Mixer sensors and methods for using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9612184-B2
Application number	US-201214111809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2012
Priority date	May 6, 2011
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

Apparatuses for measuring rheological properties of fluids and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a mixer sensor that is configured to be attached to a rheometer drive head and used to measure rheological properties of a fluid having particulates over a wide range of temperatures and shear rates. Apparatuses capable of obtaining rheological data of a fluid having particulates over a wide range of temperatures and shear rates provides for more precise rheological measurements. The temperatures may be very high temperatures that exceed 100° C., and the shear rates may includes a range of shear rates that are typically found in a processing pipeline system.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An apparatus for measuring rheological properties of a material, the apparatus comprising:
a drive head attachment so constructed and arranged to attach to one of a rheometer and a viscometer;
a shaft comprising at least three blades, wherein the plurality of blades are radially spaced about an axis of the shaft, wherein the drive head attachment is configured to receive a top end of the shaft therein, wherein each of the plurality of blades is rotated about 20° to about 80° from horizontal, and wherein the plurality of blades are vertically spaced from each other by about 0.25 inches to about 1.25 inches; and
a base configured to receive an end of the shaft, and wherein the base further comprising at least one o-ring groove configured to accept an o-ring seal and wherein the base is configured to receive a bottom end of the shaft.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaft, the base, the drive head attachment, is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, steel alloys, stainless steel, chromium, cobalt-chromium, and combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the material is cobalt-chromium.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades are arranged in an interrupted helical shape, and radially spaced from each other by about 45° to about 135°.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blades is substantially triangularly shaped.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base is further configured to mate with a particle screen, wherein the particle screen comprises an open center portion that is configured to receive the base, and wherein the particle screen comprises a diameter from about 1 to about 3 inches.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the particle screen is substantially circular in shape and further comprises a plurality of holes between the center portion and the circumference.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claim 6 , wherein the particle screen rests on a plurality of pegs that are formed integrally with particle screen or are friction fit into the holes of particle screen.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a temperature probe, wherein the temperature probe is configured to extend through at least one of the holes of the particle screen.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least three blades is:
at least two curved blades attached to the shaft, each curved blade comprising three sections; and
at least two linear blades attached to the shaft.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein each of the three sections are separated by a space.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein each of the three sections are equal in length.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the linear blades are surface scraper blades.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein each of the linear blades is attached to the shaft at a top end and a bottom end of the linear blade.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein each of the linear blades has a length from about 1.5 inches to about 3.5 inches.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein each of the linear blades comprises a step-shape forming two different parallel portions of the linear blade, wherein the first parallel portion of the linear blade has a length from about 0.1 to about 0.2 inches and wherein the second parallel portion of the linear blade has a length from about 0.2 inches to about 0.6 inches.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the shaft comprising at least three blades comprises a first and second pairs of blades and an inverted cone, wherein each of the first pair of blades are oriented substantially vertically, wherein each of the second pair of blades are oriented at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane, wherein each of the first pair of blades has a width from about 10 to 15 mm, and wherein the cone forms an angle with the shaft from about 15° to about 45°.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first pair of blades and the second pair of blades are each radially spaced about an axis of the shaft.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first pair of blades and the second pair of blades are each radially spaced from each other by about 180°.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first pair of blades are vertically spaced from each other such that a bottom side of a first blade is at the same vertical height as a top side of a second blade.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first pair of blades and the second pair of blades are individually comprise a shape selected from the group consisting of rectangle, square, and combinations thereof.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the first pair of blades are located at a bottom portion of the shaft.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the second pair of blades are located in substantially the same horizontal plane.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the inverted cone is located at a top portion of the shaft.

25. A system for measuring rheological properties of a material, the system comprising:
a device comprising a stationary measurement cylinder and a rotatable sensor drive head; and
a sensor attached to the rotatable sensor drive head, the sensor comprising:
a shaft comprising at least three blades arranged in an interrupted helical shape; and
a base configured to receive an end of the shaft, wherein the device is one of a rheometer and a viscometer.

26. The system according to claim 25 , further comprising a fluid contained within the stationary measurement cylinder.

27. The system according to claim 26 , wherein the fluid comprises particulates.

28. The system according to claim 25 , wherein the stationary measurement cylinder comprises a stationary particle screen at a bottom of the cylinder.

29. The system according to claim 25 , wherein the stationary measurement cylinder comprises an integral temperature probe.

30. The system according to claim 25 , wherein the at least three blades is at least two curved blades attached to the shaft, each curved blade comprising three sections, and at least two linear blades attached to the shaft.

31. The system according to claim 25 , wherein the shaft comprising at least three blades is a shaft comprising first and second pairs of blades and an inverted cone, wherein each of the first pair of blades are oriented substantially vertically, and wherein each of the second pair of blades are oriented at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

32. A method for measuring rheological properties of a material, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a device comprising a stationary cylinder filled with the material and a rotatable sensor drive head;
attaching a sensor to the rotatable sensor drive head, the sensor comprising a shaft comprising at least three blades arranged in an interrupted helical shape, and
a base configured to receive an end of the shaft;
inserting the sensor into the stationary cylinder; and
rotating the sensor, wherein the device is one of a rheomete

Assignees

• Ozadali Ferhan
• Mishra Dharmendra Kumar
• Sulaiman Rabiha
• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Ozadali Ferhan
• Mishra Dharmendra Kumar
• Sulaiman Rabiha

Classifications

• G01N11/14 Primary

  by using rotary bodies, e.g. vane (G01N11/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01F7/00175

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00291

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00133

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F2215/0431

  Numerical size values, e.g. diameter of a hole or conduit, area, volume, length, width, or ratios thereof · CPC title