Rotary air lock to transfer product out of pressurized liquid process tank

[plukens]

We are designing a "prill" process where molten product is dripped into a cool liquid bath to form solid beads called "prills". These prills will float in the liquid and need to be separated from the liquid and transferred outside the process tank. The problem is that the process tank must maintain a head pressure of 10 psig and we do not know how to a) separate the prills from the liquid and b) transfer them out of the tank in a continuous fashion while maintaining the head pressure in the tank and minimizing the amount of air that is introduced into the tank. Perhaps some form of rotary air lock? I'm assuming this problem has been solved, perhaps multiple ways. Thanks for any help.

 

[cloa]

This a mechanical engineering problem not a Fluid Mechanics problem.
A question is does it really need to be totally continuous process, how about semicontinuous? If you transfer to storage chute filled with the process fluid and then periodically seal it and transfer to another storage container for complete separation then fill the chute with process liquid and restart.

 

[plukens]

Yes, a semicontinuous process is fine. We seek to minimize the amount of process liquid and vapor lost to the outside and also minimize the amount of air let in. I did post the this question in the ME section as well. If you can refer me to a setup like the one you describe, that would be appreciated (web link or a patent or other literature). Thanks.