Slurry phase apparatus

Disclosed are a slurry phase apparatus (10) and a method of operating a slurry phase apparatus (10). The disclosure notes that regulating pressure in an existing slurry phase apparatus including a fluid impermeable partition has proved difficult as in the event of a gas distributor blockage, the fluid impermeable partition within the apparatus is subject to large differential pressures. The apparatus (10) comprises a slurry vessel (12); a gas distributor (14); a fluid impermeable partition (18) and a pressure transfer passage or conduit (34). The slurry vessel (12) holds a slurry body (37) comprising a liquid and solid particulate material and includes a head space volume (40) above the slurry body (37). The gas distributor (14) in a lower portion of the vessel (12) defines downwards facing gas outlets (32). The fluid impermeable partition (18) spans across the slurry vessel (12) below the gas distributor (14) partitioning the vessel (12) into a slurry volume (19) above the partition (18) and a bottom volume (36) below the partition. The pressure transfer passage or conduit (34) passes through or around the partition (18) and allows transfer of pressure into and from the bottom volume (36). The pressure transfer passage or conduit (34) establishes flow or pressure communication between the bottom volume (36) and the head space volume (40) in the slurry vessel (12) above the slurry volume (19) and thereby maintains a differential pressure. The differential pressure is manipulated by changes in the pressure in the bottom volume (36) to maintain the differential pressure between predefined limits.