Method and a system of distribution of fluidizable materials
AssigneeNorskHydro ASA
InventorsMorten Karlsen, Bernt Nagell, Kjell Magne Dalen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and a system distribute fluidizable materials from a reservoir of materials to one or more material receiving units. The distribution system has at least two hydraulic levels between the reservoir and the material receiving units. The system further includes a fluidizing element with good dynamic response properties. The system can be used for distribution of alumina and/or fluoride to feeding equipment in electrolysis cells with a reduced consumption of fluidizing gas.
Claims10
A method for distributing a fluidizable powder material with assistance of gravity from a reservoir to a plurality of individual material receiving units through separate outlets arranged in at least one fluidizable conveying device, a first of the plurality of material receiving units being located upstream of a second of the plurality of material receiving units, the at least one fluidizable conveying device having a decline and further including a first fluidizing element and a second fluidizing element, at least one of the first and second fluidizing elements being activatable separately from another of the first and second fluidizing elements, the method comprising:
- activating only the first fluidizing element of the at least one fluidizable conveying device having the decline when transporting the fluidizable powder material with the assistance of gravity to the first material receiving unit via a first of the outlets;
- and
- activating both the first and second fluidizing elements of the at least one fluidizable conveying device having the decline when transporting the fluidizable powder material with the assistance of gravity to the second material receiving unit via a second of the outlets,
- wherein the transporting of the fluidizable powder material to the first material receiving unit does not transport the fluidizable powder material through the second material receiving unit and the transporting of the fluidizable powder material to the second material receiving unit does not transport the fluidizable powder material through the first material receiving unit.
A system for distributing fluidizable powder materials with assistance of gravity, the system comprising:
- a reservoir for storing a fluidizable powder material to be distributed;
- and
- at least one fluidizable conveying means for distributing the fluidizable powder material through separate outlets arranged therein to a plurality of individual material receiving units, said at least one fluidizable conveying means having a decline, and a first of the plurality of material receiving units being located upstream of a second of the plurality of material receiving units,
- wherein said at least one fluidizable conveying means having the decline comprises a plurality of fluidizing elements including a first fluidizing element and a second fluidizing element, at least one of said first and second fluidizing elements being activatable separately from another of said first and second fluidizing elements, said first fluidizing element being operable to transport the fluidizable powder material with the assistance of gravity to the first material receiving unit via a first of the outlets when only said first fluidizing element is activated, and said first and second fluidizing elements being operable to transport the fluidizable powder material with the assistance of gravity to the second material receiving unit via a second of the outlets when said first and second fluidizing elements are both activated, and
- wherein the transporting of the fluidizable powder material to the first material receiving unit does not transport the fluidizable powder material through the second material receiving unit and the transporting of the fluidizable powder material to the second material receiving unit does not transport the fluidizable powder material through the first material receiving unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.