Solids feed system and method for feeding fluidized beds

A system for feeding particulate solids to a fluidized bed reactor comprising:

• (a) a solids transport device for transporting solids with inert gas at elevated pressure;
• (b) a transport line for conveying inert gas and entrained solids, said transport line connecting said solids transport device to a cyclone wherein gas and solids are separated;
• (c) gas conduit means connected to said cyclone for removing gas;
• (d) solids discharge means connected to said cyclone for passing solids to an essentially vertical standpipe, and inlet means provided in said standpipe for introducing inert gas into said standpipe at one or more locations to fluidize solids;
• (e) valve means for controlling the pressure in said conduit means for removing gas thereby controlling the effective hydrostatic head of a solids column in said standpipe;
• (f) a feed conduit without valve means connecting said standpipe to a fluidize bed reactor for feeding solids in a dense phase directly to said reactor said feed conduit having a bend which is greater than the angle of repose of the particulate solids being transported;
• (g) pressure sensors for measuring the pressure directly upstream of said valve means and the pressure in said reactor;
• and
• (h) a differential pressure controller for controlling said valve means, said controller being connected to said pressure sensors.