# US 2014/0151191 A1 · System and method to supply a solid feedstock to a solids feeder > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151191 A1 - Document ID: US20140151191A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,161 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson; Anthony Holmes Furman; Steven Craig Russell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151191A1 ## CPC - B65G 53/48: Screws or like rotary conveyors - B65G 53/66: Use of indicator or control devices, e.g. for controlling gas pressure, for controlling proportions of material and gas, for indicating or preventing jamming of material {(controlling the flow of coal firing systems C21B5/003)} - C10J 3/30: Fuel charging devices - C10J 3/34: Grates; Mechanical ash-removing devices - C10J 3/50: Fuel charging devices - C10J 3/52: Ash-removing devices - C10J 3/723: {Controlling or regulating the gasification process} - F23K 3/00: Feeding or distributing of lump or pulverulent fuel to combustion apparatus - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - C10J: PRODUCTION OF PRODUCER GAS, WATER-GAS, SYNTHESIS GAS FROM SOLID CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL, OR MIXTURES CONTAINING THESE GASES (synthesis gas from liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons C01B; underground gasification of minerals E21B43/295); CARBURETTING AIR OR OTHER GASES - F23K: FEEDING FUEL TO COMBUSTION APPARATUS (fuel feeders specially adapted for fluidised bed combustion apparatus F23C10/22) ## Abstract In a first embodiment, a system includes a first solids feeder having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second solids feeder having a second inlet and a second outlet, and an adjustable volume coupled to the first outlet and the second inlet. The first solids feeder is configured to supply a feedstock at a first feed rate and the second solids feeder is configured to supply the feedstock at a second feed rate. The adjustable volume is configured to adjust based at least in part on first feed rate and the second feed rate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a first solids feeder comprising a first inlet and a first outlet; a second solids feeder comprising a second inlet and a second outlet; and an adjustable volume coupled to the first outlet and the second inlet, wherein the first solids feeder is configured to supply a feedstock at a first feed rate, the second solids feeder is configured to supply the feedstock at a second feed rate, and the adjustable volume is configured to adjust based at least in part on the first feed rate and the second feed rate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first solids feeder is a screw feeder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the second solids feeder is a positive metering pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first solids feeder and the second solids feeder are positive metering pumps. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable volume is configured to passively adjust. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable volume is configured to adjust to maintain the second feed rate at a desired feed rate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the first solids feeder or the second solids feeder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to control the adjustable volume. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, comprising at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control the first solids feeder based at least in part on feedback received from the at least one sensor, and the feedback received from the at least one sensor is indicative of a position of the first outlet relative to the second inlet, a volume of the adjustable volume, or a density of the feedstock, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a gasifier coupled to the second outlet, wherein the gasifier is configured to gasify the feedstock. ### Claim 11 A system, comprising: a controller configured to control a first solids feeder or a second solids feeder based at least in part on feedback indicative of a property of an adjustable volume coupled between the first solids feeder and the second solids feeder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to control a first feed rate of the first solids feeder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to control the first feed rate of the first solids feeder relative to a second feed rate of the second solids feeder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, comprising the adjustable volume, wherein the controller is configured to control the adjustable volume. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, comprising the first solids feeder configured to supply a feedstock to the adjustable volume. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, comprising the second solids feeder configured to receive the feedstock from the adjustable volume. ### Claim 17 A method, comprising: receiving feedback indicative of a property of an adjustable volume coupled between a first solids feeder and a second solids feeder; and controlling a first solids feeder or a second solids feeder based at least in part on the received feedback. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the property of the adjustable volume comprises a position of an outlet of the first solids feeder relative to an inlet of the second solids feeder, a volume of the adjustable volume, a density of a feedstock, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising controlling a size of the adjustable volume based at least in part on a first feed rate of the first solids feeder and a second feed rate of the second solids feeder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, comprising controlling a speed of the first solids feeder to maintain a second feed rate of the second solids feeder at a desired feed rate.