Patent ID: 6372190
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B01J,B65G,C01B,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for filling and emptying a pressurized reactor which is charged with flammable and/or aggressive gas, comprising the steps of:loading the reactor by filling a preliminary vessel of a filling lock apparatus with solid material, detaching a latch for a second flap of an upper flap combination of the filling lock apparatus, opening the second flap and then a first flap of the filling lock apparatus so that the solid material falls into a top lock vessel, closing the second flap including the latch and the first flap of the upper flap combination of the filling lock vessel, flushing with an oxygen-free flushing medium the top lock vessel charged with the solid material, opening a flushing medium infeed valve and then opening an outlet for used oxygen-containing flushing medium, closing the outlet and then closing the infeed valve for the top lock vessel, testing tightness of the infeed valve and the outlet by monitoring pressure in the top lock vessel, detaching a latch for a second flap of a lower flap combination of the filling lock apparatus, opening the second flap and then a first flap so that the solid material falls into the reactor, closing the second flap including the latch and the first flap of the lower flap combination of the filling lock apparatus, subsequently depressurizing the top lock vessel via an outlet for flammable and/or aggressive gas, and testing tightness by monitoring pressure in the filling lock vessel; and unloading the reactor by detaching a latch for a second flap of an upper flap combination of an emptying lock apparatus, opening the second flap and then a first flap of the emptying lock apparatus so that the solid material falls into a bottom lock vessel, closing the second flap including the latch and the first flap of the upper flap combination of the emptying lock apparatus, flushing with an oxygen-free medium the bottom lock vessel charged with the solid material, opening a flushing medium infeed valve and then opening an outlet for used oxygen-containing flushing medium, closing the outlet and then closing the infeed valve for the bottom lock vessel, testing tightness of the infeed valve and the outlet by monitoring pressure in the bottom lock vessel, detaching a latch for a second flap of a lower flap combination of the emptying lock apparatus, opening the second flap and then opening a first flap so that the solid material falls down on ash take off chute, closing the second flap including the latch and the first flap of the lower flap combination of the emptying lock apparatus, subsequently depressurizing the bottom lock vessel via an outlet for flammable and/or aggressive gas, and testing tightness by monitoring pressure in the emptying lock vessel; wherein silicon is the solid material and hydrogen chloride is charged into the reactor to form chlorosilanes and hydrogen.