Jet pumps and methods employing the same

A pumping system comprising:

• (a) a nozzle assembly which is sized and configured to (i) receive a pressurized liquid and a gas, and (ii) eject said pressurized liquid as a liquid flow while feeding said gas into proximity with the periphery of said liquid flow;
• (b) a suction chamber into which said nozzle assembly may eject said liquid flow, said suction chamber defining a suction inlet and a suction outlet;
• (c) an inlet pipe for providing pressurized liquid to said nozzle assembly;
• (d) a gas conduit for providing said gas to said nozzle assembly;
• (e) an outlet pipe extending from said suction outlet away from said suction chamber, said outlet pipe being configured for liquid communication with said suction chamber and being disposed to receive said liquid flow;
• said outlet pipe defining at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, said second inner diameter being less than said first inner diameter;
• and
• (f) a suction pipe, a first end of said suction pipe opening into said suction chamber at said suction inlet, and a second end of said suction pipe opening into the surrounding environment.

A method of moving, from one location to another, a slurry comprised of a mixture comprised of a solid and a liquid, the method comprising:

• a. injecting a pressurized liquid into a nozzle assembly to produce a flow of pressurized liquid,
• b. providing a gas to said nozzle assembly to surround said flow of pressurized liquid with said gas,
• c. directing said flow of pressurized liquid surrounded by said gas into a suction chamber in fluid communication with a suction pipe and an outlet pipe, said outlet pipe defining a venturi-like inner surface, and directing said flow of pressurized liquid surrounded by said gas toward said outlet pipe to produce a vacuum at a free end of said suction pipe, and
• d. controlling the flow rate of said gas into said nozzle assembly to thereby control the weight ratio of solid to liquid in the slurry so moved.

A mixing system for combining at least one liquid with at least one solid to form a mixture, comprising:

• (a) a nozzle assembly which is sized and configured to (i) receive a pressurized liquid and a gas, and (ii) eject said pressurized liquid as a liquid flow while feeding said gas into proximity with the periphery of said liquid flow;
• (b) a suction chamber into which said nozzle assembly may eject said liquid flow, said suction chamber defining a suction inlet and a suction outlet;
• (c) an inlet pipe for providing pressurized liquid to said nozzle assembly;
• (d) a gas conduit for providing said gas to said nozzle assembly;
• (e) an outlet pipe extending from said suction outlet away from said suction chamber, said outlet pipe being configured for liquid communication with said suction chamber and being disposed to receive said liquid flow;
• said outlet pipe defining at least a first inner diameter along a portion of its length and a second inner diameter along another portion of its length, said second inner diameter being less than said first inner diameter;
• (f) a suction pipe, a first end of said suction pipe opening into said suction chamber at said suction inlet, and a second end of said suction pipe opening into the surrounding environment;
• and
• (g) a valve for controlling the flow of gas through said conduit, to thereby control the weight percent of said solid in said mixture.