Patent ID: 8425159

Claim:
A process making it possible to transport, by potential fluidization, a powder material, in which a device is fitted between the supply zone and the zone to be supplied, said device being a closed device including at least one substantially horizontal conveyor, which includes a lower duct designed for the circulation of a gas and an upper duct designed for the circulation of powder material, said lower duct and said upper duct being separated by a porous wall that said gas can pass through, said lower duct being provided with at least one gas feeding hose, the process comprising: filling the upper duct with said powder material; supplying and the lower duct with gas at a fluidization pressure that allows the potential fluidization of said powder material in said upper duct, said upper duct being provided with at least one balancing column with an open top end, which is filled with said powder material to a height that balances a pressure prevailing in the upper duct; determining a minimal bubbling speed, the minimal bubbling speed being equal to a fluidization speed of the gas for which a void fraction is maximum; and setting the fluidization pressure to a value such that the fluidization speed of said gas in said upper duct ranges between 0.8 and 1.5 times said minimal bubbling speed.