Method and apparatus for operating a circulating fluidized bed reactor system

Solid particles are transported from a first chamber (e.g. combustion chamber of a fluidized bed reactor) to an adjacent second chamber (e.g. a transporting and/or processing chamber) by providing a solid flow gas seal, a controllable solid flow valve, or both in a partition between the chambers. Transporting gas is introduced into the first chamber to transport solid particles as multiple solid flows from the first chamber to the second chamber. A number of narrow passages in the partition wall disposed one on top of the other, and having a height to length ratio of less than 0.5, less than 50 mm, act as the gas seal and controllable solid flow valve in the partition. The transporting gas may be introduced through the bottom of the first chamber, a side wall opposite to the partition wall, or both, and the partition wall may be lined with refractory adjacent the first chamber with passages in the refractory lining being made of combustible material which is burned away during heating of the refractory lining. The passages may also slant upwardly slightly from the first chamber to the second chamber, e.g. about 15 degrees.