US 7,581,458 B2 · Method and apparatus for segregation testing of particulate solids

Abstract

A bed of particulate solids is fluidized in a test chamber to yield multiple test samples for subsequent evaluation of segregation effects. A controlled stream of gas enters the chamber in a series of flow rate cycles each progressively increasing to a maximum rate of gas flow and then decreasing, the maximum rate increasing for successive cycles. An indicating function is formed from measurements of corresponding rates of gas flow and pressure across the bed. Upon termination of the fluidization, multiple samples are sequentially extracted from a single space at the bottom of the test chamber.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An apparatus for testing the segregation properties of bulk solids comprising, in combination,

a test column forming a chamber for a bed of sample solids and having an inlet to the bed,
a gas flow rate controller having connections to the inlet and a source of gas under pressure, means operable to variably control the rate of gas flow between the connections, and means for producing a rate signal varying with the flow rate, a pressure sensor adapted to produce a pressure signal varying with the gas pressure in the connection to the inlet, and
an indicating function generator connected to the controller and sensor and adapted to record values of the pressure signal against the corresponding rate signal upon operation of the controller to vary the rate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/546,805Filed 11 Oct 2006 · division

Priority

7 Jul 2005

Published

US 2007/0006671 A18 Feb 2007

Granted

1 Sep 2009

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

G01N 15/04
Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials: investigating…
G01N
Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties

Method and apparatus for segregation testing of particulate solids

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for segregation testing of particulate solids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16