US 6,659,118 B2Granted

Flow development chamber

AssigneeEcotechnology, Ltd.

InventorsDarin L. Lane, Walter D. Prince, Alan Miller

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Abstract

A system and method for conveying flowable material through a conduit that creates a strong laminar flow of the material surrounded by a boundary layer flow of the same or a different flowable material, such that long transport distances through dramatic elevation and directional changes can be achieved. Some embodiments of the system include a blower assembly, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chamber includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel and an accelerating chamber. Low pressure air is supplied to the system by the blower assembly and mixed with particulate material. The air/material mixture is transported through the mixing chamber into the accelerating chamber and through the outlet conduit. In other embodiments, the particulate material is mixed with the air in the accelerating chamber. Other embodiments of the system include only the mixing chamber, where a flow of at least one flowable material in the form of high or low pressure gas, liquid, and/or particulates suspended within the gas or liquid enters either laterally or axially, forms boundary layer and laminar flows, and exits through the accelerating chamber.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A material handling system for conveying flowable material comprising:

an outer barrel having an inlet plate with an inlet opening, an outlet end and an interior cylindrical surface;
an accelerating chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the accelerating chamber extending concentrically from the outlet end to the outer barrel, the accelerating chamber having a substantially conical interior surface that converges in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end;
an inner barrel having an exterior surface with a first end and a second end, the inner barrel located concentrically inside the outer barrel, wherein the outer barrel and the accelerating chamber are arranged to form an annular space between the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel and the exterior surface of the inner barrel, the annular space extending from the first end of the exterior surface of the inner barrel to the substantially conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber;
deflecting means proximate to the inlet opening for directing the flowable material tangentially to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel to set up a flow pattern in the annular space such that a material flowing from the inlet conduit into the outer barrel will circulate around the inner barrel and traverse the annular space from the inlet plate toward the outlet end of the outer barrel;
wherein the inlet opening on the inlet plate is configured to direct the flowable material through the outer barrel into the annular space;
and
wherein the first end of the inner barrel is adjacent to the inlet plate and the second end of the exterior surface of the inner barrel is adjacent to the accelerating chamber.

4 more elements

A method for conveying a flowable material comprising:

providing a material handling system for conveying flowable material comprising an outer barrel having an inlet end with an inlet plate with an inlet opening, an outlet end and an interior cylindrical surface, an accelerating chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the accelerating chamber extending concentrically from the outlet end of the outer barrel, the accelerating chamber having a substantially conical interior surface that converges in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end, an inner barrel having an exterior surface with a first end and a second end, the inner barrel located concentrically inside the outer barrel, wherein the outer barrel, the inner barrel, and the accelerating chamber are arranged to form an annular space between the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel and the exterior surface of the inner barrel, the annular space extending from the first end of the exterior surface of the inner barrel to the substantially conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber, deflecting means proximate to the inlet opening for directing the flowable material tangentially to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel to set up a flow pattern in the annular space such that a material flowing from the inlet conduit into the outer barrel will circulate around the inner barrel and traverse the annular space from the inlet plate toward the outlet end of the outer barrel, wherein the inlet opening on the inlet plate is configured to direct the flowable material through the outer barrel into the annular space, and wherein the first end of the inner barrel is adjacent to the inlet plate and the second end of the inner barrel is adjacent to the accelerating chamber;
introducing the flowable material into the inlet opening on the inlet plate.

A material handling system comprising:

an outer barrel having an inlet end, an outlet end and an interior cylindrical surface;
an accelerating chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the accelerating chamber extending concentrically from the outlet end of the outer barrel the accelerating chamber having a conical interior surface that converges in a direction from the inlet end to the outlet end;
an inner barrel having an exterior surface with a first end and a second end, the inner barrel located concentrically inside the outer barrel, wherein the outer barrel, the inner barrel and the accelerating chamber are arranged to form a substantially unobstructed annular space between the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel and the exterior surface of the inner barrel, the annular space extending from the first end of the exterior surface of the inner barrel to the conical interior surface of the accelerating chamber;
an inlet conduit mounted to the inlet end of the outer barrel to direct the flowable material through the outer barrel into the annular space;
a first segment of piping for delivering the flowable material;
a second segment of piping downstream from the first segment of piping, for accepting the flowable material from the accelerating chamber;
a spool piece coupled between the first segment of piping and the inlet conduit, for receiving the flowable material from the first segment of piping;
wherein the first end of the inner barrel is adjacent the inlet conduit and the second end of the inner barrel is adjacent the accelerating chamber;
wherein the inlet conduit is directed tangentially to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel to set up a flow pattern in the annular space such that flowable material flowing from the inlet conduit into the outer barrel will circulate around the inner barrel and traverse the annular space from the inlet end of the outer barrel toward the outlet end of the outer barrel;
and
wherein the inner barrel is closed at the downstream end.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/011,493Filed 4 Dec 2001
Published: US 2003/0102038 A15 Jun 2003
Granted: 9 Dec 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B65G 53/58
Details: devices for accelerating or decelerating flow of the materials; Use of pressure generators
B65G 53/521
Adaptations of pipes or tubes: means for preventing the accumulation or for removal of deposits
Y10T 137/0396
Processes: involving pressure control
Y10T 137/2076
Flow affected by fluid contact, energy field or coanda effect [e.g., pure fluid device or system]: utilizing diverse fluids