NITROGEN PURGE HOPPER

摘要

A hopper apparatus (100) provides a conveyance passage (150) equipped with a nitrogen purge system. In operation, the hopper apparatus (100) is installed over an opening of a process vessel (200). Chemical matter may be conveyed through the conveyance passage (150) to land within the process vessel (200). The hopper apparatus may have a flap valve (141) that serves to isolate the interior space of a process vessel (200) from the ambient environment outside the process vessel (200). The hopper apparatus (100) may also inject nitrogen at various rates into the falling stream of chemical matter as it is conveyed into a process vessel (200). The hopper apparatus (100) may also provide a ventilation sleeve (180) providing ventilation and extraction of dust and vapors emitted from the falling stream of chemical matter.

主权项

1. A hopper apparatus 100, comprising:
a receptacle member 110, a purge member 120, and an adapter 130 mutually engaged in a column; a conveyance passage 150 running through the receptacle member 110, the purge member 120, and the adapter 130; a tunnel 121 of the purge member 120 circumscribing the conveyance passage 150, wherein the tunnel 121 has a lower mouth 122 enclosed by the adapter 130; a pivotable flap valve 141 at the lower mouth 122; an annular ring 142 encircling the lower mouth 122 of the tunnel 121, the annular ring 142 being perforated with a plurality of inward-facing injection jets 153 about the circumference of the annular ring 142; and gas feed ports 143 connected to the injection jets 153, the gas feed ports 143 including an injection port connected to a nitrogen control valve; wherein the top of the conveyance passage 150 opens at a mouth 111 of the receptacle member 110 and the bottom of the conveyance passage 150 opens at a lower opening 132 of the adapter 130; wherein the flap valve 141 is pivotable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the flap valve 141 in the closed position obstructs the lower mouth 122 of the purge member 120; and wherein the nitrogen control valve has a closed position and an opened position, wherein the nitrogen control valve in the closed position obstructs the connection between the injection jets 153 and the injection port.