The area where the adsorption tube 24 exists is defined as a drying area, a cooling area, and a regeneration area. The air flow paths of the adsorption tube 24 include an air flow path in the drying area (hereinafter referred to as the "drying flow path"), an air flow path in the cooling area (hereinafter referred to as the "cooling flow path"), and an air flow path in the regeneration area (hereinafter referred to as the "regeneration flow path"). The lid 25 at one end of the adsorber 23 is provided with a port 26A communicating with the drying flow path, a port 26B communicating with the cooling flow path, and a port 26C communicating with the regeneration flow path. The cover 25 at the other end of the adsorber 23 is provided with a port 27A that communicates with the drying flow path, a port 27B that communicates with the cooling flow path, and a port 27C that communicates with the regeneration flow path. The adsorption unit 18 also includes a rotation mechanism 28 that rotates the adsorption tube 24 around its centerline. The rotation mechanism 28 includes a motor 29 as a drive source.

The adsorption section 18 also includes a regeneration blower 31 and a regeneration heater 32. The suction port of the regeneration blower 31 is open to the atmosphere through a regeneration filter 33. A regeneration line 34 is connected to the outlet of the regeneration blower 31. The regeneration line 34 includes a regeneration duct 35 and an exhaust duct 36. One end of the regeneration duct 35 is connected to the outlet of the regeneration blower 31, and the regeneration duct 35 passes through the aftercooler 16 and the regeneration heater 32 in that order midway, and is connected at the other end to port 26C of the adsorber 23. One end of the exhaust duct 36 is connected to port 27C of the adsorber 23. As a result, the regeneration line 34 is in communication with the regeneration flow path of the adsorption column 24.

The other end of the first supply line 22 is connected to port 26A of the adsorber 23 and communicates with the drying flow path. Meanwhile, one end of the second supply line 37 is connected to port 27A, which communicates with the drying flow path. The second supply line 37 passes through the drying heater 19 midway, penetrates the side wall of the drying hopper 11, and its other end is located inside the drying hopper 11. Inside the drying hopper 11, the other end of the second supply line 37 bends downward and extends, forming a conical shape that widens as it extends downward. A first reflux line 38 branches off and connects to the second supply line 37 between the adsorption section 18 and the drying heater 19. The first reflux line 38 is connected to port 27B of the adsorber 23 and communicates with the cooling flow path of the adsorption column 24. One end of the second reflux line 39 is connected to the other port 26B, which communicates with the cooling flow path. The other end of the second return pipe 39 branches off and connects to the discharge pipe 21 between the drying filter 15 and the aftercooler 16.

When the drying blower 17 is driven, air is blown from the blower's 17 outlet into the first supply line 22, generating a dry gas flow in the first supply line 22 toward the adsorption section 18. The air flow flows from port 26A of the adsorber 23 into the drying flow path of the adsorption column 24, passes through the drying flow path, and flows out from port 27A of the adsorber 23 into the second supply line 37. As the air flow passes through the drying flow path, moisture contained in the air flow is adsorbed by the adsorption column 24, and the air flow that has passed through the drying flow path becomes a low-dew-point dry gas flow. A portion of the air flow that flows out into the second supply line 37 flows into the first return line 38, flows into the cooling flow path from port 27B of the adsorber 23, passes through the cooling flow path, and flows into the second return line 39 from port 26B of the adsorber 23. As the airflow passes through the cooling channel, it cools areas that have been heated by the regeneration air described below in the regeneration zone of the adsorber 23 and reached high temperatures. This allows the adsorber 23 to return to a temperature at which it can adsorb moisture in the next drying zone.

The dry gas flowing through the second supply pipe 37 is heated by the drying heater 19, and the heated dry gas is supplied into the drying hopper 11. The temperature of the dry gas is, for example, 60 to 180°C. The dry gas blown out from the other end of the second supply pipe 37 passes between the powder and granules stored in the drying hopper 11 and escapes above the stored powder and granules. As a result, the dry gas removes moisture from the powder and granules, drying them. The dry gas that has removed moisture from the powder and granules is discharged through the air discharge pipe 14 to the discharge pipe 21 and flows through the discharge pipe 21 toward the drying blower 17.

Meanwhile, the regeneration blower 31 is driven. When the regeneration blower 31 is driven, outside air is drawn into the inlet of the regeneration blower 31 through the regeneration filter 33. The outside air is then blown out from the outlet of the regeneration blower 31 into the regeneration duct 35 of the regeneration line 34, generating an airflow in the regeneration duct 35 toward the adsorption section 18. This airflow (outside air) passes through the aftercooler 16 and the regeneration heater 32 in order, then flows into the regeneration flow path of the adsorption column 24 from port 26C of the adsorber 23, passes through the regeneration flow path, and is discharged from port 27C of the adsorber 23 into the exhaust duct 36 of the regeneration line 34. In the aftercooler 16, heat exchange occurs between the outside air flowing through the regeneration line 34 and the dry gas flowing through the exhaust duct 21, raising the temperature of the outside air flowing through the regeneration line 34 and lowering the temperature of the dry gas flowing through the exhaust duct 21. The outside air flowing through the regeneration line 34 is further heated by the regeneration heater 32 to become regeneration gas, which then passes through the regeneration flow path of the adsorption column 24. Meanwhile, the portion of the dry gas that has adsorbed moisture in the dry region of the adsorption column 24 moves to the regeneration region as the adsorption column 24 is rotated by the rotation mechanism 28. This causes the moisture adsorbed in the adsorption column 24 to desorb from the adsorption column 24, and the adsorption column 24 is regenerated to a low-humidity state. The temperature of the regeneration gas is set to, for example, 180 to 250°C in order to desorb moisture from the adsorption column 24.

The lower part of the drying hopper 11 is formed in a conical shape that tapers downward, with a discharge outlet 41 formed at its lower end. The drying hopper 11 is provided with a gate shutter 42 that opens and closes the discharge outlet 41. When the gate shutter 42 is closed and the discharge outlet 41 is closed, powder and granular material supplied from the loader hopper 12 can be stored in the drying hopper 11. A discharge branch pipe 43 is connected to the discharge outlet 41. The discharge branch pipe 43 is interposed in a transport line 44. When the gate shutter 42 is opened and the discharge outlet 41 is opened while powder and granular material is stored in the drying hopper 11, the powder and granular material in the drying hopper 11 is discharged from the discharge outlet 41 to the discharge branch pipe 43.

The transport line 44 includes a switching valve 45, a first transport pipeline 46, and a second transport pipeline 47.

The switching valve 45 has an input port 51, a circulation output port 52, an atmosphere release port 53, and a drying line introduction port 54. The switching valve 45 is provided with valve elements that individually open and close the circulation output port 52, atmosphere release port 53, and drying line introduction port 54. Depending on the position of these valve elements, the switching valve 45 can be switched between a circulation position in which the atmosphere release port 53 is closed and the circulation output port 52 and drying line introduction port 54 are opened, thereby connecting the input port 51 to the circulation output port 52 and drying line introduction port 54 within the valve body; an open position in which the circulation output port 52 and drying line introduction port 54 are closed and the atmosphere release port 53 is opened, thereby connecting the input port 51 to the atmosphere release port 53 within the valve body; and a drying line introduction position in which the circulation output port 52 and atmosphere release port 53 are closed and the drying line introduction port 54 is opened, thereby connecting the input port 51 to the atmosphere release port 53 within the valve body.

One end of the first transport pipeline 46 is connected to the circulation output port 52 of the switching valve 45. A destination hopper is provided above the molding machine to store the powder and granular material fed into the molding machine, and the other end of the first transport pipeline 46 is connected to the side wall of the destination hopper and communicates with the interior of the destination hopper.

One end of the second transport pipeline 47 is connected to the top wall of the destination hopper and communicates with the interior of the destination hopper. The other end of the second transport pipeline 47 is connected to the input port 51 of the switching valve 45. The second transport pipeline 47 is equipped with a primary/secondary switching valve 55, a dust collection cyclone 56, a transport filter 57, and a transport blower 58, in this order from the destination hopper side.

The primary-secondary switching valve 55 has a primary input port 61, a secondary input port 62, and an output port 63. The primary-secondary switching valve 55 is provided with valve bodies that individually open and close the primary input port 61 and secondary input port 62. Depending on the position of these valve bodies, the primary-secondary switching valve 55 can be switched between a primary transport position in which the secondary input port 62 is closed and the primary input port 61 is open, thereby connecting the primary input port 61 to the output port 63 within the valve body, and a secondary transport position in which the primary input port 61 is closed and the secondary input port 62 is open, thereby connecting the secondary input port 62 to the output port 63 within the valve body.

The second transport pipeline 47 is further divided into a first pipeline section 71, a second pipeline section 72, a third pipeline section 73, a fourth pipeline section 74, and a fifth pipeline section 75. One end of the first pipeline section 71 is connected to the upper wall of the destination hopper as one end of the second transport pipeline 47, and the other end of the first pipeline section 71 is connected to the secondary input port 62 of the primary-secondary switching valve 55. One end of the second pipeline section 72 is connected to the output port 63 of the primary-secondary switching valve 55, and the other end of the second pipeline section 72 is connected to the air inlet section 76 of the dust collection cyclone 56. One end of the third pipeline section 73 is connected to the intake section 77 of the dust collection cyclone 56, and the other end of the third pipeline section 73 is connected to the inlet 78 of the transport filter 57. One end of the fourth pipe line 74 is connected to the outlet 79 of the transport filter 57, and the other end of the fourth pipe line 74 is connected to the suction port of the transport blower 58. One end of the fifth pipe line 75 is connected to the outlet of the transport blower 58, and the other end of the fifth pipe line 75 is connected to the input port 51 of the switching valve 45.

One end of a primary suction line 81 is connected to the top wall of the loader hopper 12 and is connected to the interior of the loader hopper 12. The other end of the primary suction line 81 is connected to the primary input port 61 of the primary/secondary switching valve 55. One end of a powder/granular material supply line 82 is connected to the side wall of the loader hopper 12. The powder/granular material supply line 82 extends toward a raw material tank (not shown) that stores powder/granular material, and the other end is connected to a suction pipe 83 located inside the raw material tank.

When powder and granular material are supplied from the raw material tank to the loader hopper 12, the selector valve 45 is set to the open position, and the primary-secondary selector valve 55 is set to the primary transport position. When the transport blower 58 is driven, air is drawn into the suction port of the transport blower 58 from the fourth pipeline section 74 and then blown out from the outlet of the transport blower 58 to the fifth pipeline section 75. The air blown out into the fifth pipeline section 75 enters the valve body of the selector valve 45 through the input port 51 and is released into the atmosphere from the valve body through the atmosphere release port 53. This generates negative pressure in the primary suction line 81, the second pipeline section 72, the third pipeline section 73, and the fourth pipeline section 74. This negative pressure causes the powder and granular material in the raw material tank to be sucked up into the suction pipe 83, which then supplies the powder and granular material from the suction pipe 83 through the powder and granular material supply line 82 into the loader hopper 12.

After drying the powder and granular material, when the powder and granular material is transported from the drying hopper 11 to the destination hopper, the selector valve 45 is set to the circulation position and the primary-secondary selector valve 55 is set to the secondary transport position. The transport blower 58 is then activated. When the transport blower 58 is activated, air is drawn into the suction port of the transport blower 58 from the fourth pipeline section 74, creating a negative pressure in the fourth pipeline section 74. This negative pressure causes air in the destination hopper to be sucked into the first pipeline section 71, creating an airflow through the first pipeline section 71, the second pipeline section 72, the third pipeline section 73, and the fourth pipeline section 74. Meanwhile, air blown from the outlet of the transport blower 58 to the fifth pipeline section 75 enters the valve body of the selector valve 45 through the input port 51 and flows out of the circulation output port 52 of the selector valve 45 to the first transport pipeline 46 and port 26A. This generates a transport airflow by circulating air through the transport line 44, which is made up of the switching valve 45, first transport pipeline 46, and second transport pipeline 47. When the gate shutter 42 of the drying hopper 11 is opened and the discharge port 41 of the drying hopper 11 is opened, the powder and granular material in the drying hopper 11 is sucked out from the discharge port 41 into the transport line 44, and the powder and granular material is transported along the transport line 44 (first transport pipeline 46) toward the destination hopper on the transport airflow. At this time, dry air also flows into the transport line 44 from the drying hopper 11, thereby reducing the humidity of the transport air flowing through the transport line 44.

Dust and other foreign matter contained in the transport airflow is captured as the transport airflow passes through the dust collection cyclone 56 and transport filter 57. In the dust collection cyclone 56, air is sucked from the intake section 77 of the dust collection cyclone 56 into the third duct section 73, creating a negative pressure inside the dust collection cyclone 56. This negative pressure causes air (the transport airflow) to be sucked into the dust collection cyclone 56 from the second duct section 72 via the air inlet section 76. Inside the dust collection cyclone 56, the air swirls, and centrifugal force and gravity separate the air from the foreign matter, which is then collected in a collection box connected to the bottom of the dust collection cyclone 56.

If the powder additive contains VOCs (volatile organic compounds), the VOCs volatilize as the powder dries. The dry gas circulating through the drying line 13 contains VOCs volatilized from the powder. Some of the VOCs contained in the dry gas circulating through the drying line 13 adhere to the adsorption tube 24 (adsorbent) in the adsorption section 18. Therefore, the regeneration gas discharged from port 27C of the adsorber 23 to the exhaust pipe 36 of the regeneration line 34 also contains VOCs. While the adsorbent used in the adsorption tube 24 is capable of adsorbing and desorbing odorous components, even a standard moisture adsorbent can be used. However, the standard moisture adsorbent can be replaced with one suitable for the VOCs being removed, or a VOC-suitable adsorbent and a standard moisture adsorbent can be used together. This allows the odorous VOCs to be efficiently discharged from the regeneration line 34.

<Deodorizing device>
A deodorizing device 91 is incorporated in the powder and granular material processing apparatus 1. The deodorizing device 91 is connected to the downstream end of the exhaust pipe 36 of the regeneration line 34, and functions as a gas processing device that exhausts the regeneration gas flowing through the exhaust pipe 36 to the outside air, performs deodorizing treatment to remove VOCs from the regeneration gas, and exhausts the deodorized regeneration gas (exhaust gas) to the outside air.

Specifically, the deodorizing device 91 is equipped with a deodorizing line 92 connected to the exhaust pipe 36 and communicating with the exhaust pipe 36. The deodorizing device 91 employs catalytic decomposition as its deodorizing treatment method, and a catalytic heater 93 and a low-temperature catalyst 94 are installed in this order in the deodorizing line 92 from the exhaust pipe 36 side. The regeneration gas flowing into the deodorizing line 92 from the exhaust pipe 36 is heated by the catalytic heater 93 to 200-300°C, and then contacts and passes through the low-temperature catalyst 94. During this process, VOCs contained in the regeneration gas are chemically decomposed, and the VOCs are removed from the regeneration gas flowing through the deodorizing line 92. Note that some VOCs can be decomposed at relatively low temperatures due to their characteristics; in this case, the catalytic heater 93 may be omitted. At this time, the regeneration gas is heated to 180°C or higher by the regeneration heater 32, facilitating the decomposition of VOCs within the low-temperature catalyst 94. In other words, the regeneration heater 32 can also be used as a catalyst heater to heat the regeneration gas flowing into the low-temperature catalyst 94.

The deodorizing device 91 also includes an aftercooler 95. The deodorizing line 92 passes through the aftercooler 95 downstream of the low-temperature catalyst 94. Meanwhile, the regeneration pipe 35 of the regeneration line 34 passes through the aftercooler 95 between the aftercooler 16 and the regeneration heater 32. In the aftercooler 95, heat exchange occurs between the outside air (regeneration gas) flowing through the regeneration line 34 and the exhaust gas (regeneration gas) flowing through the deodorizing line 92, raising the temperature of the outside air flowing through the regeneration line 34 and lowering the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing through the deodorizing line 92. As a result, the exhaust gas flowing through the deodorizing line 92 is discharged into the outside air at a temperature lowered to 110°C or below, for example, 92-93°C.

<Action and effect>
As described above, the heated and dehumidified dry gas is supplied to the drying hopper 11, thereby drying the powder and granular material contained in the drying hopper 11. The adsorption section 18, which dehumidifies the dry gas, has a drying region, a cooling region, and a regeneration region. In the drying region, moisture contained in the dry gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent in the adsorption tube 24, thereby dehumidifying the dry gas. In the regeneration region, moisture is removed from the adsorbent by the regeneration gas, thereby regenerating the adsorbent. The regeneration gas that has removed moisture from the adsorbent is deodorized by the deodorizing device 91 and then exhausted to the outside air. This makes it possible to suppress environmental deterioration caused by exhaust from the regeneration line 34 through which the regeneration gas flows.

The deodorizing process performed by the deodorizing device 91 is a catalytic decomposition process using a low-temperature catalyst (low-temperature deodorizing catalyst) 94. This allows the processing temperature to be kept low, between 200 and 400°C, thereby saving energy.

The deodorization device 91 is provided with an aftercooler 95 for heat exchange between the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line 34 and the exhaust gas flowing through the deodorization line 92. The heat exchange in the aftercooler 95 reduces the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing through the deodorization line 92 to 110°C or below, for example, to 92-93°C. This makes it possible to render the exhaust gas more harmless and further reduce environmental degradation caused by the exhaust gas. Meanwhile, because the temperature of the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line 34 increases, the energy required to heat the regeneration gas can be reduced.

The powder and granular material processing apparatus 1 is also provided with an aftercooler 16 for heat exchange between the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line 34 and the dry gas flowing through the discharge pipe 21. This lowers the temperature of the dry gas flowing from the drying hopper 11 toward the adsorption section 18, allowing the moisture contained in the dry gas to be effectively adsorbed by the adsorbent in the adsorption section 18. As a result, the dry gas can be effectively reduced in dew point. Meanwhile, the temperature of the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line 34 increases, further reducing the energy required to heat the regeneration gas.

<Modification 1>
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the powder and granular material processing apparatus 1 is configured such that the deodorizing device 91 is incorporated into a dehumidifying dryer that dehumidifies and dries powder and granular material, but the deodorizing device 91 may also be attached externally to the dehumidifying dryer.

In this case, as shown in Figure 2, one deodorizing device 91 may be provided for multiple dehumidifying dryers, the deodorizing device 91 may be commonly connected to the regeneration line 34 of each dehumidifying dryer, and the exhaust gas (regeneration gas) from the regeneration line 34 of each dehumidifying dryer may be deodorized by the deodorizing device 91.

The adsorption unit 18 may also be configured to include a hydrophilic adsorbent (adsorbent for moisture) and a hydrophobic adsorbent (adsorbent for other components) arranged within the adsorption cylinder 24 along the centerline of the adsorption cylinder 24, with the moisture contained in the dry gas being adsorbed by the hydrophilic adsorbent in the drying region, and other components (e.g., organic components such as VOCs) contained in the dry gas being adsorbed by the hydrophobic adsorbent in the regeneration region, where the hydrophilic adsorbent is regenerated as the regeneration gas removes moisture from the hydrophilic adsorbent, and the hydrophobic adsorbent is regenerated as the regeneration gas removes organic components from the hydrophobic adsorbent. The hydrophilic adsorbent and the hydrophobic adsorbent may be, for example, honeycomb structures made of zeolite.

<Other Embodiments>
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a powder or granular material processing apparatus 101 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Like the powder and granular material processing device 1 described above, the powder and granular material processing device 101 is included in the manufacturing equipment for plastic products, dries powder and granular material such as plastic pellets that are the raw material for plastic products, and transports the dried powder and granular material to a molding machine.

The powder and granular material processing device 101 is equipped with a drying hopper 111 and a loader hopper 112 located above the drying hopper 111. The powder and granular material that serves as the raw material for plastic products is supplied from the loader hopper 112 to the drying hopper 111, dried while contained (stored) in the drying hopper 111, and then transported from the drying hopper 111 to the molding machine.

Drying gas for drying the powder and granular material is supplied into the drying hopper 111 from the drying line 113. One end of the drying line 113 is located inside the drying hopper 111. The other end of the drying line 113 is connected to an air discharge pipe 114 that penetrates the upper part of the side wall of the drying hopper 111, and is connected to the inside of the drying hopper 111 via the air discharge pipe 114. Outside the drying hopper 111, the drying line 113 passes through a drying filter 115, an aftercooler 116, a drying blower 117, an adsorption section 118, and a drying heater 119, in that order, from the other end of the drying line 113, i.e., the air discharge pipe 114 side.

The drying line 113 includes a discharge pipeline 121, a first supply pipeline 122, and a second supply pipeline 123. One end of the discharge pipeline 121 is connected to the air discharge pipe 114, and the other end of the discharge pipeline 121 is connected to the suction port of the drying blower 117. A drying filter 115 is installed midway through the discharge pipeline 121 and removes foreign matter from the drying gas flowing through the discharge pipeline 121. The discharge pipeline 121 passes through an aftercooler 116 between the drying filter 115 and the drying blower 117.

The adsorption section 118 includes an adsorber 124. The adsorber 124 has a configuration in which lids 126 are provided on both ends of a substantially cylindrical adsorption tube 125. As shown in FIG. 4, a hydrophilic adsorbent 127 and a hydrophobic adsorbent 128 are provided within the adsorption tube 125. The hydrophilic adsorbent 127 and the hydrophobic adsorbent 128 are honeycomb structures made of zeolite, formed into cylindrical shapes of the same diameter, and stacked side by side along the centerline of the adsorption tube 125. The hydrophilic adsorbent 127 is designed to effectively adsorb moisture, and the hydrophobic adsorbent 128 is designed to effectively adsorb VOCs.

The adsorption column 125 is also provided with a drying region, a cooling region, and a regeneration region. The lid 126 at one end of the adsorber 124 is provided with port 131A communicating with the drying region, port 131B communicating with the cooling region, and port 131C communicating with the regeneration region. The lid 126 at the other end of the adsorber 124 is provided with port 132A communicating with the drying region, port 132B communicating with the cooling region, and port 132C communicating with the regeneration region. The adsorption section 118 is also provided with a rotation mechanism 133 that rotates the adsorption column 125 around its centerline. The rotation mechanism 133 includes a motor 134 as a drive source.

One end of the first supply pipe 122 is connected to the outlet of the drying blower 117, and the other end of the first supply pipe 122 is connected to port 132A of the adsorber 124. This connects the first supply pipe 122 to the drying region of the adsorption tube 125. Meanwhile, one end of the second supply pipe 123 is connected to port 131A, which connects to the drying region. The second supply pipe 123 passes through the drying heater 119 midway, penetrates the side wall of the drying hopper 111, and has its other end located within the drying hopper 111. Within the drying hopper 111, the other end of the second supply pipe 123 bends downward and extends, forming a conical shape that widens as it approaches the bottom.

The first reflux line 135 branches off and is connected to the second supply line 123 between the adsorption section 118 and the drying heater 119. The first reflux line 135 is connected to port 131B of the adsorber 124 and communicates with the cooling region of the adsorption column 125. One end of the second reflux line 136 is connected to the other port 132B, which communicates with the cooling region. The other end of the second reflux line 136 branches off and is connected to the discharge line 121 between the aftercooler 116 and the drying blower 117.

The adsorption section 118 is equipped with a regeneration blower 141 and a regeneration heater 142. The suction port of the regeneration blower 141 is open to the atmosphere through a regeneration filter 143. A regeneration line 144 is connected to the outlet of the regeneration blower 141. The regeneration line 144 includes a regeneration duct 145 and an exhaust duct 146. One end of the regeneration duct 145 is connected to the outlet of the regeneration blower 141, and the regeneration duct 145 passes through the aftercooler 116 and the regeneration heater 142 in order, and the other end is connected to port 131C of the adsorber 124. One end of the exhaust duct 146 is connected to port 132C of the adsorber 124. This connects the regeneration line 144 to the regeneration region of the adsorption tube 125.

When the drying blower 117 is driven, air is blown from the drying blower 117's outlet into the first supply line 122, generating a dry gas airflow in the first supply line 122 toward the adsorber 124. The airflow flows into the drying region of the adsorption column 125 from port 132A of the adsorber 124, passes through the drying region, and flows out into the second supply line 123 from port 132B of the adsorber 124. As the airflow passes through the drying region, moisture contained in the airflow is adsorbed by the hydrophilic adsorbent 127, and the airflow that has passed through the drying region becomes a low-dew-point dry gas airflow. A portion of the airflow that flows out into the second supply line 123 flows into the first return line 135, flows into the cooling region from port 131B of the adsorber 124, passes through the cooling region, and flows out into the second return line 136 from port 132B of the adsorber 124. As the airflow passes through the second drying zone, it cools areas that were heated by the regeneration air in the regeneration zone of the adsorber 124 and reached high temperatures. This allows the adsorber 124 to return to a temperature at which it can adsorb moisture in the next drying zone.

The dry gas flowing through the second supply pipe 123 is heated by the drying heater 119, becoming heated dry gas which is then supplied into the drying hopper 111. The temperature of the dry gas supplied into the drying hopper 111 is, for example, 60 to 180°C. The dry gas blown out from the other end of the second supply pipe 123 passes through the powder and granules stored in the drying hopper 111 and escapes above the stored powder and granules. As a result, the dry gas removes moisture from the powder and granules, drying them. The dry gas that has removed moisture from the powder and granules is discharged through the air discharge pipe 114 to the discharge pipe 121 and flows through the discharge pipe 121 toward the drying blower 117.

If the powder or granular material contains VOCs as additives, the VOCs will volatilize from the powder or granular material as it dries. Therefore, the drying gas circulating through the drying line 113 contains VOCs that have volatilized from the powder or granular material. When the dry gas flow passes through the drying region of the adsorption column 125, the VOCs that have volatilized from the powder or granular material and are contained in the air flow are adsorbed by the hydrophobic adsorbent 128.

Meanwhile, the regeneration blower 141 is driven. When the regeneration blower 141 is driven, outside air is drawn into the suction port of the regeneration blower 141 through the regeneration filter 143. The outside air is then blown out from the outlet of the regeneration blower 141 into the regeneration duct 145 of the regeneration line 144, generating an airflow in the regeneration duct 145 toward the adsorber 124. This airflow (outside air) passes through the aftercooler 116 and the regeneration heater 142 in order, then flows into the regeneration region of the adsorption column 125 from port 131C of the adsorber 124, passes through the regeneration region, and flows out from port 132C of the adsorber 124 into the exhaust duct 146 of the regeneration line 144. In the aftercooler 116, heat exchange occurs between the outside air flowing through the regeneration line 144 and the dry gas flowing through the exhaust duct 121, raising the temperature of the outside air flowing through the regeneration line 144 and lowering the temperature of the dry gas flowing through the exhaust duct 121. The outside air flowing through the regeneration line 144 is further heated by the regeneration heater 142 to become regeneration gas, which then passes through the regeneration flow path of the adsorption column 125.

Meanwhile, the portion of the hydrophilic adsorbent 127 that has adsorbed moisture from the dry gas in the dry region and the portion of the hydrophobic adsorbent 128 that has adsorbed VOCs from the dry gas in the dry region move to the regeneration region as the adsorption tube 125 is rotated by the rotation mechanism 133. This causes moisture to desorb from the hydrophilic adsorbent 127 and VOCs to desorb from the hydrophobic adsorbent 128, regenerating the hydrophilic adsorbent 127 and the hydrophobic adsorbent 128. The temperature of the regeneration gas is set, for example, to 180 to 250°C.

The lower part of the drying hopper 111 is formed in a conical shape that tapers downward, with a discharge outlet 151 formed at its lower end. The drying hopper 111 is provided with a gate shutter 152 that opens and closes the discharge outlet 151. When the gate shutter 152 is closed and the discharge outlet 151 is closed, powder and granular material supplied from the loader hopper 112 can be stored in the drying hopper 111. A discharge branch pipe 153 is connected to the discharge outlet 151. When the gate shutter 152 is opened and the discharge outlet 151 is opened while powder and granular material is stored in the drying hopper 111, the powder and granular material in the drying hopper 111 is discharged from the discharge outlet 151 to the discharge branch pipe 153.

The discharge branch pipeline 153 is included in the transport line 154. In addition to the discharge branch pipeline 153, the transport line 154 also includes a switching valve 155, a first transport pipeline 156, and a second transport pipeline 157. The discharge branch pipeline 153 is installed midway through the first transport pipeline 156.

The switching valve 155 has an input port 161, a circulation output port 162, and an atmosphere release port 163. The switching valve 155 is provided with valve bodies that individually open and close the circulation output port 162 and the atmosphere release port 163. Depending on the position of these valve bodies, the switching valve 155 can be switched between a circulation position in which the atmosphere release port 163 is closed and the circulation output port 162 is opened, thereby connecting the input port 161 and the circulation output port 162 within the valve body, and an open position in which the circulation output port 162 is closed and the atmosphere release port 163 is opened, thereby connecting the input port 161 and the atmosphere release port 163 within the valve body.

One end of the first transport pipeline 156 is connected to the circulation output port 162 of the switching valve 155. A destination hopper is provided above the molding machine to store the powder and granular material to be fed into the molding machine, and the other end of the first transport pipeline 156 is connected to the side wall of the destination hopper and communicates with the interior of the destination hopper.

One end of the second transport pipeline 157 is connected to the top wall of the destination hopper and communicates with the interior of the destination hopper. The other end of the second transport pipeline 157 is connected to the input port 161 of the switching valve 155. The second transport pipeline 157 is equipped with a primary/secondary switching valve 164, a dust collection cyclone 165, a transport filter 166, and a transport blower 167, in this order from the destination hopper side.

The primary/secondary switching valve 164 has a primary input port 171, a secondary input port 172, and an output port 173. The primary/secondary switching valve 164 is provided with valve bodies that individually open and close the primary input port 171 and secondary input port 172. Depending on the position of these valve bodies, the primary/secondary switching valve 164 can be switched between a primary transport position in which the secondary input port 172 is closed and the primary input port 171 is open, thereby connecting the primary input port 171 to the output port 173 within the valve body, and a secondary transport position in which the primary input port 171 is closed and the secondary input port 172 is open, thereby connecting the secondary input port 172 to the output port 173 within the valve body.

The second transport pipeline 157 is further divided into a first pipeline section 174, a second pipeline section 175, a third pipeline section 176, a fourth pipeline section 177, and a fifth pipeline section 178. One end of the first pipeline section 174 is connected to the upper wall of the destination hopper as one end of the second transport pipeline 157, and the other end of the first pipeline section 174 is connected to the secondary input port 172 of the primary-secondary switching valve 164. One end of the second pipeline section 175 is connected to the output port 173 of the primary-secondary switching valve 164, and the other end of the second pipeline section 175 is connected to the air inlet section 181 of the dust collecting cyclone 165. One end of the third pipeline section 176 is connected to the intake section 182 of the dust collecting cyclone 165, and the other end of the third pipeline section 176 is connected to the inlet 183 of the transport filter 166. One end of the fourth pipeline 177 is connected to the outlet 184 of the transport filter 166, and the other end of the fourth pipeline 177 is connected to the suction port of the transport blower 167. One end of the fifth pipeline 178 is connected to the outlet of the transport blower 167, and the other end of the fifth pipeline 178 is connected to the input port 161 of the switching valve 155.

One end of a primary suction line 185 is connected to the top wall of the loader hopper 112 and is connected to the interior of the loader hopper 112. The other end of the primary suction line 185 is connected to the primary input port 171 of the primary/secondary switching valve 164. One end of a powder/granular material supply line 186 is connected to the side wall of the loader hopper 112. The powder/granular material supply line 186 extends toward a raw material tank (not shown) that stores powder/granular material, and the other end is connected to a suction pipe located inside the raw material tank.

When powder and granular material are supplied from the raw material tank to the loader hopper 112, the selector valve 155 is set to the open position, and the primary-secondary selector valve 164 is set to the primary transport position. When the transport blower 167 is driven, air is sucked into the suction port of the transport blower 167 from the fourth pipeline section 177 and then blown out from the outlet of the transport blower 167 to the fifth pipeline section 178. The air blown out into the fifth pipeline section 178 enters the valve body of the selector valve 155 through the input port 161 and is released into the atmosphere from the valve body through the atmosphere release port 163. This generates negative pressure in the primary suction line 185, the second pipeline section 175, the third pipeline section 176, and the fourth pipeline section 177. This negative pressure causes the powder and granular material in the raw material tank to be sucked up into the suction pipe, which then supplies the powder and granular material from the suction pipe through the powder and granular material supply line 186 into the loader hopper 112.

When the powder or granular material is transported from the drying hopper 111 to the destination hopper after drying, the selector valve 155 is set to the circulation position and the primary-secondary selector valve 164 is set to the secondary transport position. The transport blower 167 is then driven. When the transport blower 167 is driven, air is sucked into the suction port of the transport blower 167 from the fourth duct section 177, creating a negative pressure in the fourth duct section 177. This negative pressure causes air in the destination hopper to be sucked into the first duct section 174, creating an airflow through the first duct section 174, the second duct section 175, the third duct section 176, and the fourth duct section 177. Meanwhile, air blown from the outlet of the transport blower 167 into the fifth pipeline section 178 enters the valve body of the switching valve 155 through the input port 161 and flows out from the circulation output port 162 of the switching valve 155 to the first transport pipeline 156. This generates a transport airflow as air circulates through the transport line 154 consisting of the switching valve 155, the first transport pipeline 156, and the second transport pipeline 157. When the gate shutter 152 of the drying hopper 111 is opened and the discharge port 151 of the drying hopper 111 is opened, the powder and granular material in the drying hopper 111 is sucked out from the discharge port 151 into the transport line 154, and the powder and granular material is transported along the transport airflow along the transport line 154 (first transport pipeline 156) toward the destination hopper.

Dust and other foreign matter contained in the transport airflow is captured as the transport airflow passes through the dust collection cyclone 165 and transport filter 166. In the dust collection cyclone 165, air is sucked from the intake section 182 of the dust collection cyclone 165 into the third duct section 176, creating a negative pressure inside the dust collection cyclone 165. This negative pressure causes air (transport airflow) to be sucked into the dust collection cyclone 165 from the second duct section 175 via the air inlet section 181. Inside the dust collection cyclone 165, the air swirls, and centrifugal force and gravity separate the air from the foreign matter, which is then collected in a collection box connected to the bottom of the dust collection cyclone 165.

The exhaust pipe 146 of the regeneration line 144 is connected to a deodorization line 191, which decomposes and deodorizes the regeneration gas flowing from the adsorber 124 to the exhaust pipe 146. Like the deodorization device 91 in the previous embodiment, the deodorization line 191 is configured to use catalytic decomposition as its deodorization method. Specifically, a low-temperature catalyst 192 is installed in the deodorization line 191. Furthermore, both ends of a heating branch pipe 193 are connected to the deodorization line 191 on the exhaust pipe 146 side of the low-temperature catalyst 192. A catalytic heater 194 runs through the middle of the heating branch pipe 193.

A portion of the regeneration gas flowing from exhaust pipe 146 into deodorization line 191 flows through heating branch pipe 193, is heated by catalytic heater 194, and then merges with the regeneration gas flowing in deodorization line 191. This raises the temperature of the regeneration gas flowing in deodorization line 191 to 200-300°C, and the heated regeneration gas passes through low-temperature catalyst 192. During this process, chemical decomposition of the VOCs contained in the regeneration gas occurs, and the VOCs are removed from the regeneration gas flowing in deodorization line 191.

If VOCs can be decomposed at relatively low temperatures, the catalytic heater 194 may be omitted.

Furthermore, the deodorization line 191 passes through an exhaust gas/regenerative heat exchanger 195 downstream of the low-temperature catalyst 192. Meanwhile, the regeneration pipe 145 of the regeneration line 144 passes through the exhaust gas/regenerative heat exchanger 195 between the aftercooler 116 and the regeneration heater 142. In the exhaust gas/regenerative heat exchanger 195, heat exchange occurs between the outside air (regeneration gas) flowing through the regeneration line 144 and the exhaust gas (regeneration gas) flowing through the deodorization line 191, raising the temperature of the outside air flowing through the regeneration line 144 and lowering the temperature of the exhaust gas flowing through the deodorization line 191. As a result, the exhaust gas flowing through the deodorization line 191 is discharged into the outside air at a temperature lowered to 110°C or below, for example, 92-93°C.

<Action and effect>
The heated and dehumidified dry gas is supplied to the drying hopper 111, whereby the powder and granular material contained therein is dried. The adsorption section 118 has a drying region and a regeneration region. In the drying region, moisture contained in the dry gas is adsorbed by a hydrophilic adsorbent 127, thereby dehumidifying the dry gas. In the regeneration region, moisture is removed from the hydrophilic adsorbent 127 by the regeneration gas, thereby regenerating the hydrophilic adsorbent 127. Furthermore, VOCs contained in the dry gas are adsorbed by a hydrophobic adsorbent 128 in the drying region. In the regeneration region, VOCs are removed from the hydrophobic adsorbent 128 by the regeneration gas, thereby regenerating the hydrophobic adsorbent 128. The regeneration gas that has removed the VOCs, which are odor components, from the hydrophobic adsorbent 128 is decomposed in a deodorization line 191 and then exhausted. This prevents environmental degradation caused by exhaust gas from the regeneration line 144 through which the regeneration gas flows.

In addition, the configuration of the powder and granular material processing apparatus 101 can also achieve the same effects as those achieved by the configuration of the powder and granular material processing apparatus 1 described above.

<Modification 2>
In each of the above-described embodiments, a configuration was described in which the heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the deodorization line 92, 191 was used to heat the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line 34, 144, but the heat of the exhaust gas flowing through the deodorization line 92, 191 may also be used to heat the drying hopper 11, 111 or the destination hopper, or may be used to heat a device other than the powder or granular material processing device 1, 101, for example, a mixer that mixes multiple types of materials including powder or granular material.

Furthermore, the deodorizing device 91 is not limited to being used in powder and granular material processing apparatus 1 (dehumidifying dryer), and may also be used in equipment that does not handle powder and granular material. For example, the deodorizing device 91 may be used to deodorize exhaust air from a smoking booth to the outside air, in which case the heat of the exhaust air flowing through the deodorizing line 92 may be used to warm the air inside the smoking booth. The deodorizing device 91 may also be used to deodorize exhaust air from a paint factory to the outside air, in which case the heat of the exhaust air flowing through the deodorizing line 92 may be used to dry the paint applied to the painted object.

Deodorizer 91 employs a catalytic decomposition method using a low-temperature catalyst 94 as its deodorizing method. Deodorization line 191 also employs a catalytic decomposition method using a low-temperature catalyst 192. However, other deodorizing methods may also be employed, as appropriate. These include a combustion method that oxidizes and decomposes odorous components (volatile components) such as VOCs at high temperatures; an ozone oxidation method that oxidizes and decomposes odorous components by bringing ozone into contact with them; a plasma decomposition method that oxidizes and decomposes odorous components using plasma; a photocatalytic decomposition method that oxidizes and decomposes odorous components using ultraviolet light and a catalyst primarily composed of titanium oxide; an adsorption method that adsorbs odorous components onto an adsorbent; and a cleaning method that brings exhaust gas containing odorous components into gas-liquid contact with a cleaning liquid (acid, alkali, water) to absorb and decompose the odorous components.

Although the regeneration gas flowing through the exhaust pipes 36 and 146 is exhausted to the outside air, it is not limited to the outside air, and the regeneration gas may also be exhausted to a designated gas line.

In the powder and granular material processing apparatus 1, 101, inert gas may be used as the drying gas and regeneration gas instead of the drying gas and regeneration gas.

In addition, various design modifications may be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the claims.

1, 101: Powder and granular material processing device 11, 111: Drying hopper (storage section)
13, 113: Drying line 16, 116: Aftercooler (drying/regenerative heat exchanger)
18, 118: Adsorption section 19, 119: Drying heater (heating section)
34, 144: Regeneration line 91: Deodorization device (gas processing unit)
94, 192: Low temperature catalyst 95: Aftercooler (exhaust/regenerative heat exchanger)
127: Hydrophilic adsorbent (moisture adsorbent)
128: Hydrophobic adsorbent (adsorbent for other components)
195: Exhaust/regenerative heat exchanger

Claims (12)

a drying line through which a drying gas flows;
a regeneration line through which the regeneration gas flows;
a storage section connected to one end and the other end of the drying line and configured to store powder or granular material;
a heating unit that heats the drying gas flowing through the drying line toward the storage unit;
an adsorption section in which a drying region through which dry gas flowing through the drying line toward the storage section passes and a regeneration region through which regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line passes are set, in which moisture contained in the dry gas passing through the drying region is adsorbed by an adsorbent, and in which moisture is removed from the adsorbent by the regeneration gas in the regeneration region, thereby regenerating the adsorbent;
a gas treatment unit connected to the downstream end of the regeneration line, for decomposing and treating the regeneration gas from the regeneration line and then discharging the gas. The powder and granular material processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adsorption unit uses, as the adsorbent, a moisture adsorbent that adsorbs moisture contained in the dry gas and an adsorbent for other components that adsorb components other than moisture contained in the dry gas. a drying line through which a drying gas flows;
a regeneration line through which the regeneration gas flows;
a storage section connected to one end and the other end of the drying line and configured to store powder or granular material;
a heating unit that heats the drying gas flowing through the drying line toward the storage unit;
a drying region through which the dry gas flowing along the drying line toward the storage section passes and a regeneration region through which the regeneration gas flowing along the regeneration line passes, the adsorption tube being provided with a hydrophilic adsorbent and a hydrophobic adsorbent arranged in a centerline direction of the adsorption tube; in the drying region, moisture contained in the dry gas is adsorbed onto the hydrophilic adsorbent, and organic components contained in the dry gas are adsorbed onto the hydrophobic adsorbent; and in the regeneration region, moisture is removed from the hydrophilic adsorbent by the regeneration gas, thereby regenerating the hydrophilic adsorbent, and organic components are removed from the hydrophobic adsorbent by the regeneration gas, thereby regenerating the hydrophobic adsorbent;
a gas treatment unit connected to the regeneration line, for decomposing and treating the regeneration gas from the regeneration line and then discharging the gas. The powder and granular material processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hydrophobic adsorbent and the hydrophilic adsorbent are honeycomb structures made of zeolite. The powder and granular material processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the decomposition process is a catalytic decomposition process using a low-temperature catalyst. a regeneration heater provided in the regeneration line upstream of the adsorption section and configured to heat the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line;
The powder/granular material processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the regeneration heater is used as a catalyst heater for heating a regeneration gas flowing into the low-temperature catalyst. The powder and granular material processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an exhaust/regeneration heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the exhaust from the gas processing unit and the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line, thereby lowering the temperature of the exhaust from the gas processing unit and raising the temperature of the regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line. The powder and granular material processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a drying/regenerating heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the dry gas flowing through the drying line from the storage section toward the adsorption section and the regenerating gas flowing through the regenerating line, thereby lowering the temperature of the dry gas flowing through the drying line and raising the temperature of the regenerating gas flowing through the regenerating line. The powder and granular material processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the temperature of the exhaust gas from the gas processing unit is 110°C or less. The powder and granular material processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the gas processing unit is connected to a single regeneration line. a plurality of sets of the drying line, the regeneration line, the storage unit, the heating unit, and the adsorption unit are provided, each set consisting of a single drying line, a single regeneration line, a single storage unit, a single heating unit, and a single adsorption unit;
The powder/granular material processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the gas processing unit is commonly connected to a plurality of the regeneration lines. A method for treating powder or granular material in an apparatus including a drying line through which a drying gas flows, a regeneration line through which a regeneration gas flows, and a storage section to which one end and the other end of the drying line are connected and which stores the powder or granular material, comprising:
a heating step of heating the drying gas flowing through the drying line toward the storage section;
an adsorption step of adsorbing moisture contained in the dry gas flowing through the drying line toward the storage section into an adsorbent;
a regeneration step of passing a regeneration gas flowing through the regeneration line through the adsorbent to regenerate the adsorbent;
a gas treatment step of decomposing the regeneration gas that has passed through the adsorbent and then discharging it.