Materials size reduction systems and process

A solids size reduction and fluidization system comprising:

• a) a solids in-feed system;
• b) a means for shredding said solids to a size acceptable by an in-line grinder;
• c) a means for receiving and mixing said solids with a liquid carrier;
• d) an inline grinder comprising:
• i) a casing having an interior central longitudinal bore, a grinding chamber including a discharge port attached to one end of said casing, and a means for supporting said casing;
• ii) a cover plate attachable to said casing covering said grinding chamber having an interior face and a suction port;
• iii) a stator assembly attached to said interior face;
• iv) a rotor assembly located in rotatable parallel close proximity to said stator assembly;
• v) a quill slidable within said central longitudinal bore;
• vi) a rotor shaft attached to said rotor assembly, located within and rotatable relative to said quill;
• vii) an input shaft assembly rotatable relative to said casing said input shaft being telescopically cooperative with said rotor shaft;
• viii) a mechanical seal and thrust bearing assembly located mesial said quill and said rotor assembly and
• viii) a means for slidably positioning said quill and said mechanical seal and thrust bearing assembly;
• and
• e) a means for separating said solids from said liquid carrier and selectively returning said liquid carrier to said receiving means.

A solids size reduction and fluidization system comprising:

• a) a solids in-feed system;
• b) a means for receiving said solids and combining said solids with a liquid carrier;
• c) a variable displacement, dispersion system integral with said means for receiving comprising:
• i) a stationary, attrition plate, a rotating attrition plate attached to a rotor member thus providing an attrition zone therebetween and a plurality of descending grinding stages;
• ii) a plurality of intake vanes, attached to said rotor member, for importing, by suction, said combination liquid and solids material from said receiving means into said attrition zone;
• iii) a means attached to said rotor member for agitating said solids and liquids and further fractionating said solid materials for importing into said attrition zone;
• iv) a means for collecting and discharging said solid materials dispersed within said receiving means;
• and
• v) a means for rotating at least one of said attrition plates;
• and
• d) a means for separating said solids from said liquid carrier and selectively returning said liquid carrier to said receiving means.

A solids size reduction system comprising:

• a) a solids in-feed system;
• b) a means for receiving said solids and combining said solids with a liquid carrier;
• c) a variable displacement, dispersion system integral with said means for receiving comprising:
• i) a stationary, attrition plate, a rotating attrition plate attached to a rotor member thus providing an attrition zone therebetween and a plurality of descending grinding stages;
• ii) a plurality of intake vanes, attached to said rotor member, for importing, by suction, said combination liquid and solids material from said receiving means into said attrition zone;
• iii) a means attached to said rotor member for agitating said solids and liquids and further fractionating said solid materials for importing into said attrition zone;
• iv) a means for collecting and discharging said solid materials dispersed within said receiving means;
• and
• v) a means for rotating at least one of said attrition plates;
• and
• d) an inline grinder means having variable rotor/stator displacement attached fluidly to said discharge port of said dispersion system, for fine grinding and particle sizing of said solids being discharged from said dispersion system.

A solids size reduction system comprising:

• a) a solids in-feed system;
• b) a means for receiving said solids and combining said solids with a liquid carrier;
• c) a variable displacement, dispersion system integral with said means for receiving comprising:
• i) a stationary, attrition plate, a rotating attrition plate attached to a rotor member thus providing an attrition zone therebetween and a plurality of descending grinding stages;
• ii) a plurality of intake vanes, attached to said rotor member, for importing, by suction, said combination liquid and solids material from said receiving means into said attrition zone;
• iii) a means attached to said rotor member for agitating said solids and liquids and further fractionating said solid materials for importing into said attrition zone;
• iv) a means for collecting and discharging said solid materials dispersed within said receiving means;
• and
• v) a means for rotating at least one of said attrition plates;
• and
• d) a shredding means for pre-sizing said solids located intermediate said solids infeed system and said means for receiving and combining liquids with solids.

A system for the homogenization of a slurry of segregated drill cuttings prior to injection into an earth formation comprising:

• a) a slurry tank having a discharge port;
• b) a conveyance for collecting and transporting said drill cuttings from a drilling platform, to said slurry tank;
• c) a fluid injection line connected to said slurry tank having at least one liquid sources;
• d) a means for selectively controlling volume of said liquid entering said slurry tank;
• e) a transfer pump in fluid communication with said discharge port;
• and
• f) a dispersion grinder system having an internal quill extending therefrom for variably displacing a rotor/stator assembly integral with said slurry tank having a suction inlet in fluid communication with fluids and solids within said slurry tank, and a discharge port in conduit communication with a transfer pump.

A system for the homogenization of a slurry of segregated drill cuttings prior to injection into an earth formation comprising:

• a) a slurry tank and an injection holding tank, each having a discharge port;
• b) a conveyance for collecting and transporting said drill cuttings from a drilling platform into said slurry tank;
• c) a fluid injection line connected to said slurry tank and said holding tank having at least one liquid sources;
• d) a means for selectively controlling volume of said liquid sources;
• e) a transfer pump in fluid communication with each said discharge port;
• and
• f) a dispersion grinder having variable displacement rotor/stator assembly integral with said slurry tank further having a suction inlet and agitation means for mixing contents of said slurry tank, said grinder being in fluid communication with at least one transfer pump.

A portable solids reduction and fluidization system comprising:

• a) a transportable solids in-feed system;
• b) a transportable means for receiving and mixing said solids with a liquid carrier;
• c) at least one inline grinding means comprising:
• i) a casing having an interior central longitudinal bore, a grinding chamber including a discharge port attached to one end of said casing, and a means for supporting said casing;
• ii) a cover plate attachable to said casing covering said grinding chamber having an interior face and a suction port;
• iii) a stator assembly attached to said interior face;
• iv) a rotor assembly located in rotatable, parallel close proximity to said stator assembly;
• v) a quill slidable within said central longitudinal bore;
• vi) a rotor shaft attached to said rotor assembly, located within and rotatable relative to said quill;
• vii) an input shaft assembly rotatable relative to said casing said input shaft being telescopically cooperative with said rotor shaft;
• viii) a mechanical seal and thrust bearing assembly located mesial said quill and said rotor assembly and
• viii) a means for slidably positioning said quill and said mechanical seal and thrust bearing assembly;
• d) a means for separating ground solids from said liquid carrier and selectively returning said liquid carrier to said means for receiving in fluid communication with said means for grinding;
• and
• e) a means for collecting said ground solids.