System, method and apparatus for controlling the flow direction, flow rate and temperature of solids

An apparatus for controlling flow of solids in a chemical process plant, comprising:

• a solids feed-pipe having an upper end which receives solids from a first upstream source, and a first lower end;
• a bed fluidly coupled to the lower end of the solids feed-pipe and configured to receive the solids from the solids feed-pipe, the bed including a first transport zone and a second transport zone, each transport zone being configured to receive transport gas from a transport gas source;
• a first discharge passageway adjacent to the first transport zone;
• and a second discharge passageway adjacent to the second transport zone;
• wherein fluidized solids are transported to the first discharge passageway and the second discharge passageway using the transport gas supplied to the first and second transport zones;
• a second solids feed-pipe having an upper end which receives solids of the power plant from a second upstream source and a second lower end;
• a second bed fluidly coupled to the second lower end of the second solids feed-pipe and configured to receive the solids from the second feedpipe, the second bed including a first transport zone and a second transport zone, each transport zone being configured to receive transport gas from the transport gas source;
• a second bypass pathway in communication with the first transport zone of the second bed;
• a second heat exchange pathway in communication with the second transport zone of the second bed;
• and
• an outlet fluidly coupled to the heat exchange pathway and the bypass pathway for receiving the fluidized solids;
• wherein fluidized solids from the second upstream source are transported to the second bypass pathway and the second heat exchange pathway using the transport gas supplied to the first and second transport zones of the second bed.

A method of controlling a flow of solids, comprising the steps of:

• receiving at a first bed solids from a first source at a first inlet;
• receiving at a second bed solids from a second source at a second inlet;
• fluidizing the solids in the first and second bed using a gas;
• and
• selectively transporting the fluidized solids from the first bed to a first discharge passageway and a second discharge passageway by controlling a supply of transport gas to a first fluidizing zone of the bed associated with the first discharge passageway and a second fluidizing zone of the bed associated with the second discharge passageway;
• selectively transporting the fluidized solids from the second bed to a third discharge passageway and a fourth discharge passageway by controlling a supply of transport gas to a third fluidizing zone of the bed associated with the third discharge passageway and a fourth fluidizing zone of the bed associated with the fourth discharge passageway;
• and
• directing the fluidized solids in the first, second, third, and fourth passageways to a common outlet:
• wherein the first discharge passageway is fluidly coupled to a bypass pathway;
• the second discharge passageway is fluidly coupled to a heat exchange pathway having at least one heat exchanger associated therewith for controlling a temperature of the fluidized solids;
• and wherein the method includes the step of varying at least one of an amount and velocity of the transport gas provided to at least one of the first fluidizing zone and the second fluidizing zone in dependence upon an inlet temperature of the solids.