# US 2014/0150288 A1 · System and method for removal of liquid from a solids flow > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150288 A1 - Document ID: US20140150288A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,154 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger; John Saunders Stevenson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150288A1 ## CPC - F26B 5/14: by applying pressure, e.g. wringing; by brushing; by wiping - F26B: DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM (drying devices for combines A01D41/133; racks for drying fruit or vegetables A01F25/12; drying foodstuffs A23; drying hair A45D20/00; body-drying implements A47K10/00; drying household articles A47L; drying gases or vapours B01D; chemical or physical processes for dewatering or like separating liquids from solids B01D43/00; centrifugal apparatus B04; drying ceramics C04B33/30; drying yarns or fabrics in association with some other form of treatment D06C; drying frames for laundry without heating or positive air circulation, domestic laundry-or spin-driers, wringing or hot pressing laundry D06F; furnaces, kilns, ovens F27) ## Abstract A system includes a multi-feeder assembly. The multi-feeder assembly includes a first solids feeder, a liquid removal section, and a second solids feeder. The first solids feeder is configured to receive a solids flow from an upstream system. The liquid removal section is configured to reduce an amount of liquid in the solids flow. The second solids feeder is configured to receive the solids flow in series with the first solids feeder and output the solids flow to a downstream system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a multi-feeder assembly, comprising: a first solids feeder configured to receive a solids flow from an upstream system; a liquid removal section configured to reduce an amount of liquid in the solids flow; and a second solids feeder configured to receive the solids flow in series with the first solids feeder, wherein the second solids feeder is configured to output the solids flow to a downstream system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first solids feeder comprises the liquid removal section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first solids feeder comprises a screw feeder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the screw feeder is oriented at an incline. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid removal section is disposed between the first and second solids feeders. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first solids feeder comprises a first positive displacement pump, and the second solids feeder comprises a second positive displacement pump. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the liquid removal section comprises an inclined conduit containing a buffer gas to block passage of the liquid but allow passage of the solids flow. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second solids feeder comprises a multi-stage solids feeder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-feeder assembly is configured to continuously move the solids flow, remove the liquid from the solids flow, and modify a pressure of the solids flow between the upstream and downstream systems. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the second solids feeder is configured to reduce a pressure of the solids flow. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a controller configured to control a first feed rate of the solids flow through the first solids feeder and a second feed rate of the solids flow through the second solids feeder based at least in part on sensor feedback. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a controller configured to control operation of the multi-feeder assembly during a startup mode, a regular operating mode, a shutdown mode, and a pressure loss mode, based at least in part on sensor feedback. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the controller, during the startup mode, is configured to operate the multi-feeder assembly to: establish a buffer gas flow to the multi-feeder assembly; control a liquid level in the multi-feeder assembly; start at least one of the first and second solids feeders; establish a solids lockup condition in at least one of the first solids feeder or the second solids feeder; or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to establish the solids lockup condition by adjusting a level of a liquid/gas interface in the multi-feeder assembly or by operating at least one of the first solids feeder or the second solids feeder in reverse. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the controller, during the shutdown mode, is configured to operate the multi-feeder assembly to: control a liquid level in the multi-feeder assembly; shut down at least one of the first solids feeder or the second solids feeder; close an upstream valve disposed upstream of the first solids feeder; depressurize the multi-feeder assembly; or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, comprising an upstream valve disposed upstream of the first solids feeder and a downstream valve disposed downstream of the second solids feeder, wherein the controller is configured to close at least one of the upstream valve or the downstream valve during the pressure loss mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a gasification system coupled to the multi-feeder assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a wash water supply configured to provide wash water to the liquid removal section for washing the solids flow. ### Claim 19 A system, comprising: a controller configured to control parameters of a multi-feeder assembly having a first solids feeder, a liquid removal section, and a second solids feeder, wherein the parameters comprise a first feed rate of a solids flow through the first solids feeder and a second feed rate of the solids flow through the second solids feeder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to control the parameters of the multi-feeder assembly to continuously move the solids flow, remove the liquid from the solids flow, and modify a pressure of the solids flow between an upstream system and a downstream system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to control a supply of pressurized buffer gas to the liquid removal section for reducing an amount of liquid in the solids flow. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second feed rates based at least in part on feedback indicative of a solids flow pressure, a quantity of voids, a buffer gas pressure, a buffer gas flow rate, a solids volume, a solids level, a solids flow rate, or a torque. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to control the first feed rate to maintain a pressurization of the solids flow through the liquid removal section, and the controller is configured to control the second feed rate to depressurize the solids flow. ### Claim 24 A method, comprising: receiving a solids flow in a first solids feeder of a multi-feeder assembly; reducing an amount of liquid in the solids flow with a liquid removal section of the multi-feeder assembly; and modifying a pressure of the solids flow with a second solids feeder of the multi-feeder assembly. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, comprising controlling a first feed rate of the first solids feeder and a second feed rate of the second solids feeder. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, comprising supplying a buffer gas to the liquid removal section to block flow of the liquid while allowing the solids flow to pass.