Apparatus for Mixing Solid Particles and Fluids
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsHau Nguyen-Phuc Pham, Noriko Yao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus that includes a casing having an outer layer and an inner layer, a hopper, a rotary drive, a slinger, an impeller, an inlet, and an outlet. The hopper is operable for delivering bulk solids into the casing. The inlet is operable for delivering fluid into the casing. The outlet is operable for discharging a mixture of the bulk solids and the fluid from the casing. The rotary drive is disposed external to the casing, and the slinger is suspended for rotation within the casing via a drive extension extending from the rotary drive into the casing. The impeller is coupled with the slinger within the casing.
Claims20
An apparatus, comprising:
- a casing having an outer layer and an inner layer;
- a hopper for delivering bulk solids into the casing;
- a rotary drive disposed external to the casing;
- a slinger suspended for rotation within the casing via a drive extension extending from the rotary drive into the casing;
- an impeller coupled with the slinger within the casing;
- an inlet for delivering fluid into the casing;
- and
- an outlet for discharging a mixture of the bulk solids and the fluid from the casing.
A method, comprising:
- assembling a mixing apparatus by:
- providing a casing comprising an upper section and a lower section, wherein the upper and lower sections comprise a first material;
- covering at least portions of each of the upper and lower sections of the casing with a second material;
- coupling the upper section of the casing and a hopper, wherein the upper section is disposed below the hopper;
- coupling a rotary drive and a drive extension;
- extending the drive extension through an opening in the upper section of the casing;
- coupling a slinger and an impeller, wherein the impeller is disposed below the slinger;
- coupling at least one of the slinger and impeller and the drive extension;
- and
- coupling the upper section of the casing and the lower section of the casing to enclose the slinger and the impeller within the casing.
A method, comprising:
- replacing portions of a mixing apparatus by:
- uncoupling an upper section of a casing from a central section of the casing;
- removing a used upper wear plate from between the upper section of the casing and the central section of the casing;
- inserting a replacement upper wear plate between the upper section of the casing and the central section of the casing;
- coupling the upper section of the casing and the central section of the casing;
- uncoupling a lower section of the casing from the central section of the casing;
- removing a used lower wear plate from between the lower section of the casing and the central section of the casing;
- inserting a replacement lower wear plate between the lower section of the casing and the central section of the casing;
- and
- coupling the lower section of the casing and the central section of the casing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.