Fluid handling – With holder for solid – flaky or pulverized material to be...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-12-03
2004-05-25
Lee, Kevin (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With holder for solid, flaky or pulverized material to be...
C138S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06739351
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in feeding dissolvable products, and in particular, an apparatus, such as a brominator, having improved flow control.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Apparatuses for holding and feeding dissolvable products are generally known. For example, brominators, which dissolve and feed granulated brominated hydantoin, are currently used in water treatment systems to control bacterial, algal and fungal populations. One such known brominator
200
is depicted in FIG.
1
.
Brominator
200
includes a chemical holding tank
202
, an outlet system
206
, a diffuser
208
, and an inlet system
210
. Inlet system
210
includes a flowmeter
212
and a ball valve
214
. Outlet system
206
includes a ball valve
216
. A granulated bromine product is contained within the tank. Water is fed into the tank through the inlet system and enters into the bottom of the tank. When the water pressure increases going into the tank, or when a pressure drop occurs between the inlet system and outlet system, the water flow rate into the tank increases. This often causes the granulated product to lift or“float” above the bottom of the tank and up to the diffuser (or screen). As a consequence of this floating, the diffuser or screen may become clogged and/or small undissolved granules may undesirably go through the diffuser or screen. It is generally necessary to include a relief valve for relieving excess pressure due to clogging or other causes of pressure build-up.
In the brominator
200
, the water flow is regulated by ball valves
214
and
216
of the inlet system
210
and outlet system
206
. Although the ball valves may be throttled to some extent to control flow and adjust for pressure fluctuations, this requires a manual operation and does not allow for continuous regulation of the flow. A flowmeter
212
is required to give a visual indication of the flow rate so that an operator can manually adjust the system in response to fluctuations in pressure. In addition to the clogging and resultant pressure problems in the brominator discussed above, fluctuations in the flow rate through the brominator necessarily cause a fluctuation in the delivery rate of the chemical being dissolved and fed through the system. This can result in an undesirable over-treatment or under-treatment of the water supply being managed.
An improved dissolvable product feed apparatus which alleviates the problems of clogging, passage of undissolved product, and fluctuations in chemical delivery rate without the requirement of manual manipulation is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a dissolvable product feed apparatus for feeding a dissolvable product comprises a dissolvable product holding vessel and an automatic flow control device fluidly connected to the holding vessel.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a dissolvable product feed apparatus comprises a dissolvable product holding vessel and means for maintaining a flow velocity below a maximum of approximately 1.36 feet/min in the holding vessel.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3444897 (1969-05-01), Erickson
patent: 3752183 (1973-08-01), Griswold
patent: 4609014 (1986-09-01), Jurjevic et al.
patent: 5713483 (1998-02-01), Ata et al.
patent: 5855355 (1999-01-01), Grunert et al.
patent: 5928608 (1999-07-01), Levesque et al.
Houghton Chemical Corporation Product Information Web Pages (Great Lakes Water Treatment).
Bulk Systems Inc. Product Information Web Pages (Big Bro).
Beer William J.
Rosser David E.
Duane Morris LLP
GE Betz, Inc.
Lee Kevin
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