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A process of both milling and drying a solvent-moist material (e.g., water-moist methylhydroxyethylcellulose) is described. The process includes, (a) providing a mill-dryer (100) which includes, in series, a heat exchanger (1), a mill (2) and a particulate separating apparatus (105) connected by con

A process of both milling and drying a solvent-moist material (e.g., water-moist methylhydroxyethylcellulose) is described. The process includes, (a) providing a mill-dryer (100) which includes, in series, a heat exchanger (1), a mill (2) and a particulate separating apparatus (105) connected by conduits (8), (9) and (11, 12), which together define a mill-dryer circuit (103). The mill-dryer (100) also includes a bypass conduit (14), which provides optionally at least partial gaseous bypass of the heat exchanger (1). The process further includes: (b) introducing the solvent-moist material into the mill (2); (c) circulating a vapor stream (e.g., a steam/air stream) throughout the mill-dryer circuit (103); (d) heating the vapor stream by means of passage through the heat-exchanger (1); (e) forwarding milled particulate material from the mill (2) to the particulate separating apparatus (105) by means of conduit (9); (f) separating the particulate material from the vapor stream in the particulate separating apparatus (105); (g) forwarding the vapor stream from the particulate separating apparatus (105) through conduits (11, 12); and (h) controlling the temperature of the vapor stream by optionally forwarding at least some of the vapor stream through the bypass line (14).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A process of both milling and drying a solvent-moist material comprising:(a) providing a mill-dryer apparatus comprising, (i) a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, (ii) a mill having an inlet and an outlet, (iii) a particulate separating apparatus having an inlet and an outlet, and (iv)

1. A process of both milling and drying a solvent-moist material comprising:(a) providing a mill-dryer apparatus comprising, (i) a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, (ii) a mill having an inlet and an outlet, (iii) a particulate separating apparatus having an inlet and an outlet, and (iv) a bypass line, the outlet of said heat exchanger being connected to the inlet of said mill by means of a heat exchanger-mill conduit, the outlet of said mill being connected to the inlet of said particulate separating apparatus by means of a mill-separator conduit, the outlet of said particulate separating apparatus being connected to the inlet of said heat exchanger by means of a separator-heat exchanger conduit, said heat exchanger, mill, particulate separating apparatus, heat exchanger-mill conduit, mill-separator conduit and separator-heat exchanger conduit together defining a mill-dryer circuit, and said bypass line providing reversibly closeable gaseous communication between said separator-heat exchanger conduit and a down-stream portion of said mill-dryer circuit relative to said heat exchanger, said bypass line thereby providing optionally at least partial gaseous bypass of said heat exchanger, (b) introducing said solvent-moist material into said mill; (c) circulating a vapor stream throughout said mill-dryer circuit; (d) heating said vapor stream by means of passage through said heat-exchanger; (e) forwarding milled particulate material from said mill to said particulate separating apparatus by means of said vapor stream and said mill-separator conduit; (f) separating said particulate material from said vapor stream in said particulate separating apparatus; (g) forwarding said vapor stream from said particulate separating apparatus through said separator-heat exchanger conduit; and (h) controlling the temperature of said vapor stream by optionally forwarding at least some of said vapor stream through said bypass line. 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the material introduced into said mill is selected from at least one of polysaccharides and polysaccharide derivatives.3. The process of claim 1 wherein the material introduced in to said mill is a cellulose derivative selected from at least one of methylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, methylhydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose.4. The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent of said solvent-moist material is water, and said vapor stream comprises one of (i) a mixture of steam and air, and (ii) a mixture of steam and at least one inert gas.5. The process of claim 1 wherein said bypass line includes a reversibly closeable valve, said valve being operated as a function of the temperature of said vapor stream.6. The process of claim 1 wherein the particulate material separated in said particulate separating apparatus has a particle size of less than or equal to 70 μm.7. The process of claim 1 wherein said bypass line includes at least one reversibly closeable blow-out nozzle, said process further comprising controlling the pressure within said mill-dryer circuit by releasing excess vapor through said blow-out nozzle.8. A mill-dryer apparatus for both milling and drying a solvent-moist material comprising:(i) a heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet, (ii) a mill having an inlet and an outlet, (iii) a particulate separating apparatus having an inlet and an outlet, and (iv) a bypass line, wherein,the outlet of said heat exchanger is connected to the inlet of said mill by means of a heat exchanger-mill conduit, the outlet of said mill is connected to the inlet of said particulate separating apparatus by means of a mill-separator conduit, the outlet of said particulate separating apparatus is connected to the inlet of said heat exchanger by means of a separator-heat exchanger conduit, said heat exchanger, mill, particulate separating apparatus, heat exchanger-mill conduit, mill-separator conduit and separator-heat exchanger conduit together defining a mill-dryer circuit, said bypass line providing reversibly closeable gaseous communication between said separator-heat exchanger conduit and a down-stream portion of said mill-dryer circuit relative to said heat exchanger, said bypass line thereby providing optionally at least partial gaseous bypass of said heat exchanger. 9. The mill-dryer apparatus of claim 8 wherein said bypass line includes a reversibly closeable valve.10. The mill-dryer apparatus of claim 8 wherein said bypass line includes at least one reversibly closeable blow-out nozzle, said blow-out nozzle providing a means for releasing excess vapor from said mill-dryer circuit and controlling the pressure within said mill-dryer circuit.