Method and apparatus for pressure processing a pumpable substance

An apparatus for ultra-high pressure processing a pumpable substance, the apparatus comprising:

• first and second generally rigid high pressure vessels each configured to withstand an internal pressure of up to at least approximately 100,000 psi, each vessel having an inlet port and an outlet port, each vessel further having a isolator therein for isolating the pumpable substance from a pressurized fluid within the vessel;
• a controller operatively coupled to the first and second vessels for moving the isolators according to a schedule with the schedule for the isolator of the first vessel being offset relative to the schedule for the isolator of the second vessel;
• and
• a gas controller coupled to at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port of the first vessel for controlling an amount of gas added to or removed from the pumpable substance.

An apparatus for ultra-high pressure processing a pumpable substance, the apparatus comprising:

• a pressure vessel having an inlet port for receiving a pumpable substance and an outlet port for exiting the pumpable substance;
• a first valve coupled to one of the inlet port and the outlet port and movable between an open position and a closed position;
• a flow channel in fluid communication with the first valve;
• a second valve coupled to the flow channel, the second valve having an open position and a closed position, at least a portion of the second valve being spaced apart from a portion of the first valve to define an intermediate portion of the flow channel between the valves, the second valve being configured to seal the intermediate portion of the flow channel;
• and
• a detector in fluid communication with the intermediate portion of the flow channel for detecting passage of the pumpable substance past one of the first and second valves into the intermediate portion when the one valve is in its closed position.

An apparatus for detecting flow of a pumpable substance toward or away from a vessel having an inlet port and an outlet port, the vessel being configured to ultra-high pressure process the pumpable substance, the apparatus comprising:

• a first valve coupled to one of the inlet port and the outlet port and movable between an open position and a closed position;
• a flow channel in fluid communication with the first valve;
• a second valve coupled to the flow channel, the second valve having an open position and a closed position, at least a portion of the second valve being spaced apart from a portion of the first valve to define an intermediate portion of the flow channel between the valves, the second valve being configured to seal the intermediate portion of the flow channel;
• and
• a detector in fluid communication with the intermediate portion of the flow channel for detecting passage of the pumpable substance past one of the first and second valves into the intermediate portion when the one valve is in its closed position.

An apparatus for pressure processing a pumpable substance, comprising:

• a pressure vessel having a first port for receiving the pumpable substance and a second port for receiving a high pressure fluid;
• an isolator positioned within the pressure vessel between the first and second ports, the isolator having a channel extending therethrough, the channel having a first opening in fluid communication with the first port and a second opening in fluid communication with the second port;
• and
• a valve in fluid communication with the channel and positioned between the first and second openings of the channel for selectively restricting flow between the first and second openings.

An apparatus for pressurizing a pumpable substance, comprising:

• pressure vessel having a first port for receiving the pumpable substance and a second port for receiving a pressurized fluid;
• an isolator positioned within the pressure vessel between the first and second ports, the isolator being movable within the vessel to pressurize the pumpable substance;
• and
• a source of the high pressure fluid coupled to the second port of the pressure vessel for moving the isolator within the vessel, the source having a high pressure fluid selected from liquids having a non-zero pH.

An apparatus for pressure processing a pumpable substance, comprising:

• first and second generally rigid high pressure vessels each configured to withstand an internal pressure of up to at least approximately 100,000 psi, each vessel having an inlet port and an outlet port, each vessel having an isolator therein for isolating the pumpable substance from a pressurized fluid, the pressure vessels being coupled to a controller for moving the isolators according to a schedule with the schedule for one isolator being delayed relative to the schedule for the other isolator, each isolator having a channel extending therethrough to allow fluid to selectively pass from one side of the isolator to the other, each channel having a valve to regulate a flow of fluid through the channel;
• a heat exchanger coupled to the at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port of one of the vessels, the heat exchanger having a heat exchanger surface for transferring heat between the pumpable substance and a region external to the heat exchanger;
• a gas controller coupled to at least one of the ports of at least one of the vessels for controlling a flow of gas added to or removed from the pumpable substance;
• and
• first and second spaced apart valves coupled to at least one of the inlet port and the outlet port of each vessel, the first and second valves each having an open position and a closed position and being coupled by a conduit having a detector for detecting the passage of pumpable substance into the conduit when both the first and second valves are in their closed positions.

A method for pressure processing a pumpable substance, comprising:

• heating first and second portions of the pumpable substance;
• transferring the first portion of the pumpable substance directly to a first high pressure vessel;
• transferring the second portion of the pumpable substance directly to a second high pressure vessel and operatively coupling the first and second vessels;
• pressurizing the first portion of the pumpable substance in the first high pressure vessel according to a first schedule and pressurizing the second portion of the pumpable substance in the second vessel according to a second schedule with the first and second schedules offset from each other;
• and
• removing the first portion of the pumpable substance from the first pressure vessel and removing the second portion of pumpable substance from the second pressure vessel.

A method for pressure processing a pumpable substance, comprising:

• controllably adjusting an amount of gas in the pumpable substance;
• transferring a first portion of the pumpable substance to a first high pressure vessel;
• transferring a second portion of the pumpable substance to a second high pressure vessel and operatively coupling the first and second vessels;
• pressurizing the first portion of the pumpable substance in the first high pressure vessel according to a first schedule and pressurizing the second portion of the pumpable substance in the second vessel according to a second schedule with the first and second schedules offset from each other;
• and
• removing the first portion of the pumpable substance from the first pressure vessel and removing the second portion of pumpable substance from the second pressure vessel.

A method for pressure processing a pumpable substance with a pressurizing apparatus, the method comprising:

• opening a first valve coupled to a high pressure cylinder to transfer the pumpable substance through the first valve and into the high pressure cylinder;
• closing the first valve;
• pressurizing the pumpable substance within the high pressure cylinder;
• and
• detecting a flow of the pumpable substance past the closed first valve by detecting a portion of the pumpable substance in a region between the first valve and a second valve.

A method for pressure processing a pumpable substance with a pressurizing apparatus, the method comprising:

• opening a valve coupled to a high pressure vessel of the apparatus;
• transferring the pumpable substance through the valve and into the high pressure vessel;
• changing a position of at least one of the valve and a isolator in the high pressure vessel by driving the valve or the isolator with a pressurized fluid;
• and
• monitoring a region between the value and the isolator to detect a flow of the pressurized fluid into the region between the valve and the isolator.

A method for pressure processing a pumpable substance in a pressurizing apparatus having first and second pressure vessels, the method comprising:

• introducing a first portion of the pumpable substance to the first vessel according to a first schedule and introducing a second portion of the pumpable substance to the second vessel according to a second schedule offset from the first schedule;
• initiating pressurization of the first portion of the pumpable substance according to a selected pressurizing procedure;
• monitoring an actual pressurizing procedure of the first portion of the pumpable substance;
• and
• upon detecting a deviation between the selected pressurizing procedure and the actual pressurizing procedure, diverting at least some of the first portion of the pumpable substance away from a receptacle for pumpable substance pressurized.

A method for cleaning a vessel used for high pressure processing a pumpable substance, the vessel including an isolator having a flow channel extending through isolator from a first side of the isolator to a second side of the isolator, the method comprising:

• introducing a pumpable substance into a region of the vessel adjacent one of the first and second sides of the isolator;
• introducing a high pressure fluid into a region of the vessel adjacent the other of the first and second sides of the isolator;
• removing the pumpable substance from the vessel;
• and
• passing a cleansing fluid from the first side of the isolator through the flow channel to the second side of the isolator.

A method for pressurizing a pumpable substance, comprising:

• introducing the pumpable substance to a first region of a pressure vessel;
• introducing a pressurizing fluid having a non-zero pH to a second region of the vessel, the second region being separated from the first region of the vessel by an isolator;
• and
• pressurizing the pumpable substance by biasing the isolator toward the pumpable substance with the pressurized fluid.

A method for pressure processing a pumpable substance, comprising:

• introducing the pumpable substance to a first region of a pressure vessel;
• introducing a pressurized fluid to a second region of the vessel, the second region being separated from the first region of the vessel by a isolator;
• pressurizing the pumpable substance by biasing the isolator toward the pumpable substance with the pressurized fluid;
• removing the pumpable substance from the vessel;
• and
• moving the isolator axially within the vessel without the pumpable substance in the vessel to scrub an interior wall of the vessel.

A method for determining a volume of material transferred into or out of a high pressure vessel of a pressurizing apparatus, the high pressure vessel having an isolator dividing the vessel between a first region and a second region, the isolator being movable within the vessel, the method comprising:

• introducing a portion of a first substance into the first region of the vessel to move the isolator and reduce a volume of the second region of the vessel;
• removing a portion of a second substance from the second region of the vessel;
• and
• measuring a quantity of one of the portions;
• and
• determining a quantity of the other portion based on the quantity of the one portion.