Rotary Transport System

"Rotary Airlock Feeders are used in pneumatic conveying systems, dust control equipment, and as volumetric feed-controls to maintain an even flow of material through processing systems. The basic use of the rotary airlock feeder is as an airlock transition point, sealing pressurized systems against loss of air or gas while maintaining a flow of material between components with different pressure. Rotary Airlock Feeders are also widely used as volumetric feeders for metering materials at precise flow rates from bins, hoppers or silos into conveying or processing systems. The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has developed a novel rotary transport system designed to move large quantities of biomass and other materials across pressure differentials while maintaining consistent and continuous flow rates. The initial focus of the devise is to deliver biomass to gasification processes. The patented design extends current rotary airlock devices to include a pressure locked chamber that provides for continuous transport of materials across pressure differentials while maintaining consistent flow rates and gas species. The design provides for a robust and adaptable framework that could be used in satisfying a diverse set of material handling requirements. The INL is soliciting interest from companies that are willing to collaborate with the INL in designing, fabricating and testing the rotary system. Additional information is available under nondisclosure agreement. Interested parties should provide a written response to the INL on or before July 31, 2008. Technical Contact: Dr. David Muth, e-mail: david.muth@inl.gov, Telephone: 208-526-0963; Business contact: David R. Anderson, e-mail: david.anderson@inl.gov, Telephone: 208-526-0837"