12 the operation of the l valve is partially controlled by the gravity feeding of solids into the solids conduit 12 and it is preferred that the first inlet conduit be oriented at an angle within 20 degrees of vertical where the vertical is the direction parallel to the direction of gravity in a preferred configuration the second diameter 20 or diameter of the outlet conduit 20 is between 50 and 75 of the first diameter 18 or diameter of the solids inlet conduit 12 by reducing the outlet diameter 20 size relative to the solids inlet diameter 18 the flow produced by the motive fluid carrying the solids and fluid entering from the first inlet 12 is stabilized and can be smoothly controlled through the desired range of motive fluid and solid flows as depicted by curve 52 in fig1 in an alternate embodiment the l valve 10 includes an outlet conduit 16 with an outlet conduit end 22 where the outlet conduit end 22 extends a distance across the solids inlet conduit end 14 in this embodiment as shown in fig3 the valve 10 comprises a first inlet conduit 12 for carrying solids and having a first diameter 18 and a first inlet conduit end 14 the valve 10 further includes an outlet conduit 16 having a second diameter 20 where the second diameter 20 is less than the first diameter 18 and where the outlet conduit 16 is oriented at an angle between 45 degrees and 135 degrees relative to the first inlet conduit 12 the valve 10 includes a second inlet 30 for carrying the motive fluid and is substantially aligned with the outlet conduit 16 the outlet conduit end 22 extends at least 20 of the distance across the first inlet conduit end 14 it.