Patent ID: 8293853

Claim:
A method of removing a solid particulate product from a fluidized bed reactor, the method comprising: (a) providing: (i) a product tank connected with a fluidized bed reactor through a fill valve and wherein the product tank comprises a discharge valve for emptying and a vent line for venting; (ii) a detector that provides a response when a solid particulate product fills or overfills the product tank to the level of the detector; and (iii) a control system in communication with the detector and the fill valve and capable of controlling the fill valve; (b) performing at least one discharge cycle comprising: (i) opening the fill valve for a pre-determined time period and transferring the solid particulate product together with gas from the fluidized bed reactor into the product tank; and (ii) after the pre-determined time period, closing the fill valve and emptying the product tank; (c) while performing step (b), calculating a desired adjustment to the pre-determined time period using a control algorithm and at least one detector response or absence thereof obtained while performing at least one discharge cycle; and (d) adjusting the pre-determined time period by the desired adjustment using the control system.