Processes and systems for transferring particulate substances from containers

• US 20070267090A1
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn. (WR Grace & Company)
• Original Assignee: W.R. Grace & Co.-Conn. (WR Grace & Company)
• Inventors: Jordan, Alfred, Albin, Lenny, Cross, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/65
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0073 Sealings sealings for pressure vessels per se F16J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00752 Feeding
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00761 Discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0015 Feeding of the particles in the reactor; Evacuation of the particles out of the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/18 with fluidised particles combustion apparatus with fluidised bed in general F23C10/00; furnaces with fluidised bed F27B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/12 the gas flow acting directly on the materials in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 69/181 by means of sealed systems

Abstract

Preferred processes are provided for unloading a particulate substance from a container using a cover system comprising a cover and a wand extending through the cover. The processes can include installing the cover system on the container so that the cover mates with the container and the wand extends into the particulate substance, connecting a pipe or a hose to the wand, and drawing the particulate substance through the wand and the pipe or hose.

Claims

3. The process of claim 3, wherein tilting the container comprises tilting the container so that a central axis of the container is angled less than approximately ninety degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein tilting the container comprises tilting the container so that the central axis of the container is angled between approximately twenty to approximately sixty degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

13. A process for transferring catalyst and/or additive from a container to an injection device that injects the catalyst and/or additive into a fluid catalytic cracking unit, comprising:

installing a cover on the container;

inserting a wand into the catalyst and/or additive;

placing the wand in fluid communication with a vacuum source of the injection device; and

drawing the catalyst and/or additive from the container by way of the wand.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein the wand is connected to the cover and installing a cover on the container and inserting a-wand into the catalyst and/or additive comprises installing the cover on the container so that the wand penetrates into the catalyst and/or additive.

15. The process of claim 13, wherein inserting a wand into the catalyst and/or additive comprises inserting the wand through a membrane attached to the cover.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein inserting the wand through a membrane attached to the cover comprises inserting the wand through the membrane so that the membrane forms a seal around an outer circumference of the wand.

17. The process of claim 13, further comprising tilting the container.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein tilting the container comprises tilting the container so that a central axis of the container is angled less than approximately ninety degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein tilting the container comprises tilting the container so that the central axis of the container is angled between approximately twenty to approximately sixty degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

20. The process of claim 17, wherein tilting the container comprises placing the container on a cradle that supports the container in a tilted orientation.

21. The process of claim 13, wherein placing the wand in fluid communication with a vacuum source of the injection device comprises connecting a hose or a pipe to a fitting mounted on the cover, the fitting having a flow path in fluid communication with a flow path of the wand.

22. The process of claim 21, further comprising drawing the catalyst and/or additive through the cover by way of the fitting.

23. The process of claim 13, further comprising placing a volume defined by the cover and the interior of the container in fluid communication with a source of a fluid that is non-reactive with respect to the catalyst and/or additive.

24. The process of claim 13, further comprising removing another cover from the container before the step of installing a cover on the container.

25. The process of claim 13, wherein inserting a wand into the catalyst and/or additive comprises inserting the wand into the catalyst and/or additive so that the wand extends to a position proximate a bottom of the container.

26. The process of claim 13, wherein drawing the catalyst and/or additive from the container by way of the wand comprises drawing the catalyst and/or additive from the container by way of the wand while the cover substantially isolates the catalyst and/or additive within the container from ambient environment around the container.

27. The process of claim 13, wherein inserting a wand into the catalyst and/or additive comprises inserting the wand into the catalyst and/or additive so that an end of the wand that is angled in relation to a longitudinal axis of the wand extends into the catalyst and/or additive.

28. The process of claim 13, wherein inserting a wand into the catalyst and/or additive comprises inserting a tubular wand into the catalyst and/or additive.

29. A process for transferring a particulate substance from a container to an injection device capable of injecting the particulate substance into a fluid stream, comprising:

installing a cover on the container; and

vacuuming the particulate substance through the cover and into the injection device.

30. The process of claim 29, wherein vacuuming the particulate substance through the cover and into the injection device comprises vacuuming the particulate substance through a fitting mounted in a hole formed in the cover.

31. The process of claim 30, further comprising vacuuming the particulate substance through a wand connected to the fitting and inserted in the particulate substance.

32. The process of claim 31, further comprising inserting the wand into the particulate substance while installing the cover on the container.

33. The process of claim 31, further comprising placing the wand in fluid communication with the injection device.

34. The process of claim 33, wherein placing the wand in fluid communication with the injection device comprises connecting the fitting to a hose or a pipe in fluid communication with the injection device.

35. The process of claim 29, wherein vacuuming the particulate substance through the cover and into the injection device comprises vacuuming the particulate substance through the cover and into the injection device in response to a vacuum produced by a vacuum source of the injection device.

36. The process of claim 29, wherein installing a cover on the container comprises placing the cover on the container and sealing an interface between the cover and the container.

37. The process of claim 29, further comprising tilting the container before vacuuming the particulate substance through the cover and into the injection device.

38. The process of claim 37, wherein tilting the container before vacuuming the particulate substance through the cover and into the injection device comprises tilting the container so that a central axis of the container is angled less than approximately ninety degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

39. The process of claim 38, wherein tilting the container before vacuuming the particulate substance through the cover and into the injection device comprises tilting the container so that the central axis of the container is angled between approximately twenty to approximately sixty degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

40. The process of claim 37, wherein tilting the container before vacuuming the particulate substance through the cover and into the injection device comprises placing the container on a cradle that supports the container in a tilted orientation.

41. The process of claim 29, further comprising inserting a wand through a membrane attached to the cover so that the wand extends into the container, and vacuuming the particulate substance through the wand.

42. The process of claim 41, wherein inserting a wand through a membrane attached to the cover so that the wand extends into the container comprises inserting the membrane through the wand so that a seal is formed between the membrane and an outer circumference of the wand.

43. The process of claim 29, further comprising inserting a wand through a membrane attached to the cover, and vacuuming the particulate substance through the wand.

44. The process of claim 43, wherein inserting a wand through a membrane attached to the cover comprises inserting the wand through the membrane so that the membrane forms a seal around an outer circumference of the wand.

45. A cover system for a container, comprising a cover that mates with the container, a wand capable of drawing particulate matter through a hole formed in the cover, and a cradle capable of holding the container in a tilted orientation.

46. The system of claim 45, further comprising a fitting mounted on the cover and connected to the wand.

47. The system of claim 45, further comprising a membrane attached to the cover and capable of forming a seal around an outer circumference of the wand when the wand is inserted through the membrane.

48. The system of claim 45, further comprising a fitting mounted on the cover, and a pressure relief mechanism connected to the fitting.

49. The system of claim 48, further comprising a vacuum gauge connected to the fitting.

50. The system of claim 45, wherein the cradle holds the container so that a central axis of the container is angled less than approximately ninety degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the cradle holds the container so that the central axis of the container is angled between approximately twenty to approximately sixty degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

52. The system of claim 46, wherein the fitting extends through a hole formed in the cover.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein an end of the wand is angled in relation to a longitudinal axis of the wand.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the wand has a plurality of holes formed at a location proximate the wand'"'"'s connection to the cover.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the holes are substantially circular and are equally spaced around a circumference of the wand.

56. The system of claim 48, wherein the vacuum relief mechanism comprises a housing having a passage formed therein, the passage being in fluid communication with the fitting;

and a screen mounted in the passage.

57. The system of claim 49, further comprising a vacuum gauge connected to the fitting.

58. The system of claim 57, further comprising a vacuum gauge and a pressure relief valve connected to the fitting, wherein the fitting is a T-shaped fitting.

59. The system of claim 45, wherein the wand is tubular.

60. A system for introducing catalyst and/or additive into a fluid catalytic cracking unit, comprising:

an injection device comprising a vacuum source and a chamber, wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with the vacuum source, receives the catalyst and/or additive, and is capable of being pressurized to inject the catalyst and/or additive into the fluid catalytic cracking unit;

a container defining a volume that holds the catalyst and/or additive; and

a cover system comprising a cover capable of mating with the container and further defining the volume, and a wand capable of extending through the cover and into the volume, wherein the wand is in fluid communication with the vacuum source so that the catalyst and/or additive is drawn through the cover and into the injection device in response to a vacuum generated by the vacuum source.

64. The system of claim 60, further comprising one or more of the containers and three or more of the cover systems each capable of mating with a respective one of the containers, and the system further comprises means for placing the volume of each of the containers in fluid communication with the vacuum source on a selective basis.

65. The system of claim 64, further comprising two or more of the containers and two or more of the cover systems each capable of mating with a respective one of the containers.

66. The system of claim 60, wherein the cover system further comprises:

a first fitting mounted on the cover, the first fitting being in fluid communication with the wand; and

a hose or a pipe that places the first fitting in fluid communication with the vacuum source.

67. The system of claim 60, wherein the cover system further comprises:

a fitting mounted on the cover, the fitting being in fluid communication with the volume; and

a vacuum relief mechanism mounted on the second fitting so that the vacuum relief mechanism is in fluid communication with the volume.

68. The system of claim 60, further comprising source of a gas that is non-reactive with respect to the catalyst and/or additive, the source being in fluid communication with the volume.

69. The system of claim 60, wherein the container is a drum.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein the container is a 55-gallon drum.

71. The system of claim 60, wherein the cover system further comprises a membrane attached to the cover and capable of forming a seal around the wand when the wand is inserted through the membrane.

72. The system of claim 60, wherein an end of the wand is angled in relation to a longitudinal axis of the wand.

73. The system of claim 72, wherein the wand has a plurality of holes formed at a location proximate the wand'"'"'s connection to the cover.

74. The system of claim 73, wherein the holes are substantially circular and are equally spaced around a circumference of the wand.

61-1. The system of claim 61, wherein the cradle holds the container so that a central axis of the container is angled less than approximately ninety degrees in relation to the vertical direction.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein the cradle holds the container so that the central axis of the container is angled between approximately twenty to approximately sixty degrees in relation to the vertical direction.