Patent ID: 6358401
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B01J,C10G,F27D,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for introducing particulate material into an industrial process, said apparatus comprising:(1) a CPU for controlling operation of apparatus; (2) a weighing device; (3) a vessel for holding the particulate material and pressurized gas, wherein said vessel and at least one of said particulate material and said pressurized gas are weighed by said weighing device; (4) a first valve for transferring the particulate material from the vessel to the industrial process; (5) a second valve for transferring a first stream of pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas to the vessel; (6) a third valve for transferring the particulate material from a particulate material source to the vessel by entraining said particulate material in the first stream of pressurized gas; (7) a first vent valve for lowering a gas pressure in the vessel from an initial pressure to a first lower pressure; and (8) a second vent valve for lowering a gas pressure in the vessel from the first lower pressure to a second pressure lower than said first lower pressure, wherein said second vent valve is larger than said first vent valve.