Metering hoppers and related methods
The present disclosure relates to improved metering hoppers for dispensing solid materials, particularly in the context of metered dispensation of solid pellets to feed reactors, in addition to associated methods, systems, and apparatuses. The disclosure relates, in various embodiments, to shielded metering hoppers configured to control the flow of solid material to a feed slot. In some cases, the disclosure relates to pressurized metering hoppers suitable for dispensing solid fuel into gas-generating reactors. Accordingly, the disclosure also relates to pressurized metering hoppers for solid materials, according to some embodiments.
1 . A metering hopper comprising:
a hopper configured to store solid pellets;
an outlet disposed in a bottom portion of the metering hopper with respect to local gravity during operation;
a feed slot configured to gravity-feed the solid pellets to the outlet;
a feed slot cover including a receiver slot configured to move between a closed configuration where the receiver slot is out of alignment with the feed slot and an open configuration where the receiver slot is aligned with the feed slot;
a shield configured to block the solid pellets from falling directly into the feed slot; and
a drive shaft extending through a sealed pass through of the hopper and configured to actuate the feed slot cover between the open configuration and the closed configuration.
2 . The metering hopper of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of supports configured to maintain a pose of the shield with respect to the outlet.
3 . The metering hopper of claim 2 , wherein gaps between adjacent supports of the plurality of supports are sized and shaped to permit the solid pellets to pass through the gaps to the feed slot.
4 . The metering hopper of claim 1 , wherein a first angle between a first outer portion of the shield closest to the feed slot and the feed slot is less than a second angle between a second outer portion of the shield closest to the receiver slot in the closed configuration and the receiver slot in the closed configuration.
5 . The metering hopper of claim 4 , wherein the first angle is less than an angle of repose of the solid pellets and the second angle is greater than an angle of repose of the solid pellets.
6 . The metering hopper of claim 5 , wherein the angle of repose is greater than or equal to 25°.
7 . The metering hopper of claim 1 , further comprising the solid pellets.
8 . The metering hopper of claim 7 , wherein the solid pellets comprise a water reactive material.
9 . The metering hopper of claim 1 , wherein the shield is aligned with a lateral position of the feed slot when the feed slot is positioned vertically below the shield relative to a direction of gravity during operation.
10 . The metering hopper of claim 1 , wherein the shield is spaced apart from a lateral position of the receiver slot in the open configuration when the feed slot is positioned vertically below the shield relative to a direction of gravity during operation.
11 . The metering hopper of claim 1 , wherein the metering hopper is a tank configured to be pressurized.
12 . The metering hopper of claim 1 , further comprising an agitator attached to the drive shaft, wherein rotation of the drive shaft actuates the agitator to agitate the solid pellets, wherein the agitator is conical, and wherein the agitator comprises a spiral flighting disposed on a surface configured to be oriented towards the solid pellets in the metering hopper.
13 . A metering hopper comprising:
a hopper configured to store solid pellets;
an outlet disposed in a bottom portion of the metering hopper with respect to local gravity during operation;
a feed slot configured to gravity-feed the solid pellets to the outlet;
a feed slot cover including a receiver slot configured to move between a closed configuration where the receiver slot is out of alignment with the feed slot and an open configuration where the receiver slot is aligned with the feed slot; and
a shield configured to block the solid pellets from falling directly into the feed slot; and
a plurality of supports configured to maintain a pose of the shield with respect to the outlet.
14 . The metering hopper of claim 13 , wherein gaps between adjacent supports of the plurality of supports are sized and shaped to permit the solid pellets to pass through the gaps to the feed slot.
15 . The metering hopper of claim 13 , wherein a first angle between a first outer portion of the shield closest to the feed slot and the feed slot is less than a second angle between a second outer portion of the shield closest to the receiver slot in the closed configuration and the receiver slot in the closed configuration.
16 . The metering hopper of claim 15 , wherein the first angle is less than an angle of repose of the solid pellets and the second angle is greater than an angle of repose of the solid pellets.
17 . The metering hopper of claim 13 , further comprising the solid pellets, wherein the solid pellets comprise a water reactive material.
18 . The metering hopper of claim 13 , wherein the shield is aligned with a lateral position of the feed slot when the feed slot is positioned vertically below the shield relative to a direction of gravity during operation.
19 . The metering hopper of claim 13 , wherein the shield is spaced apart from a lateral position of the receiver slot in the open configuration when the feed slot is positioned vertically below the shield relative to a direction of gravity during operation.
20 . The metering hopper of claim 13 , wherein the metering hopper is a tank configured to be pressurized.
21 . The metering hopper of claim 13 , further comprising a drive shaft extending through a sealed pass through of the hopper and configured to actuate feed slot cover between the open configuration and the closed configuration an agitator attached to the drive shaft, wherein rotation of the drive shaft actuates the agitator to agitate the solid pellets, wherein the agitator is conical, and wherein the agitator comprises a spiral flighting disposed on a surface configured to be oriented towards the solid pellets in the metering hopper.