Large scale mixing systems, devices, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022266209-A1
Application number	US-202217677957-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 22, 2022
Priority date	Feb 22, 2021
Publication date	Aug 25, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a mixing system that includes a heating assembly configured to heat liquid, and a mixing assembly including a tank defining a cavity and configured to retain liquid, an inlet in fluidic communication with the cavity and configured to receive liquid from the heating assembly, a mixing impeller assembly configured to mix contents of the cavity, an actuator configured to actuate the mixing impeller assembly to mix contents of the cavity, and an outlet in fluidic communication with the cavity and having a valve configured to selectively prevent and permit egress of contents of the cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mixing system comprising:
a heating assembly configured to heat liquid; and, a mixing assembly comprising:
a tank defining a cavity configured to retain liquid;
an inlet in fluidic communication with the cavity and configured to receive liquid from the heating assembly;
a mixing impeller assembly configured to mix contents of the cavity;
an actuator configured to actuate the mixing impeller assembly to mix contents of the cavity; and
an outlet in fluidic communication with the cavity and having a valve configured to selectively prevent and permit egress of contents of the cavity.

2 . The mixing system of claim 1 , wherein the mixing impeller is located below a pumping impeller.

3 . The mixing system of claim 2 , wherein the mixing impeller is configured to generate relatively higher shear than the pumping impeller during operation.

4 . The mixing system of claim 2 , wherein the mixing impeller has a mixing impeller diameter and the tank has a tank inner diameter, and the mixing impeller diameter is between 10% and 80% of the tank inner diameter.

5 . The mixing system of claim 4 , wherein the mixing impeller comprises a high shear disc.

6 . The mixing system of claim 4 , wherein the tank inner diameter is measured at a height of the mixing impeller.

7 . The mixing system of claim 1 , wherein the mixing impeller assembly comprises a rotor shaft, a pumping impeller configured to be rotated by the rotor shaft, and a mixing impeller configured to be rotated by the rotor shaft.

8 . The mixing system of claim 7 , comprising a rotor shaft that includes a first section comprising an axially threaded male portion having a first thread, and a second section comprising a female portion having a second thread configured to threadedly mate with the first thread such that the first thread is entirely concealed within the second section.

9 . The mixing system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature of contents of the cavity; a turbidity sensor configured to measure turbidity of contents of the cavity; and a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the cavity.

10 . The mixing system of claim 1 , wherein the mixing assembly further comprises an access port configured to provide access to the cavity.

11 . A method of mixing, comprising:
at least partly filling a tank with a liquid; adding a powdered additive to the liquid through an access port of the tank; and mixing the powdered additive into the liquid to form an emulsion.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising;
determining a level of homogenization of the emulsion; and terminating the mixing, based on the level.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining a level of homogenization of the emulsion; and, removing, based on the level, at least a portion of the emulsion from the tank.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising heating, by a heating assembly, the liquid before at least partly filling the tank through an inlet in fluidic communication with the tank.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein mixing the powdered additive into the liquid to form a slurry comprises mixing, by a mixing impeller assembly comprising a rotor shaft, a pumping impeller configured to be rotated by the rotor shaft, and a mixing impeller configured to be rotated by the rotor shaft.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the mixing impeller is located below the pumping impeller.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the mixing impeller comprises a high shear disc that includes axially-extending teeth arranged around a perimeter of the mixing impeller.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising assembling a first section to a second section to form the rotor shaft, wherein the rotor shaft is configured as split shaft, the first section comprises an axially threaded male portion having a first thread, and the second section comprises a female portion having a second thread configured to threadedly mate with the first thread such that the first thread is entirely concealed within the second section.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein mixing the powdered additive into the liquid to form an emulsion further comprises rotating a high shear disc.

20 . A mixing assembly comprising:
a liquid inlet; a powder inlet; an outlet; a heating assembly configured to heat liquid received through the liquid inlet; a powder feeder configured to urge movement of a powdered additive received through the powder inlet; a disperser assembly configured to mix the powdered additive from the powder feeder and liquid received from the heating assembly into an emulsion; and a controller configured to control the heating assembly to heat liquid by a predetermined amount at a predetermined flow rate, control the powder feeder to provide the powdered additive to the dispenser assembly at a predetermined rate, and control the disperser assembly to provide the emulsion at a predetermined concentration at a predetermined flow rate.

21 . The mixing assembly of claim 20 , further comprising a flow regulator configured to regulate fluid flow through the liquid inlet or the outlet at a predetermined flow rate.

22 . The mixing assembly of claim 20 , wherein the mixing assembly does not include a mixing tank.

23 . The mixing assembly of claim 20 , wherein the disperser assembly comprises:
a stator having an axial cavity defined therethrough, and having a plurality of first teeth arranged concentrically about a periphery of the cavity; and a rotor arranged concentrically within the cavity and having a plurality of second teeth arranged about an outer periphery of the rotor proximal the first teeth; wherein the rotor is configured to rotate within the cavity relative to the stator, and emulsify the powdered additive and liquid received within a radial interior of the rotor as the powdered additive and liquid are urged through the second teeth and the first teeth.

24 . A method of mixing, comprising:
providing a liquid at a predetermined liquid flow rate; heating the liquid to a predetermined temperature; providing a powdered additive at a predetermined powder flow rate; dispersing the powdered additive into the heated liquid to form an emulsion having a predetermined concentration; and providing the emulsion at a predetermined output rate.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the liquid flow rate is between 10 L/min and 360 L/min, the predetermined temperature is between 50° C. and 100° C., the powder flow rate is between 10 g/min and 18,000 g/min, the predetermined concentration is between 1 g/L and 50 g/L, and the predetermined output rate is between 10 L/min and 360 L/min.

Assignees

• Apeel Tech Inc

Inventors

• Faust Gregory
• Hegel Cody
• Gaudioso Matthew Dominick
• Brodbeck Erich

Classifications

• B01F33/5013

  movable by mechanical means, e.g. hoisting systems, grippers or lift trucks · CPC title

• B01F35/2131

  Colour or luminescence · CPC title

• B01F23/4146 Primary

  Emulsions including solid particles, e.g. as solution or dispersion, i.e. molten material or material dissolved in a solvent or dispersed in a liquid · CPC title

• B01F35/2115

  Temperature · CPC title

• B01F23/43

  using driven stirrers · CPC title