Sealing a reduction assembly

A method for sealing a reduction apparatus, the reduction apparatus comprising a product discharge device, the method comprising:

• supplying the product discharge device with a barrier gas;
• providing at least one compressor for supplying treated barrier gas to the product discharge device;
• providing at least one nitrogen generator for producing pure barrier gas;
• and
• providing:
• a first supply conduit to the product discharge device comprising a first regulating valve;
• and
• a second supply conduit to the first supply conduit comprising a second regulating valve and a measuring device;
• wherein the barrier gas for supply to the product discharge device is composed of one of:
• a pure barrier gas from the at least one nitrogen generator;
• and
• the pure barrier gas from the at least one nitrogen generator and a treated barrier gas from the at least one compressor;
• and
• wherein a pressure is measured in at least one of the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit and when a barrier gas requirement of the product discharge device rises above a maximum capacity of the at least one nitrogen generator, the first regulating valve in the first supply conduit is opened in order to supply additional treated barrier gas from the at least one compressor to the product discharge device.

A method for sealing a reduction apparatus, the reduction apparatus comprising a product discharge device, the method comprising:

• supplying the product discharge device with a barrier gas;
• providing at least one compressor for supplying treated barrier gas to the product discharge device;
• providing at least one nitrogen generator for producing pure barrier gas;
• and
• providing:
• a first supply conduit to the product discharge device comprising a first regulating valve;
• and
• a second supply conduit to the first supply conduit comprising a second regulating valve and a measuring device;
• wherein the barrier gas for supply to the product discharge device is composed of one of:
• a pure barrier gas from the at least one nitrogen generator;
• and
• the pure barrier gas from the at least one nitrogen generator and a treated barrier gas from the at least one compressor;
• and
• wherein the flow rate is measured in at least one of the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit and when a barrier gas requirement of the product discharge device rises above a maximum capacity of the at least one nitrogen generator, the first regulating valve in the first supply conduit is opened in order to supply additional treated barrier gas from the at least one compressor to the product discharge device.

An apparatus for sealing a reduction apparatus, the reduction apparatus comprising a product discharge device, comprising:

• at least one compressor for supplying treated barrier gas to the product discharge device via a first supply conduit, the first supply conduit to the product discharge device comprising a first regulating valve;
• at least one nitrogen generator for producing pure barrier gas, the at least one nitrogen generator comprising a second supply conduit to the first supply conduit, the second supply conduit for supplying barrier gas to the product discharge device;
• and
• a regulating device configured to regulate a first regulating valve of the first supply conduit and a second regulating valve of the second supply conduit so that when a barrier gas requirement of the product discharge device rises above a maximum capacity of the at least one nitrogen generator, the treated barrier gas from the at least one compressor is added to the pure barrier gas stream, and a mixture barrier gas formed by the two gases is supplied to the product discharge device.