System and a method for transferring solid particles from a first environment at a first gas pressure to a second environment at a second gas pressure

A method for transferring solid particles from a first environment at a first gas pressure to a second environment at a second gas pressure, wherein the method comprises:

• providing a system for transferring the solid particles, the system comprising:
• a first rotary valve having an inlet which is in fluid communication with the first environment;
• a second rotary valve having an outlet which is in fluid communication with the second environment;
• and
• an intermediate channel housing bounding an intermediate channel, the intermediate channel housing having an inlet which is fluidly connected to an outlet of the first rotary valve and having an outlet which is fluidly connected to an inlet of the second rotary valve, the intermediate channel being fluidly connected to a third environment,
• the inlet of first rotary valve being situated at a higher level than the outlet of the first rotary valve;
• the inlet of the second rotary valve being situated at a higher level than the outlet of the second rotary valve;
• and
• the outlet of the first rotary valve being situated at a higher level than the inlet of the second rotary valve;
• wherein the first rotary valve, in operation, allows the solid particles to transfer from the first environment to the intermediate channel,
• wherein the second rotary valve, in operation, allows the solid particles to transfer from the intermediate channel to the second environment,
• driving the first and second rotary valves simultaneously and continuously to transfer solid particles from the first environment to the second environment in a batch-less, continuous manner, and
• during the simultaneous and continuous driving of the first and second rotary valves, maintaining a third gas pressure in the third environment at a pressure which is either higher than both the first gas pressure and the second gas pressure or lower than both the first gas pressure and the second gas pressure, so that a total gaseous isolation between the first environment and the second environment is achieved during the simultaneous and continuous driving of the first and second rotary valves.