Apparatus for injecting dry bulk amendments for water and soil treatment

An apparatus for injecting dry material into an external fluid stream to maintain a desired mixture level in the fluid stream comprising:

• a. a container for holding said dry material;
• b. a precision feed mechanism for metering said dry material at variable rates from said container;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feed mechanism for receiving the metered dry material and mixing it with fluid from said source to form a slurry;
• d. a control in said tank for varying the amount of fluid from said source introduced into the tank to maintain a level of slurry in the tank;
• e. a pump connected to an injection line for removing slurry from the tank and introducing it into the external fluid stream, said line extending between said pump and said external fluid stream;
• and
• f. a controller connected to the precision feed mechanism and to at least one sensor located in the external fluid stream;
• wherein the controller adjusts the precision feed mechanism in accordance with readings from said at least one sensor to vary the concentration of dry material in the slurry so as to maintain a desired amount of said dry material per unit volume in the external fluid stream.

An apparatus for introducing dry powderous material into a fluid stream to maintain a predetermined mixture level comprising:

• a. a vertically oriented silo for storing said dry material;
• b. a volumetric feeder located downstream from the silo, said feeder including an auger attached to a variable speed motor for feeding said dry material;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feeder for receiving the dry material and mixing it with fluid from said source to form a slurry;
• d. a pump connected to an injection line for removing slurry from the tank and delivering it into said fluid stream, said line extending between said pump and said fluid stream;
• and
• e. a processor in communication with said motor and with a sensor in said fluid stream,
• wherein said processor varies the speed of said motor to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with readings from said sensor so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream.

An apparatus for introducing dry powderous material into a fluid stream to maintain a predetermined mixture level comprising:

• a. a means for storing said dry material in bulk form;
• b. a means for precisely feeding variable amounts of said dry material from said storing means to a chamber means;
• c. a chamber means in communication with said feeding means and with a source of fluid for mixing the dry material with fluid from said source to form a slurry;
• d. a means for maintaining a desired level of slurry in said chamber;
• e. a pumping means for removing slurry from said chamber means and transferring it into said fluid stream;
• f. conduit means extending between said pump and said fluid stream;
• and
• g. a processing means in communication with said feeding means and in communication with a sensing means located in said fluid stream,
• wherein said processing means varies the speed of said feeding means to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said chamber means in accordance with readings from said sensing means so as to introduce slurry from said chamber means through said conduit means in variable concentrations to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream.

An apparatus for injecting dry material into a conduit through which a fluid stream flows to maintain a desired mixture level in the fluid stream comprising:

• a. a container for holding said dry material;
• b. a feed mechanism for metering said dry material at variable rates from said container;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feed mechanism for receiving the metered dry material and mixing it with fluid from said source to form a slurry;
• d. a control in said tank for varying the amount of fluid from said source introduced into the tank to maintain a level of slurry in the tank;
• e. a pump connected to an injection line for removing slurry from the tank and introducing it into said conduit, said line extending between said pump and said conduit;
• and
• f. a controller connected to the feed mechanism and to at least one sensor located in said conduit;
• wherein the controller adjusts the feed mechanism in accordance with readings from said at least one sensor to vary the concentration of dry material in the slurry so as to maintain a desired amount of said dry material per unit volume in the external fluid stream.

An apparatus for introducing dry powderous material into a fluid stream to maintain a predetermined mixture level comprising:

• a. a vertically oriented silo for storing said dry material in bulk form, said silo having an inlet and an outlet for, respectively, receiving and discharging said material;
• b. a surge hopper located gravitationally downstream from the storage silo, said hopper being separated from the silo by a control valve;
• c. a volumetric feeder located gravitationally downstream from the hopper, said feeder including a horizontally oriented metering auger coupled with an intromitter for conditioning and feeding said dry material;
• d. a processor controlled variable speed motor for driving said metering auger and said intromitter for precise metering of said dry material;
• e. a mixing tank for receiving the dry material from said feeder and mixing it with a fluid to form a slurry, said tank including at least one mixer;
• f. a pump for removing slurry from said tank through an outlet conduit and injecting it into said fluid stream;
• g. an inlet conduit in said tank in communication with a source of pressurized fluid, and a float valve adjacent to said inlet conduit for maintaining a desired level of fluid in said tank;
• h. and a processor in communication with said motor and with at least one sensor associated with said fluid stream,
• wherein said processor continuously varies the speed of said motor to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with continuous readings from said at least one sensor so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream;
• wherein at least one weight sensor is provided with said silo in communication with said processor for detecting the level of dry material therein such that said processor closes said control valve if the level of dry material falls below a predetermined weight during filling of said silo.

An apparatus for introducing dry powderous material into a fluid stream to maintain a predetermined mixture level comprising:

• a. a vertically oriented silo for storing said dry material in bulk form, said silo having an inlet and an outlet for, respectively, receiving and discharging said material;
• b. a surge hopper located gravitationally downstream from the storage silo, said hopper being separated from the silo by a control valve;
• c. a volumetric feeder located gravitationally downstream from the hopper, said feeder including a horizontally oriented metering auger coupled with an intromitter for conditioning and feeding said dry material;
• d. a processor controlled variable speed motor for driving said metering auger and said intromitter for precise metering of said dry material;
• e. a mixing tank for receiving the dry material from said feeder and mixing it with a fluid to form a slurry, said tank including at least one mixer;
• f. a pump for removing slurry from said tank through an outlet conduit and injecting it into said fluid stream;
• g. an inlet conduit in said tank in communication with a source of pressurized fluid, and a float valve adjacent to said inlet conduit for maintaining a desired level of fluid in said tank;
• h. and a processor in communication with said motor and with at least one sensor associated with said fluid stream,
• wherein said processor continuously varies the speed of said motor to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with continuous readings from said at least one sensor so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream;
• wherein at least one weight sensor is provided with said silo and in communication with said processor, and said processor varies the speed of said motor to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with the actual bulk density calculated from said at least one weight sensor as compared to the expected weight loss, based on the amount of material metered into said tank so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream.

An apparatus for introducing dry powderous material into a fluid stream to maintain a predetermined mixture level comprising:

• a. a vertically oriented silo for storing said dry material in bulk form, said silo having an inlet and an outlet for, respectively, receiving and discharging said material;
• b. a surge hopper located gravitationally downstream from the storage silo, said hopper being separated from the silo by a control valve;
• c. a volumetric feeder located gravitationally downstream from the hopper, said feeder including a horizontally oriented metering auger coupled with an intromitter for conditioning and feeding said dry material;
• d. a processor controlled variable speed motor for driving said metering auger and said intromitter for precise metering of said dry material;
• e. a mixing tank for receiving the dry material from said feeder and mixing it with a fluid to form a slurry, said tank including at least one mixer;
• f. a pump for removing slurry from said tank through an outlet conduit and injecting it into said fluid stream;
• g. an inlet conduit in said tank in communication with a source of pressurized fluid, and a float valve adjacent to said inlet conduit for maintaining a desired level of fluid in said tank;
• h. and a processor in communication with said motor and with at least one sensor associated with said fluid stream,
• wherein said processor continuously varies the speed of said motor to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with continuous readings from said at least one sensor so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream;
• wherein said at least one sensor associated with said fluid stream comprises a first chemical sensor associated with said fluid stream upstream of said slurry introduction, and a second chemical sensor associated with said fluid stream downstream from said slurry introduction;
• and wherein a branch line is provided off said fluid stream, and said slurry introduction and said sensors are provided in said branch line.

An apparatus for introducing dry powderous material into a fluid stream to maintain a predetermined mixture level comprising:

• a. a vertically oriented silo for storing said dry material in bulk form, said silo having an inlet and an outlet for, respectively, receiving and discharging said material;
• b. a surge hopper located gravitationally downstream from the storage silo, said hopper being separated from the silo by a control valve;
• c. a volumetric feeder located gravitationally downstream from the hopper, said feeder including a horizontally oriented metering auger coupled with an intromitter for conditioning and feeding said dry material;
• d. a processor controlled variable speed motor for driving said metering auger and said intromitter for precise metering of said dry material;
• e. a mixing tank for receiving the dry material from said feeder and mixing it with a fluid to form a slurry, said tank including at least one mixer;
• f. a pump for removing slurry from said tank through an outlet conduit and injecting it into said fluid stream;
• g. an inlet conduit in said tank in communication with a source of pressurized fluid, and a float valve adjacent to said inlet conduit for maintaining a desired level of fluid in said tank;
• h. and a processor in communication with said motor and with at least one sensor associated with said fluid stream,
• wherein said processor continuously varies the speed of said motor to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with continuous readings from said at least one sensor so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream;
• wherein said at least one sensor associated with said fluid stream comprises a first chemical sensor associated with said fluid stream upstream of said slurry introduction, and a second chemical sensor associated with said fluid stream downstream from said slurry introduction;
• and wherein a branch line is provided off said fluid flow upstream of said slurry introduction, and said first sensor is provided in said branch line.

An apparatus for injecting dry material into a fluid stream to maintain a uniform mixture level in the fluid stream comprising:

• a. a container for holding said dry material;
• b. a precision feed mechanism for metering said dry material at variable rates from said container;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feeder for receiving the metered dry material and mixing it with said fluid to form a slurry;
• d. a control in said tank for varying the amount of fluid introduced into the tank to maintain a level of slurry in the tank;
• e. a pump for removing slurry from the tank and introducing it into the fluid stream;
• and
• f. a controller connected to the precision feed mechanism and to at least one sensor located in the fluid stream;
• wherein the controller adjusts the precision feed mechanism in accordance with readings from said sensor to vary the concentration of dry material in the slurry so as to maintain a desired amount of said dry material per unit volume in the fluid stream;
• wherein a control valve is provided between said container and said feed mechanism;
• and wherein at least one weight sensor is provided with said container in communication with said controller for detecting the level of dry material therein such that said controller closes said control valve if the level of dry material falls below a predetermined weight during filling of said container.

An apparatus for injecting dry material into a fluid stream to maintain a uniform mixture level in the fluid stream comprising:

• a. a container for holding said dry material;
• b. a precision feed mechanism for metering said dry material at variable rates from said container;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feeder for receiving the metered dry material and mixing it with said fluid to form a slurry;
• d. a control in said tank for varying the amount of fluid introduced into the tank to maintain a level of slurry in the tank;
• e. a pump for removing slurry from the tank and introducing it into the fluid stream;
• and
• f. a controller connected to the precision feed mechanism and to at least one sensor located in the fluid stream;
• wherein the controller adjusts the precision feed mechanism in accordance with readings from said sensor to vary the concentration of dry material in the slurry so as to maintain a desired amount of said dry material per unit volume in the fluid stream;
• wherein at least one weight sensor is provided with said container and in communication with said controller, and said controller varies the speed of said feed mechanism to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with the actual bulk density calculated from said at least one weight sensor as compared to the expected weight loss, based on the amount of material metered into said tank so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream.

An apparatus for injecting dry material into a fluid stream to maintain a uniform mixture level in the fluid stream comprising:

• a. a container for holding said dry material;
• b. a precision feed mechanism for metering said dry material at variable rates from said container;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feeder for receiving the metered dry material and mixing it with said fluid to form a slurry;
• d. a control in said tank for varying the amount of fluid introduced into the tank to maintain a level of slurry in the tank;
• e. a pump for removing slurry from the tank and introducing it into the fluid stream;
• and
• f. a controller connected to the precision feed mechanism and to at least one sensor located in the fluid stream;
• wherein the controller adjusts the precision feed mechanism in accordance with readings from said sensor to vary the concentration of dry material in the slurry so as to maintain a desired amount of said dry material per unit volume in the fluid stream;
• wherein said at least one sensor associated with said fluid stream comprises a first chemical sensor associated with said fluid stream upstream of said slurry introduction, and a second chemical sensor associated with said fluid stream downstream from said slurry introduction;
• wherein a branch line is provided off said fluid stream, and said slurry introduction and said sensors are provided in said branch line.

An apparatus for injecting dry material into a fluid stream to maintain a uniform mixture level in the fluid stream comprising:

• a. a container for holding said dry material;
• b. a precision feed mechanism for metering said dry material at variable rates from said container;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feeder for receiving the metered dry material and mixing it with said fluid to form a slurry;
• d. a control in said tank for varying the amount of fluid introduced into the tank to maintain a level of slurry in the tank;
• e. a pump for removing slurry from the tank and introducing it into the fluid stream;
• and
• f. a controller connected to the precision feed mechanism and to at least one sensor located in the fluid stream;
• wherein the controller adjusts the precision feed mechanism in accordance with readings from said sensor to vary the concentration of dry material in the slurry so as to maintain a desired amount of said dry material per unit volume in the fluid stream;
• wherein a first electrical conductivity sensor is provided in said fluid flow downstream of the slurry introduction and a second electrical conductivity sensor is provided in said fluid flow upstream of the slurry introduction, with both sensors in communication with said controller, and wherein said controller continuously varies the speed of said feed mechanism to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with readings from both of said electrical conductivity sensors so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream.

An apparatus for injecting dry material into a fluid stream to maintain a uniform mixture level in the fluid stream comprising:

• a. a container for holding said dry material;
• b. a precision feed mechanism for metering said dry material at variable rates from said container;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feeder for receiving the metered dry material and mixing it with said fluid to form a slurry;
• d. a control in said tank for varying the amount of fluid introduced into the tank to maintain a level of slurry in the tank;
• e. a pump for removing slurry from the tank and introducing it into the fluid stream;
• and
• f. a controller connected to the precision feed mechanism and to at least one sensor located in the fluid stream;
• wherein the controller adjusts the precision feed mechanism in accordance with readings from said sensor to vary the concentration of dry material in the slurry so as to maintain a desired amount of said dry material per unit volume in the fluid stream;
• wherein said precision feed mechanism is a volumetric feeder including an auger;
• wherein a processor controlled motor is provided for driving said auger;
• wherein a first electrical conductivity sensor is provided in said fluid flow downstream of the slurry introduction and a second electrical conductivity sensor is provided in said fluid flow upstream of the slurry introduction, with both sensors in communication with said controller, and wherein said controller continuously varies the speed of said motor to vary the quantity of dry material metered into said tank in accordance with readings from both of said electrical conductivity sensors so as to introduce slurry from said tank containing variable quantities of said material to maintain a desired volume of said material in said fluid stream.

An apparatus for injecting dry material into a fluid stream to maintain a uniform mixture level in the fluid stream comprising:

• a. a container for holding said dry material;
• b. a precision feed mechanism for metering said dry material at variable rates from said container;
• c. a tank in communication with a fluid source and in communication with said feeder for receiving the metered dry material and mixing it with said fluid to form a slurry;
• d. a control in said tank for varying the amount of fluid introduced into the tank to maintain a level of slurry in the tank;
• e. a pump for removing slurry from the tank and introducing it into the fluid stream;
• and
• f. a controller connected to the precision feed mechanism and to at least one sensor located in the fluid stream;
• wherein the controller adjusts the precision feed mechanism in accordance with readings from said sensor to vary the concentration of dry material in the slurry so as to maintain a desired amount of said dry material per unit volume in the fluid stream;
• wherein said at least one sensor associated with said fluid stream comprises a first chemical sensor associated with said fluid stream upstream of said slurry introduction, and a second chemical sensor associated with said fluid stream downstream from said slurry introduction;
• wherein a branch line is provided off said fluid stream, and said slurry introduction and said sensors are provided in said branch line;
• wherein a branch line is provided off said fluid flow upstream of said slurry introduction, and said first sensor is provided in said branch line.