Flow development chamber

• US 20040074534A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spiroflo Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ecotechnology Limited
• Inventors: Miller, Alan, Lane, Darin L., Prince, Walter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,066,207 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/14
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/08 with mechanical injection of the materials, e.g. by screw
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/48 Screws or like rotary conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/521 means for preventing the accumulation or for removal of deposits preventing accumulation in pipes in general F16L55/24
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/58 Devices for accelerating or decelerating flow of the materials; Use of pressure generators controlling pressure of propelling gas B65G53/66
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2076 Utilizing diverse fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2098 Vortex generator as control for system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2104 Vortex generator in interaction chamber of device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2109 By tangential input to axial output [e.g., vortex amplifier]

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.

Claims

1. A method for conveying a flowable material through piping, the method comprising:

providing a material handing system including an outer barrel having an inlet end, an outlet end, and 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 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 substantially 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, wherein the first end of the exterior surface of the inner barrel is adjacent the inlet conduit and the second end of the exterior surface 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 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, wherein the inner barrel is closed at the downstream end; and

introducing a flow of said flowable material that is tangential to the interior cylindrical surface of the outer barrel into the opening in the outer cylinder, such that the flow of the material travels around the inner barrel and toward the outlet end of the outer barrel.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing comprises coupling the piping of a natural gas line to the inlet end of the outer barrel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing comprises coupling the piping of at least one of a gas delivery system and a material delivery system to the inlet end of the outer barrel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing comprises placing the outer barrel and accelerating chamber above a natural gas source emitting natural gas;

enclosing the outer barrel and accelerating chamber in closed casing; and

pressurizing the casing.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of introducing comprises:

placing the outer barrel and accelerating chamber above a natural gas source emitting natural gas;

enclosing the outer barrel and accelerating chamber in close casing; and

placing a seating nipple above the inlet end of the outer barrel, such that the natural gas is substantially restricted from rising above the inlet end of the outer barrel.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising draining fluid from the piping.

7. 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 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 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.

8. The material handling system of claim 7 wherein the inner barrel is substantially cylindrical.

9. The material handling system of claim 7 wherein the inner barrel is substantially conical.

10. The material handling system of claim 7 wherein the inner barrel is substantially cylindrical at the first end and substantially conical at the second end.

11. 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.

12. Method of claim 11 wherein the flowable material includes more than one component material, further comprising extracting at least one component material from the flowable material.