US 11,980,880 B2
Powder cleaning systems and methods
Randolph Carlton McGee, Hamden, CT (US); and Ying She, East Hartford, CT (US)
Assigned to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/394,631.
Application 17/394,631 is a division of application No. 16/194,830, filed on Nov. 19, 2018, granted, now 11,097,340.
Prior Publication US 2021/0362226 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. B01J 8/24 (2006.01); B01J 8/00 (2006.01); B01J 8/18 (2006.01); B01J 8/44 (2006.01); B22F 1/14 (2022.01); B22F 10/73 (2021.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/34 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01)
CPC B01J 8/24 (2013.01) [B01J 8/006 (2013.01); B01J 8/1818 (2013.01); B01J 8/44 (2013.01); B22F 1/14 (2022.01); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B01J 2208/00017 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00539 (2013.01); B01J 2208/00548 (2013.01); B22F 10/28 (2021.01); B22F 10/34 (2021.01); B22F 10/73 (2021.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for cleaning a powder, comprising:
fluidizing powder in a fluidizing bed reactor with an inlet gas to remove adsorbate and/or other contaminants to produce cleaned powder;
providing at least one inlet line;
providing one or more gas sources configured to be in selective fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor via the at least one inlet line to selectively provide an inlet flow having one or more gases to the fluidized bed reactor to fluidize the powder with the one or more gases within the fluidized bed reactor; and
providing at least one outlet line in fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor and configured to allow removal of outlet flow which comprises the adsorbate and/or other contaminants from the fluidized bed reactor;
wherein a bypass line is configured to fluidly connect the inlet line and a liquid trap to allow at least some gas in the inlet line to flow to a vent, wherein the bypass line includes a bypass valve configured to selectively allow bypass flow, and
wherein a pressure release valve is disposed in the inlet line to allow bleeding of pressure above a threshold pressure, wherein the pressure release valve is disposed downstream of the bypass line.