# US 10,478,755 B2 · System for providing homogeneous polymer-sludge composition to dewatering equipment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,755 B2 - Document ID: US10478755B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/662,549 - Filed: 2017-07-28 - Published: 2018-05-03 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-28 - Applicants: Charles Bertram Gerber; Stephen Bertram Gerber - Inventors: Charles Bertram Gerber; Stephen Bertram Gerber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478755B2 ## CPC - B01F 23/45: using flow mixing - B01D 21/01: using flocculating agents (for purifying water C02F1/52; for liquid radioactive waste G21F9/10) - B01F 25/312: with Venturi elements; Details thereof - B01F 25/60: Pump mixers, i.e. mixing within a pump - B01F 35/7176: {using pumps} - C02F 1/56: Macromolecular compounds - C02F 11/147: using organic substances (C02F11/148 takes precedence) - C02F 11/123: using belt or band filters - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract An improved system for providing a homogenous polymer-sludge composition to dewatering equipment includes an input mechanism that is adapted to receive sludge from a first supply source, and polymer materials from a second supply source. The input mechanism functioning to perform an initial blending of the materials before discharging the same to a pump unit. The pump unit comprising a boundary layer viscous drag pump that functions to efficiently and simultaneously mix and pump the polymer/sludge material to dewatering equipment in a manner that does not shear the polymer or reduce the efficiency, as previously experienced with downstream mixing units. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for providing a homogeneous polymer-sludge composition to dewatering equipment, said system comprising: an inlet unit having a first input member for receiving sludge, a second input member for receiving polymer, a central channel that is configured to perform a first mixing procedure, and an output member; and a boundary layer viscous drag disc pump having an input that is in direct communication with the output member of the inlet unit, said pump being configured to pull a solution from the output member, to perform a second mixing procedure on the solution, and to supply a homogeneous polymer-sludge composition to a piece of dewatering equipment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the central channel comprises a polymer injection ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising: a pump for introducing the polymer to the second input member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the central channel comprises an hourglass shape that functions to create a venturi effect on the sludge and polymer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the inlet unit is constructed from steel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, holding tank that is in communication with the first input member, said holding tank being configured to store the sludge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a wherein the piece of dewatering equipment is in direct and uninterrupted communication with an output of the boundary layer viscous drag pump. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the piece of dewatering equipment comprises a belt filter press. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the boundary layer viscous drag pump is configured to operate at a pressure of between 5 to 10 psi. ### Claim 10 A method for providing a homogeneous polymer-sludge composition to dewatering equipment, said method comprising: providing sludge to a first input member of an inlet unit; providing polymer to a second input member of an inlet unit; performing a first mixing procedure at the inlet unit; connecting an output of the inlet unit directly to an input of a boundary layer viscous drag disc pump; performing a second mixing procedure at the boundary layer viscous drag pump; and pumping an output of the boundary layer viscous drag disc pump directly to a piece of dewatering equipment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: wherein the pumping step is performed at a pressure of between 5 to 10 psi.