Patent ID: 7846399

Claim:
A system for injecting catalyst and/or additive into a fluidized catalytic cracking unit, comprising: a dust collector adapted to be in fluid communication with at least one storage bin holding one of the catalyst and/or additives; a vacuum producer in fluid communication with the dust collector so that the vacuum producer generates a vacuum within the dust collector that draws catalyst and/or additive into the dust collector; a transfer pot in fluid communication with the dust collector for receiving catalyst and/or additive from the dust collector, the transfer pot adapted to be in fluid communication with the fluidized catalytic cracking unit and with a source of pressurized air an opening formed at a lower portion of the dust collector for permitting the one of the catalyst and/or additives to flow from the dust collector to the transfer pot a valve for covering the opening formed in the lower portion of the dust collector on a selective basis, the valve having a plug movable between an upper and a lower position in response to impingement of the pressurized air thereon means for monitoring pressure in the transfer pot; and a plurality of load cells for measuring a weight of the dust collector, the transfer pot, and any catalyst and/or additive drawn into the dust collector; the transfer pot being capable of being pressurized so that the catalyst and/or additive can be transferred to the fluidized catalytic cracking unit in response to a pressure differential between the transfer pot and the fluidized catalytic cracking unit.