Provided is a pressurizing system which includes: a pressurizing nozzle configured to supply a pressurizing gas into a hopper (3) where pulverized coal is accumulated; a filter configured to face a space in the hopper (3) where the pulverized coal is accumulated, and to allow the pressurizing gas to pass through the filter, the filter being provided at an end of the pressurizing nozzle; buffer tanks (5a), (5b) in which a pressurizing gas to be supplied to the hopper (3) is collected at a first predetermined pressure; and a pressure control means configured to start, at a time of starting pressurization of the hopper (3), supply of a pressurizing gas at a second predetermined pressure which is lower than the first predetermined pressure of the pressurizing gas collected in the buffer tanks (5a), (5b).

A process for pressurizing bulk material in an apparatus for pressurizing bulk material in a hopper; wherein the hopper is configured as a lock hopper containing a bulk material, wherein the apparatus comprises a source of pressurized gas, lines to convey the pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas to one or more inlets of the lock hopper, a valve arrangement arranged in the lines, wherein the process is characterized in that said valve arrangement comprises at least two valves arranged in parallel, each valve being connected to a downstream Laval tuyere, and in that said valves are controlled to open in an operating sequence to provide pressurizing gas with an adjusted gas flow rate to the lock hopper.

A process for pressurizing bulk material in an apparatus for pressurizing bulk material in a hopper; wherein the hopper is configured as a lock hopper containing a bulk material, wherein the apparatus comprises a source of pressurized gas, lines to convey the pressurized gas from the source of pressurized gas to one or more inlets of the lock hopper, a valve arrangement arranged in the lines, wherein the process is characterized in that said valve arrangement comprises at least two valves arranged in parallel, each valve being connected to a downstream Laval tuyere, and in that said valves are controlled to open in an operating sequence to provide pressurizing gas with an adjusted gas flow rate to the lock hopper.

The present invention is a new method to efficiently reclaim cement from a horizontal warehouse. This new reclaiming method combines a mechanical cement reclaiming machine, together with a reduced amount of open air slides. Material is fluidized through a porous media with low pressure air. Material flow is achieved by sloping the Air slide conveyor to match the fluidized angle of repose of the powdered material. Further, the present invention introduces a conveying system, comprising a cascade of open and enclosed air slides and elevator machines, to convey the cement from the reclaiming area to a dispatch hopper. The introduction of these components, together with cement stacking and dispatch systems, is a Fully Automated Cement Horizontal Storage system and method.

The present invention is a new method to efficiently reclaim cement from a horizontal warehouse. This new reclaiming method combines a mechanical cement reclaiming machine, together with a reduced amount of open air slides. Material is fluidized through a porous media with low pressure air. Material flow is achieved by sloping the Air slide conveyor to match the fluidized angle of repose of the powdered material. Further, the present invention introduces a conveying system, comprising a cascade of open and enclosed air slides and elevator machines, to convey the cement from the reclaiming area to a dispatch hopper. The introduction of these components, together with cement stacking and dispatch systems, is a Fully Automated Cement Horizontal Storage system and method.

A pneumatic valve for an agricultural product distribution system includes a fan inlet, a tank outlet, a shuttle, a control pressure inlet, and a diaphragm. The fan inlet is coupled to an air source that supplies an air stream into a primary line, which facilitates distributing a granular product to an agricultural implement by guiding the air stream from a first section to a second section of the primary line, the first section having a larger cross-sectional area than the second section. A tank outlet is fluidly coupled to a storage tank. The control pressure inlet is fluidly coupled to the second section of the primary line or to a meter housing. The diaphragm has a first side that is coupled to the shuttle and is exposed to static pressure in the storage tank and a second side that is exposed to the static pressure in the second section of the primary line or the meter housing, and aligns a shuttle hole of the shuttle with the fan inlet when the static pressure in the storage tank is not greater than the static pressure in the second section of the primary line or the meter housing by a threshold amount.

A pneumatic valve for an agricultural product distribution system includes a fan inlet, a tank outlet, a shuttle, a control pressure inlet, and a diaphragm. The fan inlet is coupled to an air source that supplies an air stream into a primary line, which facilitates distributing a granular product to an agricultural implement by guiding the air stream from a first section to a second section of the primary line, the first section having a larger cross-sectional area than the second section. A tank outlet is fluidly coupled to a storage tank. The control pressure inlet is fluidly coupled to the second section of the primary line or to a meter housing. The diaphragm has a first side that is coupled to the shuttle and is exposed to static pressure in the storage tank and a second side that is exposed to the static pressure in the second section of the primary line or the meter housing, and aligns a shuttle hole of the shuttle with the fan inlet when the static pressure in the storage tank is not greater than the static pressure in the second section of the primary line or the meter housing by a threshold amount.

A method for controlling product distribution in an agricultural product distribution system, including monitoring, using a processor, a first static pressure in a storage tank that stores a granular product, monitoring, using the processor, a second static pressure in a meter housing, downstream of a meter roller; and controlling, using the processor, a position of a valve on a secondary line to adjust the first static pressure to a value above the second static pressure by a threshold amount, wherein the secondary line is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and a primary line that pneumatically delivers the granular product to an agricultural implement.

A method for controlling product distribution in an agricultural product distribution system, including monitoring, using a processor, a first static pressure in a storage tank that stores a granular product, monitoring, using the processor, a second static pressure in a meter housing, downstream of a meter roller; and controlling, using the processor, a position of a valve on a secondary line to adjust the first static pressure to a value above the second static pressure by a threshold amount, wherein the secondary line is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and a primary line that pneumatically delivers the granular product to an agricultural implement.

A pneumatic distribution system for distributing a granular product to an agricultural implement includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a valve, and a controller. The first pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to a storage tank that stores the granular product and outputs a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank. The second pressure sensor is fluidly coupled to a meter housing and outputs a second signal indicative of a second static pressure in the meter housing. The valve is fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the primary line and selectively enables the air stream to flow from the primary line to the storage tank. The controller is communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor, to the second pressure sensor, and to the valve. The controller instructs the valve to enable the air stream to flow from the primary line into the storage tank until the first static pressure is greater than the second static pressure by a threshold amount.