Method and apparatus for separating solids from gas in a high pressure solids-gas stream utilizing a packed bed of the solids

Apparatus, for a high pressure solids-gas stream having a superatmospheric pressure, for reducing the pressure of the solids-gas stream and separating solids from the solids-gas stream, said apparatus comprising:

• a substantially vertical de-entrainment vessel having a packed bed of bed solids, including the separated solids, disposed at a level within said vessel, an open space above the level, and a side wall;
• a transporting pipe containing the solids-gas stream therein at the superatmospheric pressure;
• an inlet connected to said transporting pipe where the pipe has a first-cross-sectional area, and disposed within said de-entrainment vessel and extending from above the level of the packed bed to at least the level of the packed bed, and including a discharge opening at or below the level of the packed bed, said discharge opening having a second effective cross-sectional area significantly greater than said first cross-sectional area of said transporting pipe, to minimize a possibility of fluidization of the bed solids in the packed bed;
• a gas permeable and substantially solids impermeable barrier surrounding the discharge opening and covering at least an area of an upper surface of the packed bed near the opening;
• a gas outlet from said vessel located above the level of the packed bed and in communication with the open space in the vessel, and connected to an area having a lower pressure than the pressure in said transporting pipe, wherein a pathway is defined for gas separated from the solids-gas stream from the inlet, through the packed bed, through the open space in the vessel, and to the gas outlet;
• and
• a solids outlet from said vessel located below the level of the packed bed, and connected to an area having a lower pressure than the pressure in said transporting pipe.

Apparatus, for a high pressure solids gas stream having superatmospheric pressure, for reducing the pressure of the solids-gas stream and separating solids from the solids-gas stream, said apparatus comprising:

• a substantially vertical de-entrainment vessel having a packed bed of bed solids including the separated solids disposed at a level within said vessel, an open space above the level, and a side wall;
• a transporting pipe containing the solids-gas stream therein at the superatmospheric pressure;
• an inlet connected to said transporting pipe, and disposed within said de-entrainment vessel, and including a discharge opening at or below the level of the packed bed;
• a gas outlet from said vessel located above the level of the packed bed and in communication with the open space in the vessel, and connected to an area having a lower pressure than the pressure in said transporting pipe, wherein a pathway for gas separated from the solids-gas stream is defined from the inlet, through the packed bed, through the open space in the vessel, and to the gas outlet;
• a solids outlet from said vessel located below the level of the packed bed of the separated solids, and connected to an area having a lower pressure than the pressure in said transporting pipe;
• and
• a substantially solids impermeable and gas permeable barrier connected to said inlet and extending toward said vessel side wall.