Chopper blade apparatus and method for refining particles

A particle refining apparatus comprising:

• a housing configured to be connected to a process system including a containment device and an influent conduit;
• the housing being connected to the containment device and the influent conduit, the containment device having a wall;
• a shaft having distal and proximal ends, the shaft being disposed in at least a portion of the influent conduit;
• a blade set attached near the proximal end of the shaft, the blade set being positioned to span at least a portion of the wall of the containment device;
• and
• attachment couplings arranged within the housing, the attachment couplings supporting the shaft and allowing the shaft to freely rotate.

A particle refining apparatus comprising:

• a housing configured to be connected to a process system including a containment device and an influent conduit, the housing being connected to the containment device and the influent conduit;
• a shaft having distal and proximal ends, the shaft being disposed in at least a portion of the influent conduit;
• a blade set attached near the proximal end of the shaft, the blade set being proximate to the containment device;
• and
• attachment couplings arranged within the housing, the attachment couplings supporting the shaft and allowing the shaft to freely rotate,
• wherein the influent conduit includes a first and second end, the first end being connected to the containment device and the second end having a split configuration, the second end including a first portion for connecting an influent stream to the influent conduit and a second portion for enclosing the particle refining apparatus.

A particle refining system comprising:

• a containment device having a wall;
• an influent conduit;
• and
• a refining apparatus positioned between the influent conduit and the containment device, the refining apparatus including:
• a housing configured to be connected to the influent conduit and the containment device;
• a motor attached to the housing;
• a shaft having distal and proximal ends, the distal end of the shaft being attached to the motor, the shaft being disposed in at least a portion of the conduit;
• a blade set attached near the proximal end of the shaft and positioned to span at least a portion of the wall of the containment device;
• and
• attachment couplings arranged within the housing, the attachment couplings supporting the shaft.