The invention relates to a method for the continuous heat treatment of
plant bulk material, in particular seeds, nuts, nut kernels and coffee beans, in a
conveyor system and by means of
direct heating of the
plant bulk material by a heat source.
Plant bulk material is continuously fed to the
conveyor system at an inlet, is treated in the
conveyor system in a controlled manner, while passing through at least two heating zones which lie sequentially one behind the other, by heat sources arranged there, and is conveyed to an outlet. The temperature of the
plant bulk material when it leaves a first, upstream heating zone and before it enters a second heating zone adjoining the first heating zone downstream is measured by a temperature sensor. In order to monitor and control the heat treatment operation, the
mass flow of the plant bulk material is continuously divided into virtual sub-units and for each of the virtual sub-units the temperature of the plant bulk material at the end of the first heating zone is measured. An actual value of the temperature is derived from the measured temperature of the plant bulk material in each virtual sub-unit and is compared with a
setpoint value, planned for the heat treatment, of the temperature at the end of the first heating zone. In the event that a deviation of the actual value from the
setpoint value is detected, the power of at least the heat source in the second heating zone is adjusted.