Process and apparatus for dispensing fluids

• US 6,921,000 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayer AG
• Original Assignee: Bayer AG
• Inventors: Wagner, Joachim, Ulbrich, Dagmar, Kusan-Bindels, Jacqueline, Jähn, Peter, Albach, Rolf, Kirschbaum, Hermann-Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUECHNER, PATRICK M
• Application Number:
  US10/307,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20030121561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 366/150.1, 366/151.1, 366/152.1, 366/152.2, 366/153.1, 366/160.1, 366/167.1, 366/173.1, 141/9, 222/1, 222/30, 222/56, 222/57, 222/58, 222/61, 222/64, 222/132, 222/135, 222/144.5, 222/394, 222/399, 222/77, 222/145.1
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/565 by introducing liquids in solid material, e.g. to obtain slurries
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/20 Measuring; Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2117 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2217 Volume of at least one component to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/715 Feeding the components in several steps, e.g. successive steps
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/881 by weighing, e.g. with automatic discharge
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/8822 using measuring chambers of the piston or plunger type B01F35/8823 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/603 in measured doses, e.g. proportioning of several materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/728 Measuring data of the driving system, e.g. torque, speed, power, vibration B29B7/724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/7471 Mixers in which the mixing takes place at the inlet of a mould, e.g. mixing chambers situated in the mould opening
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/94 Liquid charges
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/06 having means for controlling the supply or discharge
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/134 by sensing the weight of the individual components

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus and a process for rapidly and accurately dispensing fluids, in which at least one component is dispensed into the reaction vessel in two or three stages. In this process, the amount of fluid dispensed in the second and third stages is determined on the basis of the mass flow rate calculated in the preceding sub-step.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing at least two fluids comprising

a) at least two storage vessels for fluids,

b) at least two switching fittings which exhibit switching times on the order of less than 100 ms,

c) a dispensing line at an outlet of each switching fitting which connects one of the switch fittings to an outlet of one of the storage vessels,

d) a reaction vessel into which fluids from the storage vessels are dispensed,

e) a second dispensing line at a second outlet of each switching fitting which connects one of the switch fittings and the reaction vessel in a manner such that fluid dispensed in the reaction vessel is directed towards the bottom of the reaction vessel,

f) a balance to measure the weight of the contents of the reaction vessel, and

g) a data acquisition and control device to acquire the measured data from the balance and to control the switching fittings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which fluids present in at least two second dispensing lines e) are combined into a common dispensing line before being dispensed into the reaction vessel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which one or more storage vessels are pressurized with inert gas to a pressure of up to 30 bar.

4. A process for dispensing at least two fluids using an apparatus comprising:

a) at least one storage vessel for a fluid, b) at least one switching fitting which exhibits switching times on the order of less than 100 ms, c) a dispensing line which connects the storage vessel and an inlet of the switching fitting, d) a second dispensing line which connects an outlet of the switching fitting and e) a reaction vessel into which fluid is dispensed, f) a balance to measure the weight of the dispensed fluid in the reaction vessel, and g) a data acquisition and control device to acquire data from the balance and control the switching fitting, the process comprising the steps of

(1) conveying at least one fluid into the reaction vessel using a pressure gradient between the storage vessel and the reaction vessel

(2) dispensing the fluid into the reaction vessel by opening and closing the switching fitting in accordance with a procedure comprising

(a) dispensing from about 5 to about 50 wt. % of the total fluid to be dispensed into the reaction vessel,

(b) measuring the amount of fluid dispensed in (a) with the balance,

(c) calculating the actual mass flow rate of the fluid from the amount of fluid measured in (b) relative to the duration of opening of the switching fitting,

(d) calculating the duration of opening of the switching fitting using the mass flow rate calculated in (c) necessary to dispense the remaining portion of the fluid, and

(e) opening the switching fitting for the duration of opening calculated in (d).

5. A process for dispensing at least two fluids using an apparatus comprising a) at least one storage vessel for a fluid which vessel may be pressurized with an individual, constant, inert gas pressure of up to 30 bar, b) at least one switching fitting which exhibits switching times on the order of less than 100 ms having an inlet connected via c) a dispensing line to an outlet of the storage vessel, d) a second dispensing line between the outlet of the switching fitting and a reaction vessel into which the fluid is dispensed and e) a reaction vessel, f) a balance to measure the weight of the fluid in the reaction vessel, and g) a data acquisition and control device to acquire measured data from the balance and to control the switching fittings the process comprising the steps of

(1) conveying at least one fluid into the reaction vessel by pressure gradient between the storage vessel and the reaction vessel and

(2) dispensing the fluid into the reaction vessel by opening and closing the switching fitting in accordance with a procedure comprising

(a) dispensing from about 5 to about 50 wt. % of the total fluid to be dispensed into the reaction vessel,

(b) measuring the amount of fluid dispensed in (a) with the balance,

(c) calculating the actual mass flow rate on the basis of the measured data for the dispensed mass relative to the duration of opening of the switching fitting,

(d) calculating from the mass flow rate calculated in the time period during which the switching fitting should be open in order to dispense the fluid in such an amount that from about 60 wt. % to about 98 wt. % of the total weight of the fluid to be dispensed into the reaction vessel is reached,

(e) opening the switching fitting for the period of time calculated in (d) to dispense the fluid,

(f) measuring the amount of fluid dispensed in (e) with the balance

(g) calculating the actual mass flow rate of the dispensed fluid on the basis of the data measured in (f) for the dispensed mass relative to the duration of the opening of the switching fitting,

(h) calculating the time period during which the switching fitting should be open to dispense the remaining portion of the fluid from the mass flow rate calculated in (g), and

(i) opening the switching fitting for the period of time calculated in (h) to dispense the remaining portion of the fluid.