Additive injection system and method

An additive injection system for injecting a controlled amount of a first fluid into a main stream of a second fluid, comprising:

• an additive flow line for flow of the first fluid from a source thereof to a main flow line for the second fluid;
• at least one valve for controlling the flow of the first fluid through said first line;
• an electrical controller for controlling said at least one valve for passing of a prescribed amount of the first fluid through said additive flow line;
• an explosion-proof housing for enclosing said electrical controller;
• and
• a flow meter connected to said additive flow line for providing to said electrical controller electrical signals representative of the amount of flow of the first fluid through said additive flow line;
• said flow meter being located at a side wall of said explosion-proof housing;
• said flow meter including a magnet, a flow chamber through which the first fluid flows, a rotating element in said flow chamber for rotating said magnet at a speed proportional to the rate of the first fluid flow through said flow chamber, and a flow rate signal generator cooperative with said magnet for producing said electrical signals;
• and
• wherein a wall of said flow chamber has at least a portion thereof forming an interface between said flow chamber and the interior of said explosion-proof housing, thereby to prevent flow of the first fluid into the interior of said explosion-proof housing.

An additive injection system for injecting a controlled amount of a first fluid into a main stream of a second fluid, comprising:

• an inlet for connection to a supply of the first fluid;
• an outlet for connection to the main stream of the second fluid;
• first and second additive flow passages connected in parallel between said inlet and outlet;
• first and second valves for controlling the flow of fluid through said first and second additive flow passages, respectively
• meter means for measuring the amount of the first fluid flowing through said first and second additive flow passages;
• and
• control means for (a) opening said first and second valves for allowing flow of the first fluid through first and second additive flow passages upon initiation of an inject cycle, (b) closing said second valve to stop flow of the first fluid through said second additive flow line when the amount of additive measured by said meter means reaches a predetermined relationship to a prescribed amount of the first fluid to be injected, while allowing additive to continue to flow through said first additive flow line and (c) closing said first valve to stop flow of the first fluid through said first additive flow line when the amount of the first fluid measured b said meter means reaches a second predetermined relationship to the prescribed amount of the first fluid to be injected.

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid through a fluid flow line, comprising:

• a housing having a window through which can be transmitted an infrared signal encoded with information;
• a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through a fluid flow line;
• and
• an electronic device for controlling said valve, said electronic device being enclosed within said housing and comprising:
• receiver means for receiving the information encoded infrared signal when transmitted through said window;
• signal processing means for decoding information included in said infrared signal;
• and
• control means for carrying out at least one predetermined function based on the decoded information.

An apparatus for controlling or monitoring operation of a fluid process, comprising:

• a controlling or monitoring device for receiving control signals for controlling a fluid process or for producing monitoring signals for monitoring a fluid process;
• a housing having a window through which can be transmitted an infrared signal encoded with information;
• and
• an electronic device for producing said control signals or receiving said monitoring signals, said electronic device being enclosed within said housing and comprising:
• receiver means for receiving the information encoded infrared signal when transmitted through said window;
• signal processing means for decoding information included in said infrared signal;
• and
• control means for carrying out at least one predetermined function based on the decoded information.

A method for controlling or monitoring a fluid process comprising:

• using a controlling device to control a fluid process or a monitoring device to monitor a fluid process;
• using an electronic device to produce control signals that are supplied to the controlling device to control the fluid process or to receive monitoring signals from the monitoring device for monitoring the fluid process, the electronic device being enclosed in a housing having a window through which can be transmitted an infrared signal encoded with information;
• and
• transmitting an infrared signal encoded with information through the window of the housing for instructing the electronic device to carry out at least one predetermined function based on the information encoded in the infrared signal.