Transcritical CO2pulverization
AssigneeRockburst Technologies Inc.
InventorsClifford Edwards, Peter Von Behrens, Rob Stephens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for comminution of solid materials. Solid materials are introduced into a first pressure vessel. A working fluid is provided in the first pressure vessel at an operating pressure and an operating temperature. The working fluid is allowed to permeate into the solid materials. The working fluid may permeate into the solid materials while in a supercritical fluid phase. The working fluid is rapidly expanded to thereby create fractured solid materials from the solid materials. Rapidly expanding the working fluid may comprise causing a transition of the working fluid from a supercritical phase with a first density to a subcritical vapour phase with a second density.
Claims18
A method for comminution of solid materials, the method comprising:
- introducing solid materials into a first pressure vessel;
- providing a working fluid in the first pressure vessel at an operating pressure and an operating temperature;
- allowing the working fluid to permeate into the solid materials;
- and
- rapidly expanding the working fluid to thereby create fractured solid materials from the solid materials;
- wherein the step of introducing the solid materials into the first pressure vessel comprises mixing the solid materials with a liquid to form a slurry and introducing the slurry into the first pressure vessel;
- and
- wherein the step of allowing the working fluid to permeate into the solid materials comprises separating the solid materials from the slurry and allowing the working fluid to permeate into the separated solid materials.
An apparatus for comminution of solid materials, the apparatus comprising:
- a first pressure vessel, the first pressure vessel comprising a first chamber;
- a source of pressurized working fluid connected to deliver the pressurized working fluid into the first chamber through a second inlet;
- a second pressure vessel connected to the first chamber by a first valve, wherein when the first valve is open, at least some of the working fluid within the first chamber is allowed to flow out of a first outlet and into a second chamber of the second pressure vessel;
- a density sensor for measuring a density of the working fluid in the first pressure vessel;
- and
- a density controller connected to control one or both of the temperature and the pressure of the working fluid in the first pressure vessel in response to the density measured by the density sensor so as to maintain the density of the working fluid within the first pressure vessel within a desired density range.
A method for comminution of solid materials, the method comprising:
- introducing solid materials into a first pressure vessel;
- providing a working fluid in the first pressure vessel at an operating pressure and an operating temperature;
- allowing the working fluid to permeate into the solid materials;
- and
- rapidly expanding the working fluid to thereby create fractured solid materials from the solid materials;
- measuring a density of the working fluid in the first pressure vessel;
- and
- controlling one or both of the temperature and the pressure of the working fluid in the first pressure vessel in response to the measured density so as to maintain the density of the working fluid within the first pressure vessel within a desired density range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.