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US 5,061,456 AGranted
Polymer activation apparatus
AssigneeStranco, Inc.
InventorsCarl L. Brazelton, Troy C. Litherland, J. Derek Green
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A polymer activation apparatus for activating and diluting a liquid polymer with water includes, a vessel defining a cylindrical chamber divided into first and second processing zones, the polymer and water being supplied to the first processing zone, an impeller located in the first processing zone subjecting the polymer to a high shear rate for a short contact time to initiate dissolution and activation of the polymer, and the polymer being moved to the second processing zone under the force of the water supplied to the first processing zone, a second impeller in the second processing zone subjecting the polymer to a lower shear rate for a longer period to continue the polymer dissolution and activation process.
Claims14
Polymer activation apparatus for receiving polymer and water and for activating and diluting the polymer, comprising
- a vessel defining a substantially cylindrical chamber having a central axis which extends along the length of said vessel, said vessel defining a first processing zone and a second processing zone in fluid communication with said first processing zone,
- a stationary baffle in said vessel dividing said chamber into said first and second processing zones, said baffle including a plate extending transversely of said axis of said vessel, said plate having an aperture communicating said first processing zone with said second processing zone,
- water inlet means for supplying water to said first processing zone, polymer supply means including a source of polymer,
- polymer inlet means connected to said polymer supply means for supplying the polymer to said first processing zone, said polymer inlet means being separated from said water inlet means so that the polymer and water are not mixed before they enter said first processing zone,
- first impeller means in said first processing zone for moving the polymer within said first processing zone to mix the polymer and the water for activating the polymer, said first impeller means having a plurality of fin members oriented in a plane which is substantially parallel to said vessel axis and extending outward radially from said vessel axis and spaced apart from one another, defining a paddle-wheel configuration for said first impeller means,
- means for rotating said impeller means,
- means for moving the polymer through said first processing zone in a first period of time and into and through said second processing zone in a second period of time, said second time period being longer than said first time period,
- said first impeller means being constructed and arranged to subject the polymer to a high shear rate for said first time period to initiate dissolution and activation of the polymer,
- agitating means in said second processing zone for further mixing the polymer and the water in said second processing zone, said agitating means being constructed and arranged to subject the polymer to a lower shear rate for said second time period to further dissolve and activate the polymer,
- said agitating means further including second impeller means, said first impeller means and said second impeller means being mounted for rotation about said axis of said vessel to move said polymer within said first and second processing zones, respectively,
- a shaft extending through said first and second processing zones, said shaft being connected to both said first and second impeller means for transferring rotating motion thereto, and
- outlet means in fluid communication with said second processing zone for carrying the activated and diluted polymer away from the apparatus.
9 more elements
Polymer activation apparatus for receiving polymer and water and for activating and diluting the polymer, comprising
- a vessel defining a substantially cylindrical chamber having a central axis which extends along the length of said vessel, said vessel defining a first processing zone and a second processing zone in fluid communication with said first processing zone,
- a baffle in said vessel dividing said chamber into said first and second processing zones, said baffle including a plate extending transversely of said axis of said vessel, said plate having an aperture communicating said first processing zone with said second processing zone,
- water inlet means for supplying water to said first processing zone,
- polymer inlet means for supplying the polymer to said first processing zone, said polymer inlet means being separated from said water inlet means so that the polymer and water are not mixed before they enter said first processing zone,
- first impeller means in said first processing zone for moving the polymer within said first processing zone to mix the polymer and the water for activating the polymer, said first impeller means having a plurality of fin members oriented in a plane which is substantially parallel to said vessel axis and extending outward radially from said vessel axis and spaced apart from one another, defining a paddle-wheel configuration for said first impeller means, each of said fin members further having a notch in the lower outer edge thereof,
- said polymer inlet means extending into said first processing zone towards said notch so that the polymer is injected into the first impeller means,
- means for rotating said impeller means,
- means for moving the polymer through said first processing zone in a first period of time and into and through said second processing zone in a second period of time, said second time period being longer than said first time period,
- said first impeller means being constructed and arranged to subject the polymer to a high shear rate for said first time period to initiate dissolution and activation of the polymer,
- agitating means in said second processing zone for further mixing the polymer and the water in said second processing zone, said agitating means being constructed and arranged to subject the polymer to a lower shear rate for said second time period to further dissolve and activate the polymer,
- said agitating means further including second impeller means, said first impeller means and said second impeller means being mounted for rotation about said axis of said vessel to move said polymer within said first and second processing zones, respectively.
- a shaft extending through said first and second processing zones, said shaft being connected to both said first and second impeller means for transferring rotating motion thereto, and
- outlet means in fluid communication with said second processing zone for carrying the activated and diluted polymer away from the apparatus.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.