Method for fluidized bed discharge

A method of fluidizing particles in a vertically extending bed of particles comprising:

• introducing upwardly flowing gases into a bottom portion of the bed for fluidizing the particles;
• distributing one portion of said upwardly flowin gas under pressure into the bottom portion of said bed through a gas permeable member extending in a direction transverse to said vertically extending bed,
• distributing another portion of said upwardly flowing gas under pressure into the bottom portion of said bed through the central opening of a conduit, said conduit having a gas permeable wall for the flow of gas into the central opening,
• said gas permeable member and said gas permeable wall each having a plurality of pores interconnecting opposing surfaces wherein said pores extend substantially over the entirety of said surfaces,
• selecting said distribution through said one portion and said other portion for moving particles in said bed,
• connecting a valve to said conduit means for controlling the flow of particles from said conduit and being in a normally closed position for preventing the discharge of particles from said bed during fluidization, and
• discharging particles from said bed through the central opening of said conduit when said value means is in an open position and while flowing gas into said conduit through said gas permeable wall.