Method of transferring particles
AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsChristopher Naunheimer, Paul A. Sechrist
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus are provided for transferring particles from an upper zone through an intermediate zone to a lower zone. The transfer of particles between the zones through valveless conduits is regulated by varying the pressure of the intermediate zone and the flow rate of gas passing through the valveless conduits. A container within the second zone is in particle communication with a valveless conduit and provides more consistent particle flows.
Claims20
A method for transferring particles from an upper zone, through a middle zone, to a lower zone comprising:
- (a) introducing a first gas stream into the lower zone;
- (b) transferring particles downward from the upper zone to the middle zone through an upper valveless conduit, and transferring gas from the lower zone upward through a lower valveless conduit into the middle zone;
- (c) increasing the middle zone pressure;
- (d) transferring particles downward from the middle zone, through the lower valveless conduit to a container within the lower zone, and transferring gas from the middle zone upward through the upper valveless conduit into the upper zone;
- (e) decreasing the middle zone pressure;
- (f) transferring particles from the container to a volume of the lower zone outside the container;
- and
- (g) controlling the transfer of particles by use of at least one of a controller, a particle level sensor, a pressure gauge, a pressure indicator, a differential pressure sensor, and a timer wherein the upper zone is at a first pressure, the lower zone is at a second pressure, and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.
A method for transferring particles from an upper zone, through a middle zone, to a lower zone comprising:
- (a) introducing a first gas stream into the lower zone;
- (b) transferring particles downward from the upper zone to the middle zone through an upper valveless conduit, transferring gas from the middle zone to the upper zone through the upper valveless conduit, and transferring gas from the lower zone upward through a lower valveless conduit into the middle zone;
- (c) introducing a second gas stream to the middle zone to increase the middle zone pressure;
- (d) transferring particles downward from the middle zone, through the lower valveless conduit, to a container located in the lower zone, and transferring gas from the middle zone upward through the upper valveless conduit into the upper zone;
- (e) venting the middle zone to the upper zone through the upper valveless conduit to decrease the middle zone pressure;
- (f) transferring particles from the container to a volume of the lower zone below the container;
- and
- (g) controlling the transfer of particles by use of at least one of a controller, a particle level sensor, a pressure gauge, a pressure indicator, a differential pressure sensor, and a timer wherein the upper zone is at a first pressure, the lower zone is at a second pressure, and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.
A method for transferring particles from an upper zone, through an middle zone, to a lower zone comprising:
- (a) introducing a first gas stream into the lower zone;
- (b) transferring particles downward from the upper zone to the middle zone through an upper valveless conduit, and transferring gas from the lower zone upward through a lower valveless conduit into the middle zone;
- (c) transferring at least a portion of the gas from the lower zone to the middle zone through a first gas conduit to increase the middle zone pressure;
- (d) transferring particles downward from the middle zone through the lower valveless conduit to a container located in the lower zone, and transferring gas from the middle zone upward through the upper valveless conduit into the upper zone;
- (e) venting the middle zone through a second gas conduit to decrease the middle zone pressure;
- (f) transferring particles from the container to a volume of the lower zone below the container;
- and
- (g) controlling the transfer of particles by use of at least one of a controller, a particle level sensor, a pressure gauge, a pressure indicator, a differential pressure sensor, and a timer wherein the upper zone is at a first pressure, the lower zone is at a second pressure, and the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.