A meter for controlling the flow of feedstock from an in-feed hopper to a distillation unit, including a cylindrical roller having a first end, a second end, and an outer diameter, the roller defining a recess that extends helically substantially from the first end to the second end, a sleeve circumscribing a portion of the outer diameter of the cylindrical roller, the sleeve having an open first side that allows the passage of feedstock into the recess of the roller, and an open second side that allows the passage of feedstock out of the recess of the roller as the roller rotates relative to the sleeve, and a housing fixedly attached to the sleeve and capable of attachment to the in-feed hopper and the distillation unit such that feedstock must pass through the housing to get from the in-feed hopper to the distillation unit.

A mechanism applies necessary forces for the creation of one or more plugs of compressible material to be supplied to a reactor. The plugs are capable of forming a seal between inlets for the plugs and the reactor. The mechanism includes two double-acting hydraulic piston cylinder assemblies coupled with two single-acting hydraulic piston cylinder assemblies.

A system and method for preparing a high-purity vanadium electrolyte, comprising preparing a low-valence vanadium oxide with vanadium oxytrichloride by ammonium salt precipitation and fluidization reduction, and preparing the high-purity vanadium electrolyte at a low temperature by adding a sulfuric acid solution and clean water under the conditions of ultrasound-assisted dissolution and activation. Efficient utilization of heat is achieved through heat exchange between the ammonium salt and the reduction tail gas and heat exchange between the reduction product and fluidized nitrogen gas. Ammonia gas in the reduction tail gas is recovered for precipitation of vanadium to achieve the recycling of ammonia gas. An internal member is arranged in the reduction fluidized bed to realize the precise regulation of the valence state of the reduction product. Furthermore, ultrasound-assisted dissolution and activation are employed to prepare the vanadium electrolyte at a low temperature, thereby improving the activity of the electrolyte.

A system and method for producing a 3.5-valence high-purity vanadium electrolyte, comprising hydrolyzing high-purity vanadium oxytrichloride into vanadium pentoxide in a fluidized bed, and reducing vanadium pentoxide into a low-valence vanadium oxide having an average vanadium valence of 3.5 adding water and a sulfuric acid solution under a microwave field applied externally for dissolution at a low temperature, to obtain a 3.5-valence high-purity vanadium electrolyte. The preparation of vanadium pentoxide by means of gas-phase hydrolysis in the fluidized bed is of short process and high efficiency. By providing an internal member within the reduction fluidized bed, the precise regulation of the valence state of the reduction product is achieved, and the special chemical effect of the microwave field is used to promote dissolution of the vanadium oxide and activate the vanadium ions, thereby greatly improving the activity of the electrolyte.

The present invention relates to a device for gently and uniformly filling a tube, in particular a tubular reactor, with particulate filling material, in particular catalyst particles; wherein the device comprises specially designed fall arrester elements and also comprises means which reduce the wear of the fall arrester elements; and method for filling a tube using these articles.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling the flow and transport of catalyst particles within a reaction system. The flow of catalyst particles can be managed using a rotating disc or wheel that is configured within a roller volume to allow for control over the rate of catalyst flow while reducing or minimizing attrition of the catalyst particles. This can be achieved in part by maintaining a relationship between the center of the rotating disc, the inlet for catalyst particles to the roller volume, and the top wall of the roller volume so that catalyst particles are not exposed to compressive forces and/or abrasion during rotation of the disc. Additionally or alternately, the disc and roller volume surfaces can be configured to reduce or minimize the potential for catalyst particles to become trapped in dead space regions within the roller volume. By using a disc to provide force for transport of particles through the roller volume, the speed of catalyst movement can be controlled at relatively slow catalyst flow rates with a reduced or minimized risk for clogging or plugging within the roller volume.

A meter for controlling the flow of feedstock from an in-feed hopper to a distillation unit, including a cylindrical roller having a first end, a second end, and an outer diameter, the roller defining a recess that extends helically substantially from the first end to the second end, a sleeve circumscribing a portion of the outer diameter of the cylindrical roller, the sleeve having an open first side that allows the passage of feedstock into the recess of the roller, and an open second side that allows the passage of feedstock out of the recess of the roller as the roller rotates relative to the sleeve, and a housing fixedly attached to the sleeve and capable of attachment to the in-feed hopper and the distillation unit such that feedstock most pass through the housing to get from the in-feed hopper to the distillation unit.

A rotary feeder comprising a stationary, cylindrical housing having disposed therein a number of injection nozzles, and within which rotate a plurality of vanes about a central axis, wherein the housing extends a width along the central axis, wherein each of the vanes has a length along the central axis, and wherein the injection nozzles are positioned across the width of the housing, such that a spray pattern of a gas injected via the number of injection nozzles spans substantially the entire length of the vanes. A system comprising and a method utilizing such a rotary feeder are also provided herein.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling the flow and transport of catalyst particles within a reaction system. The flow of catalyst particles can be managed using a rotating disc or wheel that is configured within a roller volume to allow for control over the rate of catalyst flow while reducing or minimizing attrition of the catalyst particles. This can be achieved in part by maintaining a relationship between the center of the rotating disc, the inlet for catalyst particles to the roller volume, and the top wall of the roller volume so that catalyst particles are not exposed to compressive forces and/or abrasion during rotation of the disc. Additionally or alternately, the disc and roller volume surfaces can be configured to reduce or minimize the potential for catalyst particles to become trapped in dead space regions within the roller volume. By using a disc to provide force for transport of particles through the roller volume, the speed of catalyst movement can be controlled at relatively slow catalyst flow rates with a reduced or minimized risk for clogging or plugging within the roller volume.

A liquid fuel product system is configured to produce liquid fuels from carbonaceous materials. The liquid fuel product system includes a plurality of feedstock delivery systems, a plurality of first stage product gas generation systems, a plurality of second stage product gas generation systems, a plurality of third stage product gas generation systems, a primary gas clean-up system, a compression system, a secondary gas clean-up system, and a synthesis system that includes one or more from the group consisting of ethanol, mixed alcohols, methanol, dimethyl ether, and Fischer-Tropsch products.