Patent attributes
A mass-flow hopper that stores solid particulates and provides gas assistance to readily discharge the particulate matter. The mass flow hopper has an upper conical section connected via an intermediate section to a lower conical section having a lower discharge orifice. The lower conical section has a frustoconical configured gas impermeable wall lined with a gas permeable fluidizing plate spaced therefrom to define a lower space. The upper conical section slope is steeper than the lower frusto-conically configured gas permeable wall slope. Gas injected into the lower space passes from the lower space through the gas permeable fluidizing plate into the hopper to form a fluidized layer of gas between the solid particulates in the hopper and the gas permeable fluidizing plate. The fluidized layer of gas reduces wall friction within the lower conical section to facilitate discharging the particulates from the hopper.
