EDI and related stacks and method and apparatus for preparing such

A process for at least partially filling one or more cells of a planar, dished or spiral wound electrodialysis, electrodeionization, electrodiaresis or related stack assembly with particulates through a suspension-delivery conduit system communicating with said stack assembly, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) creating one or more suspensions of fluid and solid particulates, and providing sufficient agitation to said suspensions substantially to maintain said particulates in suspension;
• (b) flowing said suspension(s) through said suspension-delivery conduit system to said cell(s) of said stack assembly while continuing to maintain said particulates substantially in suspension;
• (c) introducing gas into said suspension-delivery conduit system during flow of said suspension(s) through said conduit system, intermittently while there is no flow of suspension(s) through said conduit system, or both;
• and,
• (d) flowing said suspension(s) from said suspension-delivery conduit system into said cell(s), depositing said particulates in said cell(s), and removing liquid from said cell(s).

Apparatus for at least partially filling one or more cells of an electrodialysis, electrodeionization or electrodialysis stack with ion exchange particulates through a conduit communicating with the stack, the stack comprising a plurality of cells and each cell being defined by opposed membranes and a spacer separating the membranes, each cell further having an inlet and an outlet, communicating with an inlet of said stack and an outlet of said stack, respectively, wherein the apparatus includes

• a mixing assembly effective to provide a mixture of liquid and particulates, the particulates being suspended substantially without settling in the liquid,
• a fluid moving assembly operative to move the mixture from the mixing assembly along a conduit to the stack, and providing flow at a level sufficient to substantially prevent segregation of the particulates as they move in the conduit whereby the mixture is delivered to the stack substantially without settling or segregation, flowing through the stack and depositing said particulates in said cells, and
• a gas introducer connected to inject gas and form a gas-modulated flow of said mixture, such that liquid is propelled through the stack while depositing particulates retained in said cells,
• wherein the gas introduced scavenges ponded liquid within the cells of said stack such that the particulates deposit as a well-defined, uniform bed of packing.

Apparatus for at least partially filling one or more cells of an electrodialysis, electrodeionization and/or electrodiaresis stack with particulates through first conduit means communicating with said stack, each such cell defined by two membranes and walls of a spacer, each such cell having inlet means and outlet means in communication respectively with inlet means and outlet means of said stack, wherein said apparatus includes, but is not limited to:

• liquid holding means equipped with agitating means effective to agitate mixtures of liquid and such particulates so that said particulates remain substantially suspended in said liquid and do not settle substantially,
• pumping means having inlet means in communication with said liquid holding means through second conduit means, said pumping means providing flow sufficient to prevent substantial segregation of said particulates in conduit means,
• said liquid holding means communicating seriatim with said second conduit means, said pumping means, said first conduit means, said inlet means of said stack, said inlet means of said cell, said cell, said outlet means of said cell, said outlet means of said stack,
• third fluid conduit means communicating with said first conduit means and/or said second conduit means enabling introduction of gas to said first conduit means and/or said second conduit means.

A process for at least partially filling one or more cells of an electrodialysis, electrodeionization and/or electrodiaresis stack with particulates through first conduit means communicating with said stack, said process including but not limited to:

• providing an electrodialysis, electrodeionization and/or electrodiaresis stack comprising one or more cells, each such cell defined by two membranes and walls of a spacer, each such cell having inlet means and outlet means in communication respectively with inlet means and outlet means of said stack,
• providing liquid holding means equipped with agitating means effective to agitate mixtures of liquid and such particulates so that such particulates remain substantially suspended in such liquid and do not settle substantially,
• providing pumping means having inlet means in communication with said liquid holding means through second conduit means, said pumping means effective to provide flow sufficient to prevent substantial segregation of said particulates in conduit means,
• also providing means communicating seriatim from with said liquid holding means through second conduit means, said pumping means, said first conduit means, said inlet means of said stack, said inlet means of said cell, said cell, said outlet means of said cell, to said outlet means of said stack,
• further providing third fluid conduit means communicating with said first conduit means and/or said second conduit means enabling introduction of gas to said first conduit means and/or said second conduit means,
• said process also comprising forming one or more mixtures of liquid and such particulates in said liquid holding means, passing at least part of said one or more mixtures seriatim from said liquid holding means through second conduit means, said pumping means, said first conduit means, said inlet means of said stack, and said inlet means of said cell,
• said process further comprising introducing gas through said third fluid conduit means into said first and/or said second conduit means in predetermined amounts according to a predetermined program.