Method and Apparatus for Mixing Powder Material With Water
AssigneeRDP Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRichard W. Christy, Michael Quici
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process and apparatus is provided for mixing a powder material with water. The powder material can be powdered activated carbon (PAC) or a dry polymer. The powder material is provided from a container, and it is delivered to a feed hopper, then to a mixing vessel, where water is provided, to mix with the powder material through a wetting ring. A vibrator mechanism may be used to facilitate discharge of the powder material into the feed hopper. The powder material and water are mixed, in a mixing tank. When the powder material is a dry polymer, a variable speed mechanism may control the speed of the mixing. Load cells can support the weight of the container, feed hopper and mixing tank, feeding such information to a computer.
Claims30
A process for mixing a powder material with water comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a powder material that is one of:
- (i) a powdered activated carbon;
- and
- (ii) a dry polymer;
- (b) delivering the powder material to a feed hopper while evacuating sufficient air from the feed hopper to offset the amount of powder material being delivered to the feed hopper;
- (c) transferring the powder material from the feed hopper to a mixing tank;
- (d) delivering water to the mixing tank in such a way that the water mingles with and wets particles of the powder material entering the mixing tank;
- (e) mixing the powder material and water in the mixing tank;
- (f) including at least one of the steps of:
- (i) delivering the water to the mixing tank through a wetting ring;
- (ii) as part of the evacuating step, evacuating air from the feed hopper to atmosphere, through a foraminous member;
- (iii) wherein the delivery of powder material to the feed hopper is via a container that is a bag;
- (iv) wherein the delivery of powder material to the feed hopper is via a container that is a silo;
- (v) supporting and monitoring the aggregate weight of the feed hopper and the powder material on at least one load cell, and communicating the aggregate weight to a computer;
- and
- (vi) vibrating the container having the powder material therein to facilitate discharge of powder material therefrom into the feed hopper;
- and
- (g) discharging the mix of powder material and water from the mixing tank.
Apparatus for mixing a powder material with water comprising:
- (a) means providing a powder material that is one of
- (i) a powdered activated carbon;
- and
- (ii) a dry polymer;
- (b) means for delivering the powder material to a feed hopper including evacuation means for evacuating sufficient air from the feed hopper to offset the amount of powder material being delivered to the feed hopper;
- (c) a mixing tank and means transferring the powder material from the feed hopper to the mixing tank;
- (d) means for delivering water to the mixing tank in such a way that the water mingles with and wets particles of the powder material entering the mixing tank;
- (e) means for mixing the powder material and water in the mixing tank;
- (f) including at least one of:
- (i) means delivering the water to the mixing tank through a wetting ring;
- (ii) as part of the evacuation means, means evacuating air from the feed hopper to atmosphere, through a foraminous member;
- (iii) wherein the means for delivering the powder material to the feed hopper includes a container that is a bag;
- (iv) wherein the means for delivering the powder material to the feed hopper includes a container that is a silo;
- (v) means for supporting and monitoring the aggregate weight of the feed hopper and the powder material on at least one load cell, and means communicating the aggregate weight to a computer;
- and
- (vi) means for vibrating the container having the powder material therein to facilitate discharge of powder material therefrom into the feed hopper;
- and
- (g) means for discharging the mix of powder material and water from the mixing tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.