Method for mixing fluids with an eductor

• US 7,726,870 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfa Laval, Inc. (Canada) (ALFA Laval AB)
• Original Assignee: Vortex Systems (International) CI (ALFA Laval AB)
• Inventors: Lott, William Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US12/487,044
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 366/167.1, 366/173.1, 366/173.2, 366/163.1, 366/163.2, 366/101, 366/107, 366/165.5, 366/165.1, 366/181.6, 366/182.1, 366/182.2, 366/191, 366/177.1, 366/159.1, 366/136, 366/137
• US Class Current: 366/107
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/54 wetting solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/10 Mixing by creating a vortex flow, e.g. by tangential introduction of flow components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/211 the injectors being surrounded by guiding tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/312 with Venturi elements; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/31242 the main flow being injected in the central area of the venturi, creating an aspiration in the circumferential part of the conduit B01F25/31243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/53 in which the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle through a recirculation tube, into which an additional component is introduced
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/181 Preventing generation of dust or dirt; Sieves; Filters B01F35/145, B01F35/43 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/184 Preventing generation of dust

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mixing a static fluid with another component, such as a particulate material, a liquid, a compressible liquid or gas, or combinations thereof, using a motive fluid stream, producing a low pressure region within the static fluid using radial eductors in a tank. The invention further relates to a method for separating oil form an oil and water mixture using a motive fluid stream and air, producing a low pressure region in a tank with entrained air bubbles, wherein the oil attaches to the air bubbles and rises to the surface.

Claims

1. A method for mixing a static fluid with a particulate material, a liquid, a compressible fluid or gas, or combinations thereof, to form a uniform mixture, using a motive fluid stream, wherein the method comprises:

positioning a plurality of radial eductors into a tank, each of the plurality of radial eductors having a mixing chamber and at least two induction ports, wherein each of the plurality of radial eductors is adapted for simultaneous pressurization within the tank, and wherein the plurality of radial eductors are positioned to create a continuous turbulence within the tank;

flowing the static fluid into the tank until the static fluid completely covers the plurality of radial eductors;

flowing the static fluid into an external energy source that is in fluid communication with the tank, pressurizing the static fluid with the external energy source, thereby forming the motive fluid stream;

using the external energy source to flow the motive fluid stream from the external energy source and into each of the plurality of radial eductors, wherein the motive fluid stream has a first flow rate as it flows into each of the plurality of radial eductors, thereby simultaneously pressurizing the plurality of radial eductors;

flowing the particulate material, the liquid, the compressible fluid or gas, or combinations thereof, through at least one of the at least two induction ports into the mixing chamber of at least one of the plurality of radial eductors;

blending the motive fluid stream with the particulate material, the liquid, the compressible fluid or gas, or combinations thereof, thereby forming a high pressure mixture;

expelling the high pressure mixture from each of the plurality of radial eductors and into the static fluid, thereby generating a mixed fluid in a low pressure region proximate to each of the plurality of radial eductors, wherein the mixed fluid comprises the static fluid mixed with the high pressure mixture;

drawing the mixed fluid through at least one of the at least two induction ports and into the mixing chambers of each of the plurality of radial eductors at a second flow rate; and

continuously mixing the mixed fluid within the mixing chamber, continuously expelling the mixed fluid into the tank with the static fluid, and continuously drawing the mixed fluid through at least one of the at least two induction ports and into the mixing chambers, thereby forming the uniform mixture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second flow rate is no less than three times the first flow rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the static fluid is continuously drawn into the external energy source through a motive fluid stream pipe that is in fluid communication with both the tank and the external energy source, and wherein the static fluid is continuously pressurized by the external energy source, thereby forming a continuous motive fluid stream.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the static fluid is a member of the group consisting of:

a liquid;

a slurry;

a slurry with suspended solids;

an admixture;

two or more unblended fluids;

a drilling fluid;

an industrial mixture;

municipal waste;

a drilling mud;

an oil and water mixture;

a solution;

or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tank has a shape that is a member of the group consisting of:

rectangular;

circular;

polygonal, cylindrical, and square.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of radial eductors is oriented to facilitate continuous mixing within the tank.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the plurality of radial eductors together using a manifold, wherein the manifold is in fluid communication with the external energy source;

and

using the external energy source to flow the motive fluid stream into the manifold, wherein the manifold flows the motive fluid stream into the plurality of radial eductors.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of securing the manifold to a bottom of the tank.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the manifold has a central conduit and a plurality of secondary conduits connected to the central conduit, wherein each of the plurality radial eductors is in fluid communication with one of the plurality of secondary conduits and the central conduit is in fluid communication with the external energy source.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the central conduit is secured to the tank at an angle between 80 and 100 degrees from a first plane of the tank, and wherein the central conduit is in fluid communication with the external energy source through a side port disposed on a side of the tank, a top port disposed on a top of the tank, or a bottom port disposed on a bottom of the tank.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the motive fluid stream at a pressure between 30 psi to 150 psi.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the particulate material and the liquid, when mixed, have a percent of solids of between 25 weight percent to 35 weight percent, and a percent of liquids of between 65 weight percent to 75 weight percent.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the uniform mixture has a viscosity ranging between the viscosity of water and the viscosity of slurries of up to twelve hundred centipoises.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least two induction ports are helically shaped.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the external energy source is a member of the group consisting of:

a centrifugal pump;

a progressive cavity pump; and

a rotary pump.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising, a vapor pipe with a vapor pipe opening, wherein the vapor pipe is in fluid communication with at least one of the at least two induction ports, for capturing vapor and introducing the vapor into each mixing chamber of each of the plurality of radial eductors.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising, a vent pipe disposed proximate a top of the tank, for venting gases and vapor from within the tank.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of radial eductors further comprise a nozzle disposed within each of the plurality of radial eductors, wherein the motive fluid stream passes through the nozzle as it enters the mixing chamber, for pressurizing the motive fluid stream.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the nozzle has a lobestar orifice disposed within the nozzle.