Apparatus for and a method of introducing combustible particulate material into a pressurized gasifying vessel

摘要

A continuously operating gasifying vessel is supplied with a combustible particulate material from a source of such material through two cyclically operating conveying tubes each of which has a diaphragm member in its interior. The diaphragm member subdivides the interior of each of the conveying tubes into a first compartment which communicates with the supply and with the vessel, and a second compartment which surrounds the first compartment. A first valve is interposed between the source and the first compartment, and a second valve is interposed between the first compartment and the vessel. When the first valve is opened and the second closed, material is introduced into the first compartment, and when the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened, the material is discharged into the vessel at an elevated pressure. To elevate the pressure in the first compartment, a pressurized fluid is introduced thereinto. Control fluid is admitted and withdrawn from the second compartment to contract and expand the diaphragm member and thus control the volume of the first compartment. The pressurized fluid used for pressurizing the contents of one of the first compartments is the fluid expelled from the other first compartment during the reduction of volume thereof.