Apparatus for making a solution and related methods
AssigneeCargill, Incorporated
InventorsAnthony Quinn HENSLEY, Bill MILLER, Chet WOMACK
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure includes methods of making a brine solution that include recirculating brine solution to a salt and water hopper from a holding tank. The present disclosure also includes an apparatus for making a solution that includes at least one nozzle assembly positioned inside the lower half of a hopper. The at least one nozzle assembly includes a manifold having at least two nozzles spaced apart. Each nozzle has one or more nozzle outlets that are directed away from the bottom of the hopper (e.g., toward the top of the hopper).
Claims23
An apparatus for making a solution, the apparatus comprises:
- (a) a hopper comprising:
- (i) at least one side wall;
- (ii) a bottom;
- (iii) a top;
- (iv) at least one overflow weir;
- (v) a first liquid inlet positioned within the at least one side wall;
- and
- (vi) at least one nozzle assembly positioned inside the lower half of the hopper and coupled to the first liquid inlet, wherein the at least one nozzle assembly comprises a manifold having at least two nozzles spaced apart, wherein each nozzle has one or more nozzle outlets that are directed away from the bottom of the hopper and/or one or more nozzle outlets that are directed toward the bottom of the hopper;
- (b) a liquid holding tank positioned proximal to the hopper so that liquid in the overflow weir can flow into the liquid holding tank, wherein the liquid holding tank comprises:
- (i) at least one side wall;
- (ii) a bottom;
- and
- (iii) at least one liquid outlet positioned within the at least one side wall;
- and
- (c) a pump system physically coupled to the first liquid inlet positioned in the hopper and the at least one liquid outlet positioned in the liquid holding tank, wherein the pump system is configured to pump liquid from the liquid holding tank into the hopper.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method of making a brine solution comprising:
- (a) providing an amount of salt in a hopper;
- (b) providing an amount of water in the hopper so that the water dissolves at least a portion of the salt to form a brine solution and fills the hopper to a level so that the brine solution can flow through a hopper overflow weir into a liquid holding tank positioned proximal to the hopper and fills the liquid holding tank, wherein the amount of water is provided from a source other than the holding tank;
- (c) recirculating at least a portion of the brine solution through a recirculation line from the liquid holding tank into the hopper;
- (d) determining a concentration value of the brine solution in the recirculation line;
- and
- (e) continuously recirculating at least a portion of the brine solution through the recirculation line via a pump system from the liquid holding tank into the hopper until a target concentration value of the brine solution in the recirculation is measured.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.