Patent ID: 6290384
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: B01F,G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for producing a product stream having a liquid mixture with a predetermined concentration of a specified component, said apparatus comprising:a fluidic network, comprising:two inlet branches in flow communication to mix component streams, at least one of said inlet branches containing said specified component to form a first intermediate mixture stream having a lower concentration of said specified component than said predetermined concentration;remotely activated cut-off valves within said inlet branches of said fluidic network, said cut-off valves being operable to assume open and closed positions;an intermediate branch having an inlet to introduce a stream of said specified component into said first intermediate mixture stream to form a second intermediate mixture stream;means for blending said second intermediate mixture stream to produce a third intermediate mixture stream; anda recycle loop, comprising:an inlet junction connected to said intermediate branch,an outlet junction in flow communication with an outlet to discharge a product stream, anda recycle leg communicating between said inlet junction and said outlet junction thereby to introduce a recycle stream into said third intermediate stream to form a liquid mixture stream, said liquid mixture stream dividing at said outlet junction to form said recycle stream and said product stream thereby continually recycling a part of said liquid mixture stream into said third intermediate stream while the product stream is being discharged;a pump located within said recycle loop to pump said liquid mixture stream;a pressure vessel in communication with said pump;means for sensing the liquid level within said pressure vessel;a controller responsive to said liquid level sensing means, said controller connected to said remotely activated cut-off valves and adapted to control said valves to be open when the liquid level in said pressure vessel rises to a high level;means for measuring the concentration of said specified component within said third intermediate mixture stream; andmeans for metering said introduction of said stream of said specified component into said first intermediate mixture stream so that said third intermediate mixture stream contains said specified component in said predetermined concentration.