A method for loading pellets into receptacles having an open top end and a bottom end uses a pressurized fluid injected through injector tubing to form virtual blankets at a plurality of elevations inside the receptacle to reduce the acceleration of the falling pellets in order to provide gentle loading of the pellets.

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.

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.

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.

The invention relates to a filling device (1) for filling a container with a particulate material (28). The filling device (1) comprises a supply container (2) that can be filled with the particulate material (28), wherein the supply container (2) has a lower opening (2.2). Moreover, the filling device (1) comprises a radial distribution unit (3), which can be supplied with the particulate material via the lower opening (2.2) of the supply container (2) and which is connected to the supply container (2) in such a way that it can rotate about a rotational axis (A), in order to distribute in the container the particulate material (28) supplied from the supply container (2) to the distribution unit (3). The filling device is characterized in that the distribution unit (3) can be driven by a drive unit (4) that is arranged outside the supply container (2).

A method for loading pellets into receptacles uses a pressurized fluid to form virtual blankets at a plurality of elevations inside the receptacle to reduce the acceleration of the falling pellets in order to provide gentle loading of the pellets.

According to embodiments, an apparatus for distributing solid particles into a tube includes a center member and a plurality of damper members connected to the center member. Each damper member includes a loop extending away from the center member. Each loop is arranged on the center member extending from a first position on the center member to a second position on the center member different from the first position in a longitudinal direction of the center member.

An assembly for loading a refinery and/or petrochemical reactor (100) with solid particles, comprising a dispensing device (110) for loading the reactor with solid particles in a relatively uniform manner, a system (200) for supplying the dispensing device, comprising a flexible sleeve (140) connected to a solid particle tank (130) and to the dispensing device, and a control system (300) comprising a blocking device (310) for blocking the particles flowing in the flexible sleeve, adjacent to a portion (141) of the flexible sleeve and capable, when activated, of moving the walls of the flexible sleeve in such a way as to reduce a cross section of said sleeve at said portion, and an actuating device (350) for actuating the blocking device located at a distance from the blocking device.

A system for converting fuel may include a first moving bed reactor, a second reactor, and a non-mechanical valve. The first moving bed reactor may include at least one tapered section and multiple injection gas ports. The multiple injection gas ports may be configured to deliver a fuel to the first moving bed reactor. The first moving bed reactor may be configured to reduce an oxygen carrying material with a fuel by defining a countercurrent flowpath for the fuel relative to the oxygen carrying material. The second reactor may communicate with the first moving bed reactor and may be operable to receive an oxygen source. The second reactor may be configured to regenerate the reduced oxygen carrying material by oxidation.

The present invention provides a process for loading ceramic spheres into a vertical reactor. The process comprises introducing into the reactor along a substantial height thereof a feeding pipe that is opened at its bottom part. According to the invention, no physical device or air-supplying conduit is present inside the inner section of the feeding pipe. The process allows for rapid, safe and efficient loading, without breakage of the particles.