Apparatus for making a solution and related methods
AssigneeCargill, Incorporated
InventorsAnthony Quinn Hensley, Bill Miller, Chet Womack
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure includes methods of making a brine solution that include recirculating brine solution to a salt and water hopper from a holding tank. The present disclosure also includes an apparatus for making a solution that includes at least one nozzle assembly positioned inside the lower half of a hopper. The at least one nozzle assembly includes a manifold having at least two nozzles spaced apart. Each nozzle has one or more nozzle outlets that are directed away from the bottom of the hopper (e.g., toward the top of the hopper).
Claims12
An apparatus for making a solution, the apparatus comprises:
- (a) a hopper comprising:
- (i) at least one side wall;
- (ii) a bottom;
- (iii) a top;
- (iv) at least one overflow weir;
- (v) a first liquid inlet positioned within the at least one side wall;
- and
- (vi) at least one nozzle assembly positioned inside the lower half of the hopper and coupled to the first liquid inlet, wherein the at least one nozzle assembly comprises a manifold wherein the manifold comprises a linear array of at least three nozzles and each nozzle comprises at least three nozzle outlets directed away from the bottom of the hopper;
- (b) a liquid holding tank positioned proximal to the hopper so that liquid in the overflow weir can flow into the liquid holding tank, wherein the liquid holding tank comprises:
- (i) at least one side wall;
- (ii) a bottom;
- and
- (iii) at least one liquid outlet positioned within the at least one side wall;
- and
- (c) a pump system physically coupled to the first liquid inlet positioned in the hopper and the at least one liquid outlet positioned in the liquid holding tank, wherein the pump system is configured to pump liquid from the liquid holding tank into the hopper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.