Polymer dissolution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9682347-B2
Application number	US-201414197924-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2014
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a polymer dissolution system comprising a mix tank, a strainer, and a pump. The mix tank is configured to receive polymers, water, and an inlet stream, to form a polymer solution including swollen polymers, and to discharge the polymer solution. The strainer is configured to receive the polymer solution, and to withdraw at least a portion of the swollen polymers therethrough substantially without shear degradation, thereby forming a resultant solution, wherein the swollen polymers are dissolved at least in part. The pump is configured to receive the resultant solution, and to return the resultant solution to the inlet stream. In some embodiments, the strainer and the pump cooperate together to maintain a viscosity of the resultant solution substantially within a predetermined range.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A polymer dissolution system comprising:
a loop comprising a mix tank, a strainer and a circulating pump;
said mix tank comprising an inlet and an outlet;
said strainer comprising an inlet and an outlet, said strainer further comprising a screen that includes openings dimensioned to allow swollen polymer particles or gel particles thereof to pass through without shear degradation; and
said circulating pump comprising an inlet and an outlet;
wherein:
said mix tank outlet is in fluid communication with said strainer inlet, said strainer outlet is in fluid communication with said circulating pump inlet, and said circulating pump outlet is in fluid communication with said mix tank inlet;
said mix tank is configured to:
receive and mix water, an inlet stream, and a polymer having an average molecular weight of at least about 1 million; and
discharge a polymer solution containing swollen polymer particles or gel particles thereof, said polymer solution formed by the mixing of the water, inlet stream and polymer;

said strainer is configured to:
receive the polymer solution from the mix tank,
allow said polymer solution to pass through the screen without shear degradation of said swollen polymer particles or gel particles thereof to obtain a strained polymer solution; and
discharge the strained polymer solution to said circulating pump,
wherein at least a portion of said swollen polymer particles or gel particles thereof in said strained polymer solution have passed through the screen and
wherein said swollen polymer particles or gel particles thereof are dissolved at least in part in the strained polymer solution;

said circulating pump is configured to receive and return the strained polymer solution as the inlet stream to the mix tank; and
said circulating pump includes a diaphragm, said diaphragm configured to expand said swollen polymers or gel particles thereof in said strained polymer solution and to fragmentize said swollen polymers or gel particles thereof in the strained polymer solution before being returned to the inlet stream.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a hopper, the hopper supplying the polymer into the mix tank.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an agitator in the mix tank, the agitator configured to disperse the polymer in the mix tank.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the strainer includes a first conduit and a second conduit branching from the first conduit, wherein the screen is insertable into the second conduit.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second conduits define an acute angle.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the screen is removably coupled to the second conduit.

7. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a screen-retaining cap in the second conduit.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the strainer and the circulating pump maintain a viscosity of the strained polymer solution within a predetermined range.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the polymer includes at least one of a dry polymer powder and a wet gel.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the polymer includes a polymer having an average molecular weight of at least about 2 million.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a check valve that facilitates moving at least one of the polymer solution and the strained polymer solution toward a predetermined direction.

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Patel Mayur
• Cramm Jeffrey R
• Smith Stephen B

Classifications

• C02F1/52 Primary

  by flocculation or precipitation of suspended impurities {(C02F1/463 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C02F1/5227

  Processes for facilitating the dissolution of solid flocculants in water · CPC title

• C02F1/686

  Devices for dosing liquid additives · CPC title

• C02F1/56 Primary

  Macromolecular compounds · CPC title

• B01D21/01

  using flocculating agents (for purifying water C02F1/52; for liquid radioactive waste G21F9/10) · CPC title