An apparatus for controlling flow of a material includes an inlet for receiving the material from a source, and a seal mechanism connected to the inlet, the seal mechanism having a fluidizing bed configured to receive the material from the inlet, a first discharge passageway and a second discharge passageway. The fluidizing bed includes a first transport zone associated with the first discharge passageway and a second transport zone associated with the second discharge passageway, wherein the first and second transport zones are configured to receive transport gas from a transport gas source. The transport gas is controllable to selectively divert a flow of the material into the first discharge passageway and the second discharge passageway.

Aspects provide for volatilizing a biomass-based fuel stream, removing undesirable components from the resulting volatiles stream, and combusting the resulting stream (e.g., in a kiln). Removal of particles, ash, and/or H2O from the volatiles stream improves its economic value and enhances the substitution of legacy (e.g., fossil) fuels with biomass-based fuels. Aspects may be particularly advantageous for upgrading otherwise low-quality biomass to a fuel specification sufficient for industrial implementation. A volatilization reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor, which may comprise multiple stages and/or a splashgenerator. A splashgenerator may impart directed momentum to a portion of the bed to increase bed transport via directed flow.

Aspects provide for volatilizing a biomass-based fuel stream, removing undesirable components from the resulting volatiles stream, and combusting the resulting stream (e.g., in a kiln). Removal of particles, ash, and/or H2O from the volatiles stream improves its economic value and enhances the substitution of legacy (e.g., fossil) fuels with biomass-based fuels. Aspects may be particularly advantageous for upgrading otherwise low-quality biomass to a fuel specification sufficient for industrial implementation. A volatilization reactor may include a fluidized bed reactor, which may comprise multiple stages and/or a splashgenerator. A splashgenerator may impart directed momentum to a portion of the bed to increase bed transport via directed flow.

The invention relates to a fluidized bed installation (1), comprising at least two chambers (2, 3, 4), wherein each chamber (2, 3, 4) has a main body (5) and a gas inlet (6) and a gas outlet (7), wherein each main body (5) has an inlet (8) and an outlet (9) for a solid (19), wherein the inlet (8) of a first chamber (2) is connected to a feed (10) of the fluidized bed installation (1), the outlet (9) of the first chamber (2) is connected to the inlet (8) of a second chamber (4), and the outlet (9) of the second chamber (4) is connected to a discharge (11) of the fluidized bed installation (1), and wherein a valve (12) is arranged between two connected chambers (2, 3, 4) and/or at the feed (10) and/or at the discharge (11) such that either continuous operation or semi-continuous operation of the fluidized bed installation (1) is enabled.

A mixing tee assembly suitable for phosphate acid attack reaction is described. The mixing tee assembly comprises an outer pipe having a mixing end and a tee end, wherein a tee structure is formed near the tee end to connect with additional piping; an inner pipe comprising a nozzle end connected to a nozzle and a open end; wherein the inner pipe is lined with a corrosion-resistant material on its inside surface; wherein when the inner pipe is assembled within the outer pipe, the nozzle extends beyond the mixing end of the outer pipe by at least of the inside diameter of the outer pipe.

A method for the heat treatment of granular solids includes initially introducing solids into a first reactor configured as a flash reactor or fluidized bed reactor where they are brought into contact with hot gases at temperatures in the range 500 C. to 1500 C. Next, the solids are passed through a residence time reactor in which they are fluidized. The residence time reactor is configured in a manner such that it has various regions which are separated from one another, from which the solid can be withdrawn in a manner such that it is provided with a variety of residence times in the residence time reactor.

A method for the heat treatment of granular solids includes initially introducing solids into a first reactor configured as a flash reactor or fluidized bed reactor where they are brought into contact with hot gases at temperatures in the range 500 C. to 1500 C. Next, the solids are passed through a residence time reactor in which they are fluidized. The residence time reactor is configured in a manner such that it has various regions which are separated from one another, from which the solid can be withdrawn in a manner such that it is provided with a variety of residence times in the residence time reactor.

An emissions control system including a fluidized bed apparatus containing a reactive sorbent material is disclosed for gaseous and non-gaseous contaminated emissions. The reactive sorbent material may be CZTS, CZTS-Alloy, or a carbon-based sorbent material. The fluidized bed apparatus is configured with one or more closed loop sorbent recycling subsystems. The sorbent recycling subsystems include the capability to separate sorbents from each other, separate contaminates from sorbents for disposal and/or recycling, clean and/or rejuvenate sorbents for return to the fluidized bed apparatus, dispose of spent and exhausted sorbents, and replace the spent and exhausted sorbents with new sorbent to maintain consistent sorbent function in the fluidized bed apparatus. Monitoring sensors provide information useful in a method for establishing and maintaining consistent process parameter controls.

An emissions control system including a fluidized bed apparatus containing a reactive sorbent material is disclosed for gaseous and non-gaseous contaminated emissions. The reactive sorbent material may be CZTS, CZTS-Alloy, or a carbon-based sorbent material. The fluidized bed apparatus is configured with one or more closed loop sorbent recycling subsystems. The sorbent recycling subsystems include the capability to separate sorbents from each other, separate contaminates from sorbents for disposal and/or recycling, clean and/or rejuvenate sorbents for return to the fluidized bed apparatus, dispose of spent and exhausted sorbents, and replace the spent and exhausted sorbents with new sorbent to maintain consistent sorbent function in the fluidized bed apparatus. Monitoring sensors provide information useful in a method for establishing and maintaining consistent process parameter controls.

A system and method for cleaning, conditioning, and/or rejuvenating carbon-based sorbents is disclosed where a chemical cleaning process is used to separate contaminants from the sorbent. The contaminants can be disposed of or recycled for industrial uses. The cleaned and/or rejuvenated carbon-based sorbent is recycled back into a reverse venturi shaped fluidized bed apparatus for later use. Spent carbon-based sorbent can be routed for appropriate disposal. The carbon-based sorbents include, but are not limited to, activated carbon sorbent and biochar sorbent. Optionally, the sorbents can be processed through the system prior to exposure to contaminated emissions to enhance and increase the porosity of the outer surface of the sorbents.