Patent ID: 8393281

Claim:
A system, comprising: (a) a particle feeder, having (i) a primary reservoir enclosing an internal volume for holding particles and defining a hole through a bottom surface thereof; and (ii) a valve, including a rod enclosed within and extending through the volume defined by the primary reservoir, said rod being movable between an open position, wherein particles can flow through the hole, and a closed position, wherein the rod blocks the hole, an actuator for controlling movement of the rod between the open position and the closed position, wherein the actuator is a solenoid actuator, and a timer for controlling the actuator; and (b) a reactor, having an internal area placed in fluid communication with the internal volume of the primary reservoir, such that particles flowing through the hole can enter the internal area of said reactor; and further comprising (i) a first line in fluid communication with the internal volume of the primary reservoir, for exposing the internal volume of the primary reservoir to a gas or a vacuum; (ii) a second line in fluid communication with the internal area of the reactor for exposing the internal area of the reactor to the gas or the vacuum; (iii) an equilibrium line placed in fluid communication with the first and second lines; and (iv) a series of valves for controlling exposure of the internal volume of the primary reservoir and the internal area of the reactor to the gas or the vacuum.