APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DELIVERING A FLUID USING A NON-MECHANICAL EDUCTOR PUMP AND LOCK HOPPER

• US 20140000720A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mortzheim, Jason Paul, Ghasripoor, Farshad
• Granted Patent: US 9,086,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/50 Mixing liquids with solids displacing one liquid by another in dispersions of solids in liquids B01D12/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31232 used simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31243 Eductor or eductor-type venturi, i.e. the main flow being injected through the venturi with high speed in the form of a jet
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71731 using a hopper
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/062 by mixing components
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 24/00 Devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating enclosures equalising valves F16K17/00; arrangement or mounting in pipes or pipe systems F16L55/07; venting or aerating as an additional function of steam traps or like apparatus F16T; ventilation of rooms, vehicles, see the appropriate subclass, e.g. F24F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

An apparatus and method for delivering a fluid using non-mechanical lock hopper eductor assembly. The assembly including at least one lock hopper coupled to an eductor motive fluid inlet, a source of a treatment material and a suction flow outlet. The lock hopper configured to contain therein a pressurized treatment fluid as an output suction flow. The lock hopper is coupled to an eductor pump assembly. The eductor pump assembly including a suction chamber in fluidic communication with the eductor motive fluid inlet, the suction flow outlet and a fluid mixture outlet. The suction chamber configured to output a fluid mixture to a mixing chamber coupled to said fluid mixture outlet and configured to mix the fluid mixture therein. The eductor pump assembly further including an expansion feature coupled to said mixing chamber and configured to expand the fluid mixture therein for delivery to a downstream component.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering a fluid comprising:

a lock hopper coupled to an eductor motive fluid inlet, a source of a treatment material and a suction flow outlet, the lock hopper configured to contain therein a pressurized treatment fluid as an output suction flow; and

an eductor pump assembly coupled to said lock hopper and comprising;

a suction chamber coupled to said lock hopper, the suction chamber in fluidic communication with the eductor motive fluid inlet, the suction flow outlet and a fluid mixture outlet, the suction chamber configured to output a fluid mixture;

a mixing chamber coupled to said fluid mixture outlet and configured to mix the fluid mixture therein; and

an expansion feature coupled to said mixing chamber and configured to expand the fluid mixture therein for delivery to a downstream component.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lock hopper includes an external cover enabling pressurization of the treatment fluid contained therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a material loading device in communication with said lock hopper, the material loading device including a valve mechanism operable to provide a stream of treatment material to the lock hopper.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lock hopper further includes a valve mechanism operable to provide a stream of pressurized treatment fluid to the eductor pump assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lock hopper includes a discharge channel and valve mechanism disposed therein the discharge channel to discharge pressure from within the lock hopper.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motive fluid is comprised of a first portion of a motive fluid input into the lock hopper via a conduit and a second portion of a motive fluid input into the suction chamber of the eductor pump assembly via a nozzle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the conduit includes a metering valve mechanism disposed therein.

8. An apparatus for delivering a fluid comprising:

at least one lock hopper eductor assembly comprising;

at least one lock hopper coupled to an eductor motive fluid inlet, a source of a treatment material and a suction flow outlet, the at least one lock hopper configured to contain therein a pressurized treatment fluid as an output suction flow; and

at least one eductor pump assembly coupled to said at least one lock hopper and comprising;

a suction chamber coupled to said at least one lock hopper, the suction chamber in fluidic communication with the eductor motive fluid inlet, the suction flow outlet and a fluid mixture outlet, the suction chamber configured to output a fluid mixture;

a mixing chamber coupled to said fluid mixture outlet and configured to mix the fluid mixture therein; and

an expansion feature coupled to said mixing chamber and configured to expand the fluid mixture therein for delivery to a downstream component.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said lock hopper eductor assembly comprises:

a first lock hopper eductor assembly including a fluid stream outlet;

a second lock hopper eductor assembly including a fluid stream outlet and configured in parallel arrangement with said first lock hopper eductor assembly; and

a main delivery stream conduit coupling the fluid stream outlet of said first lock hopper eductor assembly and the fluid stream outlet of said second lock hopper eductor assembly, the main delivery stream configured for delivery of an output fluid mixture.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further including a first fluid measuring device disposed between the fluid stream outlet of said first lock hopper eductor assembly and said main delivery stream conduit and a second fluid measuring device disposed between the fluid stream outlet of said second lock hopper eductor assembly and said main delivery stream conduit, each of said first and second fluid measuring devices operable to measure a quantity of the fluid mixture exiting each of the first lock hopper eductor assembly and the second lock hopper eductor assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one lock hopper eductor assembly comprises:

a first lock hopper;

a second lock hopper; and

an eductor pump assembly coupled to said first lock hopper and said second lock hopper.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one lock hopper includes an external cover enabling pressurization of the treatment fluid contained therein.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a material loading device in communication with said at least one lock hopper and configured to deliver a treatment material to said at least one lock hopper.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said material loading device is configured to delivery a treatment material to a plurality of lock hoppers.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the material loading device includes a valve mechanism operable to provide a stream of treatment material to the at least one lock hopper.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one lock hopper further includes a valve mechanism operable to provide a stream of pressurized treatment fluid to the at least one eductor pump assembly.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the motive fluid is comprised of a first portion of a motive fluid input into the lock hopper via a conduit and a second portion of a motive fluid input into the suction chamber of the eductor pump assembly via a nozzle.

18. A method of delivering a fluid, comprising:

filling a lock hopper with a treatment material and a motive fluid;

pressurizing the lock hopper to generate a pressurized treatment fluid therein;

activating an eductor pump assembly coupled to the lock hopper;

inputting the pressurized treatment fluid into a suction chamber of the eductor pump assembly as a fluid mixture;

expanding the fluid mixture in an expansion chamber of the eductor pump assembly; and

delivering the expanded fluid mixture to a downstream piping.

19. The method of delivering a fluid as claimed in claim 18, wherein the step of filling the lock hopper with a treatment material and a motive fluid includes filling a plurality of lock hoppers with a treatment material and a motive fluid, the plurality of lock hoppers configured in parallel arrangement.

20. The method of delivering a fluid as claimed in claim 18, wherein the step of activating a plurality of eductor pump assemblies includes activating a plurality of eductor pump assemblies with each eductor pump assembly coupled to a suction outlet of a lock hopper.