Patent ID: 9175210
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: B29B,C09K

Abstract:
1. A method for making proppant particles, comprising: providing a slurry of ceramic raw material, the slurry containing a reactant comprising a polysaccharide, wherein the slurry has a solids content from about 25 wt % to about 75 wt %; flowing the slurry through a nozzle in a gas while vibrating the slurry to form droplets in the gas, wherein the slurry of ceramic raw material flows through the nozzle at a rate of about 1 to about 15 kg/(mm utilizing a surface tension of the slurry with the gas to cause the droplets to acquire and maintain a spherical shape until contact with an upper surface of a liquid, wherein gelling commences in the droplets upon contact with the liquid to provide gelled droplets, and wherein the liquid contains a coagulation agent that reacts with the reactant in the slurry to cause gelling of the reactant in the droplets; transferring the gelled droplets from the liquid; drying the gelled droplets to form green pellets; and sintering the green pellets in a selected temperature range to form the proppant particles.