Dissolver of powdered chemicals in a liquid process stream

Abstract

The invention is a solvent for powdered chemicals in a liquid process stream. This controlled dissolution occurs within a reactor by manipulating the level of the process liquid. This manipulation is achieved by leveraging the opposing forces of the constant discharge pressure of a process circulation pump and the variable pressure of the gaseous head, controlled by an automated pneumatic unit. The invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art by offering, unlike solutions based on motorized dosing syringes or energy-intensive venturi systems, a purely fluidic, non-clogging solution without rotary or linear seals for dissolving powdered products in industrial chemical process liquid streams, as well as in public or private swimming pools of all sizes.This dissolver can be used in many industrial processes, particularly for chlorinating swimming pool water or any other liquid fluid that attacks a solid product.

Description

Title of the invention: Dissolver of powdered chemical in a liquid process stream technical field

[0001] The field of the invention is that of chemical process engineering at the level of dissolution reactions used for the attack of powdery solid products by aqueous, basic, acidic or other types of solvent solutions. Prior art

[0002] Numerous devices for dissolving chlorine, bromine, or other additives are commercially available for treating water in swimming pools of all sizes, hot tubs, or wastewater treatment plants. The chemical industry also uses similar devices in its processes: dosing detergent or passivation agents in surface treatment baths, which have been the subject of patents such as: EP0590762 of 06 / 04 / 1994, EP2334417 of 22 / 06 / 2011, PCT / IB2009006673 of 31 / 08 / 2009, and WO2010043940 of 22 / 04 / 2010. Presentation of the innovation

[0003] The invention aims to remedy at least in part the disadvantages of the prior art, and more particularly to offer, contrary to solutions based on motorized dosing syringe or energy-intensive venturi system, a purely fluidic solution that is non-clogging and without rotating or linear sealing to dissolve a powdered product in a flow of industrial chemical process liquid, public or private installations of all sizes. Presentation of the figures

[0004] [Fig.1] is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dissolver with scraper system.

[0005] [Fig.2] is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the storage sock equipped with the scraper system.

[0006] [Fig.3] is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the dissolver with scraper system

[0007] [Fig.4] is a vertical cross-sectional view of the dissolver without a scraper system

[0008] [Fig.5] is the nomenclature of the reference marks used in the present

[0009] [Fig.6] is the continuation and end of the nomenclature of the reference marks used in the present Description of a particular mode of the invention

[0010] In the figures and in the following description, the same reference numerals represent identical or similar elements. Furthermore, the various elements are not drawn to scale in order to enhance the clarity of the figures. Moreover, the different embodiments and variants are not mutually exclusive and may be combined. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “substantially” “Approximately” and “on the order of” mean to the nearest 10%, and preferably to the nearest 5%. Furthermore, the terms “between ... and ...” and equivalents mean that the bounds are inclusive, unless otherwise stated.

[0011] The invention relates to a system for dissolving a chemical product: pure substance or mixture of pure substances in powder form in a flow of process fluid in which it is soluble by controlling the concentration of the products injected into the process fluid.

[0012] The dissolver Rep 100 consists of a capacity made up of a tubular shell Rep 101, an upper shell flange Rep 102, two superimposed removable covers bolted Rep 104 and 105 to its upper part, a lower cover Rep 108 bolted onto a lower shell flange Rep 103.

[0013] The Rep 101 is segmented into two volumes by a diffuser plate Rep 114: • a volume greater than Rep 124, • a volume less than Rep 123.

[0014] In the upper volume of the dissolver Rep 124 of the tubular ferrule Rep 101 is implanted a tube Rep 110 called sock, which, by cooperating harmoniously with the diffuser plate Rep 114 on which it rests, by means of three small prismatic pads Rep 113 serves as a receptacle for a powdered product Rep 119.

[0015] The height H between the bottom of the sock Rep 110 and the upper face of the diffuser plate Rep 114 is calibrated by the three small prismatic studs Rep 113. This calibration serves to prevent the powdered product from flowing continuously beyond the edges of the diffuser plate Rep 114 into the annular space Rep 115 extended by the 3 lights Rep 116. The height H depends directly on the intrinsic characteristics of the powdered product Rep 119 so that it forms only a small slope on the diffuser plate Rep 114.

[0016] The filling of the reservoir of product to be dissolved is done dry in the sock by the filling lid Rep 105. The sock Rep 110 is centered in the tubular ferrule Rep 101 by the three small prismatic studs Rep 113 at its lower part and by three centering studs Rep 111 at its upper part.

[0017] The sock Rep 110 is blocked axially by the 3 studs Rep 113 and a high stop Rep 112.

[0018] The diffuser plate Rep 114 rests on 3 corbels Rep 118 glued or molded onto the tubular ferrule Rep 101. The sock Rep 110 is surmounted by a free volume of gaseous head Rep 125.

[0019] The plastic elements are assembled by gluing or manufactured in one piece by thermoplastic injection.

[0020] The flanges are assembled to the tube by gluing, welding or directly by molding.

[0021] These parts are made of Plexiglas, PVC, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, PEEK or any other material resistant to corrosion caused by the powdered product Rep 119 and the dissolving fluid known as the Rep 500 process as well as all other products generated by the dissolution reaction.

[0022] The upper flange of the ferrule Rep 102 is equipped with a breather Rep 126 machined from its solid and extended by a pneumatic connection fitting Rep 127.

[0023] Between the outer diameter of the sock Rep 110 and the inner diameter of the tubular ferrule Rep 101 is left a gap which provides an annular vertical space Rep 115 which allows the lower volume of the dissolver Rep 123 to communicate with the breather Rep 126 via the gaseous space Rep 125.

[0024] In the bottom of the capacity is reserved a volume Rep 123 delimited at its upper part by the diffuser tray Rep 114 and lower part at the level of the lower cover Rep 108.

[0025] The lower cover Rep 108 is equipped with two inlet / outlet bosses respectively Rep 120 and Rep 122 each equipped with an upstream isolation valve Rep 401 and downstream valve Rep 402 of the fluid group Rep 400 which connect the lower volume of the dissolver Rep 123 under the diffuser plate Rep 114 to the process Rep 500 on either side of a differential pressure element Rep 403 which sends to the volume Rep 123 of the dissolver Rep 100 a part of the circulation flow of the process Rep 500 acting as a dissolving fluid.

[0026] The inlet boss Rep 120 continues into the lower volume of the dissolver Rep 123 by means of an inlet elbow Rep 121 which discharges horizontally to generate a vortex fluid movement under the diffuser plate Rep 114. The dissolver Rep 100 is connected to a pneumatic unit Rep 200 managing a compressed gas: compressed air or inert gas in a B50 type bottle, air compressor, by a plurality of pneumatic connections Rep 300.

[0027] The reactor has a suitable interface with a branch of a particular process circuit Rep 500 comprising at least one circulation pump Rep 501 having a discharge pressure Pr. The pressure Pp of the pneumatic group Rep 200 is determined such that Pp > Pr (including pressure losses).

[0028] The dissolution of part of the powdered product Rep 119, stored in the sock Rep 110, in the liquid flow sweeping the volume Rep 123 which is outside of it is done by contact through the 3 segments of the annular slot Rep 117 when the level of liquid through the 3 lights Rep 116 rises in the annular space Rep 115.

[0029] It stops when the liquid level in the annular space Rep 115 drops, causing the upper surface of the diffuser plate Rep 114 to become dewatered.

[0030] This upward or downward evolution of the Rep 128 level measurement in the Rep 115 annular space and in the Rep 110 sock is achieved by playing on the antagonism of the discharge pressure of the process circulation pump Rep 501 (constant) and that of the gaseous head Rep 125 (variable) controlled by the pneumatic unit Rep 200.

[0031] There is a direct and precise correspondence between the level indicated by Rep 128 and the volume slice of powdered product Rep 119 attacked by the liquid from the lower volume of the dissolver Rep 123.

[0032] The sweeping of the lower face of the diffuser plate Rep 114 propagates through the 3 lights Rep 116 into the annular space Rep 115 and allows the dissolved powder product Rep 119 to be evacuated and dissolved into the process fluid Rep 500 as well as the insolubles it contains in order to avoid fouling and the risk of clogging of the 3 segments of the annular slot Rep 117. In this way, this system makes it possible to control the concentration of powder product Rep 119 as well as its reaction residues in the process Rep 500.

[0033] The upper part of the product Rep 119 which does not react with the liquid sweeping the lower volume of the dissolver Rep 123 constitutes a dry product storage and gives the system its autonomy without user / operator intervention between 2 refills.

[0034] Over a height of a few cm above the diffuser plate Rep 114 under the effect of the upward diffusion of the liquid by capillarity, an intermediate zone is formed where the powdered product tends to agglomerate and stick to the inner wall of the sock Rep 110, blocking the natural gravitational descent of the product towards the diffuser plate Rep 114 for the following dissolution sequences.

[0035] To ensure the normal descent of the powdered product Rep 119 towards the upper surface of the diffuser plate Rep 114, a mobile scraper and splitter segment Rep 129 moves in contact with the inner surface of the sock Rep 110 to break the contact of the product with it and split the agglomerated central part.

[0036] The scraper Rep 129 makes back and forth movements driven by a pneumatic cylinder Rep 130 which moves it upwards when it is inflated by the fluid from the pneumatic unit Rep 200 and returns to the lower position when it is deflated under the action of the pressure of the liquid reigning in the lower volume of the dissolver Rep 123 generated by the process circulation pump Rep 501, the operation being controlled by a three-way valve Rep 207.

[0037] [Fig.4]: For products whose particle size or physical properties do not cause this agglomeration phenomenon, a second embodiment not including the scraper device can be used.

[0038] A typical injection cycle of treatment product into the process fluid is therefore carried out successively by: • one pass of the scraper (if necessary) • a depressurization of the gas head Rep 125 which causes a rise of liquid through the 3 lights Rep 116 of the diffuser plate Rep 114 above its upper surface and into the annular space Rep 115 for a dissolution time Tl. • a repressurization of the gas head Rep 125 which causes a drop in the liquid level below the upper face of the diffuser plate Rep 114. • a waiting time T2 before the next cycle. Industrial Applications:

[0039] This dissolver can be used in many industrial processes in particular for the chlorination or bromination of water in swimming pools of all sizes or any other liquid process attacking a solid or powdery product.

[0040] It is particularly useful for the production of hydrogen under pressure by controlled dissolution of zinc powder or chips in sulfuric acid, thus allowing control of the attack kinetics and the flow rate of hydrogen produced. In this application, compressed air is replaced by hydrogen.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for dissolving a chemical in powder form in a process liquid stream characterized in that the dissolution of a portion of the powder product (119), stored in a sock (110), in the liquid flow sweeping the lower volume of the dissolver (123) which is external to it, is done by contact through three lights (116) and 3 segments of an annular slot (117) when the liquid level rises in an annular space (115).

2. A method for dissolving a chemical product in powder form in a flow of a process liquid according to claim 1, characterized in that the evolution of a level measurement (128) upwards or downwards in an annular space (115) outside the sock (110) is done by playing on the antagonism of the constant discharge pressure of a process circulation pump (501) and that variable of the gaseous head (125) controlled by a pneumatic unit (200).

3. A method for dissolving a chemical product in powder form in the flow of a process liquid (500) according to claim 2 characterized in that a sock tube (110), implanted in the upper volume (124) of the tubular shell (101), which, by cooperating harmoniously with the diffuser plate (114) on which it rests by means of three small prismatic pads (113) of height H, serves as a receptacle for a powder product (119), the calibration of this height depending directly on the intrinsic characteristics of the powder product (119) allowing it to form only a small slope on the diffuser plate (114) after filling with dry powder product (119) by a removable filling cover (105).

4. A method for dissolving a chemical product in powder form in the flow of a process liquid according to claim 3 characterized in that the dissolver (100) is connected to a pneumatic unit (200) managing a compressed gas: compressed air or neutral gas in a B50 type bottle, air compressor, by a plurality of connections (300).

5. A method for dissolving a chemical in powder form in the stream of a process liquid following the

6. claim 4 characterized in that the dissolver (100) has an interface adapted with a branch of a particular process circuit (500) comprising at least one circulation pump (501) having a discharge pressure Pr and two upstream (401) and downstream (402) isolation valves of the fluid group (400) which connect the lower volume of the dissolver (123) under the diffuser plate (114) to the process (500) on either side of a differential pressure element (403) which sends to the volume (123) of the dissolver (100) a part of the circulation flow of the process (500) acting as a dissolving fluid with the pressure Pp of the pneumatic group (200) determined such that Pp > Pr, including pressure losses. A process for dissolving a chemical product in powder form in the flow of a process liquid according to claim 5, characterized in that a movable scraper and slitter segment (129) moves in contact with the inner surface of the sock (110) to break the contact of the powder product with it and split the agglomerated central part by making back and forth movements driven by a pneumatic cylinder (130) which moves it upwards when it is inflated by the fluid from the pneumatic unit (200) and which returns to the lower position when it is deflated under the action of the pressure of the liquid in the lower volume of the dissolver (123) generated by the process circulation pump (501), the operation being controlled by a three-way valve (207).

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