US 2008/0165613 A1 · Systems for self-balancing control of mixing and pumping

Abstract

Systems for controlling the in-feed and discharge rates of materials flowing into and out of a mixing process where one priority is to achieve a target mixture flow rate from the mixing process and another priority can be to achieve a target value for a mixture property. Actuators can be operated to control material in-feed rates, the mixture composition, and discharge rate, and can maintain a hold-up of the mixture in the mixing process. A total flow rate controller provides a control signal to a controller acting on the discharge rate and a controller acting on the in-feed rates. The mixture discharge flow rate can be automatically reduced from its desired target when the commanded rate of at least one of the materials exceeds its available supply rate as inferred from an inability to maintain the targeted value for the mixture property.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A control system for continuously mixing at least two materials, comprising:

a mixing process;
wherein said process receives at least two input flow streams and has one output flow stream for the resulting mixture;
and
a process control system acting on said mixing process wherein said control system is configured to:
(i) as a first priority, provide a desired density for said mixture;
and
(ii) as a lower priority, provide a desired flow rate for said mixture.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems for self-balancing control of mixing and pumping

Life of this patent

Systems for self-balancing control of mixing and pumping

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26