Drying of pulverized material with heated condensible vapor

Apparatus for drying pulverized material utilizes a high enthalpy condensable vapor such as steam for removing moisture from the individual particles of the pulverized material. The wet particulate material is delivered by a carrier vapor flow to an upper portion of a separation drum. The lateral all of the drum is provided with flow guides for directing the vapor in the direction of particulate material flow. Positioned concentrically within the separation drum and along the longitudinal axis is a water cooled condensation cylinder provided with collection plates, or fines. The cooled collection fines are aligned counter to the flow of the pulverized material and high enthalpy vapor mixture to maximize water vapor condensation. The condensed liquid then flows downward along the outer surface of the coolant cylinder and is collected and removed. The particles of the pulverized material are directed outwardly by the vortex flow where they contact the inner cylindrical surface of the separation drum and are deposited at the bottom for easy collection and removal. The pulverized material drying apparatus is particularly adapted for drying coal fines and facilitates the recovery of the pulverized coal.