Abstract:
According to the present invention there is provided fluidising apparatus comprising: a flow chamber  2  having a fluid inlet  4  and a fluid outlet  6 ; means  18  for establishing a swirling flow in a fluid passing out of the fluid outlet; and a transport outlet  30  for transporting fluidised material away from the flow chamber  2 , the transport outlet  30  being situated externally of the flow chamber  2.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to fluidising apparatus which can be used, for example, to fluidise settled solids, within a tank at atmospheric pressure or a pressure vessel at greater than atmospheric pressure in order to cause the solids to form a slurry which can be discharged from the tank or vessel. 
         [0002]    The slurry may pass into a slurry hydrotransport pipeline, designed to deliver the slurry at a required concentration over a required distance or static head with no moving parts subjected to abrasion or erosion. Alternatively, it may be fed directly into a slurry pump at a constant relative density or an inductor/jet pump, or other required processing system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,978,251, 4,952,099, 4,992,006 and 5,853,266, disclose fluidising units of the type comprising a supply duct which is arranged to be fed with liquid under pressure, and a discharge duct within the supply duct, and projecting beyond the outlet of the supply duct. 
         [0004]    A particular disadvantage of the fluidising units described in the above mentioned patents is that the discharge duct is always within the slurry duct. This can lead to a requirement to have large units and in particular large nozzles in pressure vessels etc. As the fluidising units may require inspection and/or maintenance the units in practice are normally designed to be removable, through nozzles or manways. The larger the dimension of the fluidising unit the more demanding the design of the pressure vessel becomes. 
         [0005]    It has also been observed in practice that a large fluidising unit installed inside a pressure vessel can cause a hold-up of material on its top or within the annulus, created by the fluidising unit and its pressure vessel, by the formation of a bridge of solids. 
       STATEMENT OF INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to the present invention there is provided fluidising apparatus comprising: 
         [0007]    a flow chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; 
         [0008]    means for establishing a swirling flow in a fluid passing out of the fluid outlet; and 
         [0009]    a transport outlet for transporting fluidised material away from the flow chamber, the transport outlet being situated externally of the flow chamber. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the transport outlet is situated close to the flow chamber. Preferably, the transport outlet is situated on a central axis of the flow chamber. For example, the flow chamber may be located with its central axis substantially vertical and the transport outlet may be situated directly above or directly below the flow chamber. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the said means for establishing a swirling flow comprises an offset fluid inlet with a central axis which does not intersect the central axis of the flow chamber. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the flow chamber comprises a housing and a flow guide, the flow guide being situated at least partially within the housing. Preferably, the housing comprises a cap which fits over the flow guide. Preferably, the flow guide is substantially helical. Alternatively, the flow guide may be substantially tubular and has a side wall in which is formed an opening, the opening extending through the side wall in a direction which is offset from a radial direction of the flow chamber. Most preferably, the opening extends substantially tangentially through the side wall of the flow guide. Preferably, a plurality of openings are formed through the flow guide. The openings may be in the form of tangential slots. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the flow guide is closed off at its outlet end. Preferably, an end of the flow chamber is closed off by an end wall. The end wall may be supported on the flow guide and may extend radially outwardly beyond the side wall of the flow guide to form a flange. The flange assists in directing the flow away from the flow guide. Preferably, the fluid outlet from the flow chamber is annular and is defined between the flange and the side wall of the flow chamber. Preferably, the flange can be moved relative to the flow chamber along the central axis of the flow chamber, to adjust the flow rate through the flow chamber. Preferably, the flange can be moved into abutment with a bottom edge of the flow chamber, thereby closing off the fluid outlet from the flow chamber when it is not in use. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the portion of the flow chamber which is adjacent the transport outlet is profiled in order to encourage a stable fluid regime between the flow chamber and the transport outlet. Preferably, this portion is generally in the shape of a cone with a concave side wall. For example, it may taper parabolically from its base to its tip. 
         [0015]    Preferably the fluidising apparatus is operated in a container, the only outlet from the container comprising the transport outlet. 
         [0016]    Compared with the prior art apparatus, fluidising apparatus according to the present invention can have smaller inlet and discharge nozzles, avoid bridging of solids in the vessel, be capable of using any fluid as a driving force, be easily accessible and economically viable to replace. It can also be provided with a sacrificial transport outlet in the form of a discharge duct, which avoids errosional damage to pressure vessel components. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:— 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a longitudinal cross-section through a fluidising apparatus; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section on line AA in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a schematic representation of an atmospheric system using the fluidising apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of a pressurised system using the fluidising apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a fluidising apparatus comprising a flow chamber  2  having a fluid inlet  4  and a fluid outlet  6 . The flow chamber  2  comprises a housing in the form of a cap  8  having a side wall  10  and a top  12  which in the region  14  is generally in the shape of a cone with a concave side wall. The underside of the top  12  is provided with an annular recess  16  in which is located a cylindrical flow guide  18 . As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper portion  20  of the flow guide  18  is provided with a series of tangential slots  22   a  to  22   f . The lower portion  24  of the flow guide  18  has an external thread which cooperates with an internal thread formed in an annular flange  26 . 
         [0023]    A fluid outlet  6  is defined between the side wall  10  of the cap  8  and the flange  26  and an annular flow passage  28  is defined between the side wall  10  of the cap  8  and the upper portion  20  of the flow guide  18 . The annular flow passage  28  is continuous with the fluid outlet  6 , so that the fluid inlet  4  communicates with the fluid outlet  6  by means of the tangential slots  22   a  to  22   f  and the flow passage  28 . Directly above the flow chamber  2  is located a transport outlet  30 . 
         [0024]    In use of the fluidising unit in a pressurised system, fluid under pressure enters the fluidising unit through the fluid inlet  4 , passes down the flow guide  18  and exits the flow guide tangentially via the slots  22   a  to  22   f  (as the open end of the flow guide  18  is closed by the cap  8 ). The cap  8  also acts as a swirl enhancer and is positioned such that its side wall.  10  forms one side of the said annular flow passage  28  around the tangential slots  22   a  to  22   f . The cap  8  is longer than the slots  22   a  to  22   f , such that it overlaps the slots by an amount d and defines the fluid outlet  6  by which the concentrated swirling fluid exits the flow chamber  2 . The profiled region  14  of the cap  8  is shaped in order to encourage a stable fluid regime above the flow chamber  2 . The swirling flow exiting the flow chamber  2  fluidises, mixes and breaks up settled or partly settled solids adjacent to the flow chamber  2 , thereby forming a mobile slurry, which is directed towards the transport outlet  30  from where it can be directed to a slurry pipeline or for further processing. The transport outlet  30  may, for example, comprise a substantially horizontal pipe or a pipe with a bend (preferably a 90 degree bend), and it may be funnelled, such that it flares outwardly towards the flow chamber  2 . 
         [0025]    The fluidising apparatus may be fixed within a vessel or tank at any orientation, passing through the vessel or tank wall by means of a normal flanged nozzle or threaded inlet boss, whereby the inlet to the fluidising apparatus is fed by a fluid under pressure. The outlet  6  of the fluidising apparatus sets up a swirl that can be created by, for example, a tangential fluid inlet or inlets, tangential slots or holes in a flow guide, or an auger unit within the inlet pipe or flow chamber  2 . The swirl from the fluidising apparatus mobilises any settled or partly settled solids into a slurry mixture. In the case of a pressurised unit the only exit from the vessel is a separate transport outlet  30  which is preferably situated directly above or under the fluidising unit. The prepared slurry then reports via the transport outlet  30  to a slurry pipeline, pump or process system as may be required. In an atmospheric system the outlet duct can be attached to a pump, or inductor to create the pressure differential required to transport the slurry to its required destination. 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows an atmospheric system incorporating a fluidising apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0027]    Solids to be transported are loaded into V 1 . Should fluids be present in V 1  these may be displaced by incoming solids and will report to the Tank T 1  by means of an overflow. 
         [0028]    When V 1  is filled with solids the pump is started and the valve  40  opens to allow fluids to pass through non-return valve  42  into fluidising unit F 1 . 
         [0029]    Solids will be fluidised and discharged through pipe  44 , due to the vessel operating at atmospheric pressure the slurry will discharge at an equal or less pressure, controlled by the hydrostatic head of solids/water/slurry available in V 1 . 
         [0030]    The discharging slurry can be fed into an inductor  46  to provide motive force to deliver the slurry over a short distance. Feed to the inductor may be from a separate feed or from the main pump by opening valve  48 . Alternatively the exiting slurry from  44  may be fed into the suction of a slurry pump  50  to provide motive force without further dilution. Using this method will in most cases reduce the need for large mixing tanks normally required to feed slurry pumps. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a pressurised system using a fluidising apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0032]    Solids to be transported are loaded into the vessel via a hopper  58  and valve  60 . Fluids in vessel V 1  are displaced by incoming solids and report to the feed tank T 1  via valve  62 . 
         [0033]    When the vessel is filled with solids, valves  60  and  62  are closed together with all other valves. 
         [0034]    The pump is started and valve  64  is opened to allow fluid to pass non-return valve  66  and to enter V 1  via fluidising unit F 1  to pressurise V 1  and solids will discharge as a slurry through the discharge line  68 . Should the slurry be too dilute then valve  70  may be opened to cause partial flow to the top of vessel V 1  to compact the solids and cause greater concentration of solids in the slurry discharge. 
         [0035]    In the event that the slurry is too concentrated valve  70  is opened to cause the discharging slurry to be diluted to suite the process conditions. This can be pre-set or can be operated whilst slurry is discharging until the set point is reached. 
         [0036]    Alternatively valve  70  may be automatic and opening set by using a signal from a mass density meter installed in the slurry discharge line.