Patent ID: 8747029

Claim:
A method of conveying particulate through a convey system employing a non-critical air flow control system, the method comprising the steps of: positioning an air source upstream of an inlet of the convey system; positioning a control valve downstream of the air source and immediately upstream of the inlet; positioning a first pressure transducer downstream of the air source and upstream of the control valve for sensing of a supply pressure produced by the air source; positioning a second pressure transducer proximate a feedpoint of particulate into the convey system for sensing a convey pressure of the convey system; employing a controller having a processor and a memory to receive first and second signals respectively representing the first and second sensed pressure signals; and employing the controller to process the first and second pressure signals and to control a position of the control valve to obtain a desired rate of air flow according to the following equation: Q n ⁢ ⁢ c = Q ⁡ ( critical ) x * ( P ⁢ ⁢ 1 - P ⁢ ⁢ 2 P ⁢ ⁢ 1 ) y , wherein the rate of air flow is a function of supply pressure P 1 , convey pressure P 2 , and the control valve position.