Solids supply system and method for supplying solids

A solids supply system comprising:

• a pressurizing device configured to pressurize feed stock from a first pressure to a second pressure higher than the first pressure;
• a high pressure feed bin coupled in flow communication with said pressurizing device, said high pressure feed bin configured to receive the pressurized feed stock from said pressurizing device;
• a metering device coupled in flow communication with said high pressure feed bin, said metering device configured to meter the pressurized feed stock into a downstream component;
• and
• a pressure control system coupled in communication with said pressurizing device, said high pressure feed bin, and said metering device, said pressure control system comprising:
• a first pressure sensing device configured to obtain a first pressure measurement including at least one of a first differential pressure and a first pressure, the first pressure measurement obtained from at least one of within and downstream from the solids supply system;
• a second pressure sensing device configured to obtain a second pressure measurement including at least one of a second differential pressure and a second pressure within said solids supply system;
• and
• a pressure controller configured to use the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement to control a pressure within said high pressure feed bin.

A method for supplying solids from a low pressure source to a high pressure receptacle using a solids supply system, said method comprising:

• obtaining a first pressure measurement using a first pressure sensing device within the solids supply system, the first pressure measurement including at least one of a first differential pressure and a first pressure, the first pressure measurement obtained from at least one of within and downstream from the solids supply system;
• obtaining a second pressure measurement using a second pressure sensing device within the solids supply system, the second pressure measurement including at least one of a second differential pressure and a second pressure within the solids supply system;
• and
• controlling a pressure within the solids supply system based on the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement using a pressure controller.

A method for controlling a pressure within a feeder of a solids supply system, said method comprising:

• obtaining a first pressure measurement using a first pressure sensing device, the first pressure measurement including at least one of a first differential pressure and a first pressure, the first pressure measurement obtained from at least one of within and downstream from the feeder;
• obtaining a second pressure measurement using a second pressure sensing device, the second pressure measurement including at least one of a second differential pressure and a second pressure from at least one of within and upstream from the feeder;
• and
• controlling the pressure within the feeder based on the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement by selectively pressurizing or depressurizing the metering device using at least one of a flow of gas supplied to the feeder and a flow of gas discharged from the feeder.