Apparatus for making foamed cleaning solutions and method of operation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for making a foamed fluid useful for cleaning the interior surfaces of a vessel, which comprises:
- a first conduit which defines a foam chamber;
a second conduit which communicates with the foam chamber, and which defines an inlet adapted for carrying a liquid concentrate into the foam chamber;
a third conduit which communicates with the foam chamber, and which defines an inlet adapted for carrying a diluent liquid into the foam chamber, the diluent liquid thereby mixing with the liquid concentrate to form a liquid solution in the foam chamber;
a first flow regulator means installed in the second conduit, and adapted for regulating the flow of the liquid concentrate into the foam chamber;
a second flow regulator means installed in the third conduit, and adapted for regulating the flow of the diluent liquid into the foam chamber;
a fourth conduit having a gas disperser section connected into one end, the fourth conduit being in communication with the foam chamber, the gas disperser section being positioned inside the foam chamber, and the fourth conduit defining an inlet adapted for carrying a gas into the foam chamber, the gas thereby being dispersed in the liquid solution to form a foamed fluid;
a third flow regulator installed in the fourth conduit, and adapted for regulating the flow of the gas into the foam chamber;
a fifth conduit which connects into the foam chamber, and which has at least one open end, the said open end being spaced from the foam chamber and adapted for connection into a discharge line which carries the foamed fluid to a vessel to be cleaned; and
a mixing device which is positioned in the fifth conduit and is adapted for final mixing of the foamed fluid.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The apparatus of this invention is designed for making foamed liquid solutions. In a specific application the foamed liquid is used for removing scale deposits from the interior surfaces of vessels, such as heat exchangers. The apparatus includes a foam chamber with a gas disperser section positioned inside the chamber. Ahead of the foam chamber is a final mixing section with a static mixer installed therein. A liquid concentrate, such as an acid solution, and a diluent liquid, such as water, are passed into the foam chamber. The liquids are mixed in the foam chamber and gas is bubbled into the liquid phase through the disperser section. The flow of gas and liquid into the foam chamber is controlled by flow regulators to achieve a continuous and uniform blending of the gas and liquid phases. From the foam chamber the foamed solution is carried into the final mixing section and passed through the static mixer to obtain a homogeneous cleaning solution, which is discharged into the vessel to be cleaned.
93 Citations
4 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for making a foamed fluid useful for cleaning the interior surfaces of a vessel, which comprises:
-
a first conduit which defines a foam chamber; a second conduit which communicates with the foam chamber, and which defines an inlet adapted for carrying a liquid concentrate into the foam chamber; a third conduit which communicates with the foam chamber, and which defines an inlet adapted for carrying a diluent liquid into the foam chamber, the diluent liquid thereby mixing with the liquid concentrate to form a liquid solution in the foam chamber; a first flow regulator means installed in the second conduit, and adapted for regulating the flow of the liquid concentrate into the foam chamber; a second flow regulator means installed in the third conduit, and adapted for regulating the flow of the diluent liquid into the foam chamber; a fourth conduit having a gas disperser section connected into one end, the fourth conduit being in communication with the foam chamber, the gas disperser section being positioned inside the foam chamber, and the fourth conduit defining an inlet adapted for carrying a gas into the foam chamber, the gas thereby being dispersed in the liquid solution to form a foamed fluid; a third flow regulator installed in the fourth conduit, and adapted for regulating the flow of the gas into the foam chamber; a fifth conduit which connects into the foam chamber, and which has at least one open end, the said open end being spaced from the foam chamber and adapted for connection into a discharge line which carries the foamed fluid to a vessel to be cleaned; and a mixing device which is positioned in the fifth conduit and is adapted for final mixing of the foamed fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
Specification