Process and apparatus for distributing slurry to a reaction furnance

Claim 2

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said feed guns are located at different elevations around the periphery of the reactor.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said core portion is provided with means for recycling slurry to said slurry inlet means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said baffle weir is provided with a plurality of V-shaped notches between said core portion and each of said individual feed compartments.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 further including means for adding water to each of said individual feed compartments.

Claim 6

Apparatus for distributing slurry to a fluidized bed reactor to obtain uniform distribution of said slurry in said reactor, which comprises; a fluidized bed reactor having a plurality of feed guns located around the periphery thereof; a tank supported above the top of said reactor and divided into an upper section having a general cylindrical outer wall and a lower section depending therefrom and formed of a plurality of individual conical chambers arranged side by side in two adjoining concentric rows around a centrally located conical chamber, the upper ends of said concentric rows forming in said upper section two concentric rings around a center core formed by the upper end of said center chamber; a circumferential baffle wall separating the inner ring of said concentric rings from said center core; a circumferential overflow baffle weir separating said inner ring from the outer ring of said concentric rings, said baffle weir extending a substantial height above said baffle wall; a plurality of radial baffles in said outer ring extending between said circumferential baffle weir and said cylindrical wall defining therebetween individual feed compartments, each of said compartments communicating with a corresponding conical chamber in said outer row; inlet conduit means for feeding slurry to said inner ring; and outlet conduit means between each of the conical chambers in said outer row and said feed guns, said outlet conduit means communicating at one of its ends with the lower end of said conical chamber and at its other end with said feed gun thereby distributing slurry from said feed compartment to said reactor.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said distribution tank is supported on said reactor.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said circumferential baffle weir is provided with a plurality of V-shaped notches, one for each of said feed compartments, arranged so that each compartment receives substantially the same amount of slurry.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a water distribution ring secured to said distribution tank and provided with nozzle means for adding water to each of said feed compartments.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the upper end of said center chamber is provided with removable sealing means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising an agitated storage vessel and pump means communicating with one end of said inlet conduit means.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the other end of said inlet conduit means communicates with the lower end of the conical chambers in said inner row.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the lower end of said center chamber is provided with conduit means communicating at one end with the lower end of said center chamber and at the other end with said agitated storage vessel.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said feed guns are provided with aspirating means for injecting said slurry feed over said fluidized bed.

Claim 15

A process of feeding a slurry of finely divided solids into a fluidized bed, which comprises; maintaining in an enclosed chamber a bed of said solids undergoing reaction in a fluidized condition by supplying thereto a gas at solids fluidizing velocity; providing in said chamber a gas collecting space immediately above said bed; controlling the fluid level of said bed by discharging reacted solids from said level; continuously and uniformly feeding said slurry into said chamber over said bed through a plurality of feed points located around the periphery of said chamber; providing a feed distribution area above said chamber; dividing said feed distribution area into a plurality of zones including a feed inlet zone and a feed discharge zone; separating said zones by an overflow baffle weir; further dividing said discharge zone into a plurality of individual feed zones; continuously supplying slurry to said inlet zone so that said slurry overflows said weir into each of said individual feed zones at a steady rate; transferring said feed slurry from said individual feed zones to said feed points through a plurality of feed conduits communicating between each of said individual feed zones and said feed points; connecting each of said individual feed zones with a feed point; and transferring said feed slurry through said connecting means from said individual feed zones to said feed points.

Claim 16

The process of claim 16 wherein the slurry in said inner zone is maintained in a slightly agitated condition by pumping said slurry into the bottom of said feed inlet zone.

Claim 17

The process of claim 16 wherein said slurry is fed over said bed by injecting air through said feed points.

Claim 18

The process of claim 16 wherein the slurry in said connecting means reaches an equilibrium level during normal operation.

Claim 19

The process of claim 19 wherein changes in the operating condition in the reaction system are compensated by changes in the slurry level in said connecting means until said equilibrium is reestablished.