Patent Publication Number: US-RE46101-E

Title: Fluid conditioning apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for conditioning a fluid for the purpose of adding and/or removing a component and/or desirably chemically altering the undesirable component within the fluid for an adjacent system. More particularly the present invention is an apparatus that includes a fluid mover, and selectable component adder, and a control to achieve the desired fluid properties for the adjacent system. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     There are many processes that require a form of fluid conditioning in chemical processing plants, oil refineries, factories, food processing, farm and animal byproduct processing, wastewater treatment, solid waste treatment, and the like. As these aforementioned processes are usually necessarily for our modern economy, technology is usually applied to control the undesirable environmental contaminates generated from the previously mentioned processes for a number of reasons, with these contaminants being in gaseous form, in liquid form, or in solid form. These reasons would include reduction of physical pollutants, reduction of visible pollutants, reduction of odorous contaminants, reduction of chemical contaminants, and the like. As the concern for the environment continues to increase it becomes ever more important to control these contaminants to lower and lower acceptable levels. 
     This issue of industrial process contaminant control has been fairly well recognized in the prior art with a number of apparatus designed for contaminant treatment that include conventional filtering systems, and other more technologically adept systems such as scrubbers that are typically used with a contaminated gas stream, wherein a chemical is introduced into the gas stream to bond with an undesirable contaminant in the gas stream, wherein the bonding results in typically a new solid being formed that can precipitate out of the gas stream due to its higher density allowing for separation of the contaminant out of the gas stream. Another prior art gas contaminant process involves what is called electrostatic precipitation, wherein the suspended contaminants are ionized, with the ionized contaminants being attracted to an electrode, thus enabling the separation of the contaminants from the gas stream. However, all of the aforementioned systems have limitations, such as conventional filtering not having the ability to remove very small contaminants or well dispersed contaminants, plus temperature and pressure limitations, along with high maintenance, i.e. filter cleaning/replacement required. Further, scrubbers are limited by needing to be used with a closed loop system, i.e. contained within a series of enclosures separated from the outside environment, which precludes open type systems such as some wastewater and solid waste treatment processes, in addition scrubbers require that the contaminant be able to bond with an introduced chemical with and form some sort of matter having a density higher than the gas being treated to allow separation of the contaminate from the gas being treated. In addition, for electrostatic precipitators, much the same as for scrubbers a closed loop system would be required as previously discussed and there would be the need for the contaminate to be ionizable to facilitate the electrostatic attraction of the contaminate out of the polluted gas stream. 
     Another type of fluid decontamination is with the use of introducing a desirable odor containing fluid to mask or cover-up an undesirable odor, thus not having the requirements of using the closed loop system as previously described nor that the contaminant have some sort of special properties to enable the separation of the contaminant from the polluted gas for instance. However, this introduction of a cover-up type of chemical has drawbacks in control over the system that is being decontaminated as the actual removal or neutralization of contaminates is not necessarily known, at least making the cover-up type of chemical fluid decontamination apparatus less desirable when used in conjunction with the open type system because of this lack of control as previously discussed. Also, because of the random interaction of the desirable odor containing fluid with the polluted gas, there is the ongoing problem of insufficient atomization of the introduced odor containing fluid within the polluted gas, thus the prior art has recognized this issue and has developed several structures to help improve atomization of the introduced fluid being dispersed within the polluted gas for more efficient odor control and less waste of the non atomized introduced fluid. 
     As a prior art example in addressing the need for improved atomization of the introduced fluid, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,770,247 B1 to Romack et al., disclosed is a liquid product vaporizing apparatus for an air deodorizing system comprising an inlet channel, a vaporization chamber, an air blower, and distribution pipes. In Romack et al., fresh air is drawn into the system through the inlet channel by the air blower, creating a stream of air flowing through the system. The stream of air in Romack et al., is directed to the vaporization chamber where an atomizing nozzle sprays atomized liquid product into the vaporization chamber. The treated air stream in Romack et al., then flows through distribution pipes to a plurality of vapor release ports which allow the treated air to be released into the malodorous area, reference column 3, lines 12-25. The main issues in Romack et al., are that the chamber configuration has no internal obstructions between the inlet and outlet ports; also it is utilized in an open system, i.e. taking in ambient air for the Romack et al., inlet being in not being from a closed system. In addition, Romack et al., does not teach the use of a control system for achieving a selected an odor reduction level or the ability to maintain an odor level, furthermore Romack et al., does not address use in hazardous environments, i.e. explosive gases being present and the like. 
     A further prior art example for a conventional air freshener (not being a scrubber or electrostatic precipitator) is in U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,419 to Davis that discloses a liquid air freshener dispensing device for a building ventilation duct being removably attachable to the duct, wherein the entire Davis system would be considered an open loop system as the building volumetric portion is not sealed. In Davis, the duct is in communication with a heating member and a blowing member, wherein the blowing member blows air across the heating member and into the duct including a coalescing filter to help prevent the air freshener droplets from collecting on the plenum walls as a method to further help the recognized problem of adequate atomization of the deodorant liquid in the gas plenum. Again in Davis, there is no teaching related to a control system for monitoring deodorant use and effective odor control in the building air volume nor use in hazardous (explosive or toxic) environments. Similar to Davis in U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,359 to Nowatzki is an apparatus used for building duct ventilation systems that is a self contained unit that utilizes a reservoir, a pump, and a dispenser for dispersing the liquid deodorant with a switch that resides on top of the ventilation duct. Nowatzki also has no disclosure related to a control system for sensing the odor levels and adjusting the amount of deodorizing fluid input. 
     In addition, also similar to Davis and Nowatzki, in being an air deodorizer for building type applications, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,253 to Tokuhiro et al., disclosed is a fragrant air supply system by using a mist generating means by either air velocity of ultrasonic means. In Tokuhiro et al., the purpose is to add fragrance, rather that remove contaminants, Tokuhiro et al., does have the features of a controller for measuring the concentration of fragrance, see FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the controller regulates the flow of the fragrance liquid and air flow into the chamber based upon the measured concentration of the fragrance. Also, included in Tokuhiro et al., is a chamber drain to recycle liquid fragrance into the liquid fragrance reservoir that is caught by the end face 41 that removes un-evaporated mist from the fragranced air. As Tokuhiro et al., is an open loop system in that only the output concentration of fragranced air is measured and controlled as the fragranced air is sent to the building interior, with no feedback or return of air possible for recycling into the system, thus the only control is for the detection and non-detection of fragranced air within the building, again see FIGS. 6 and 7. A similar type apparatus again for deodorizing, utilizing chlorite compounds is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,497 to Labonte Jr. that teaches a process and apparatus for deodorizing malodorous substances with specifically a chlorine dioxide-containing composition. The apparatus in Labonte, Jr., comprises a reservoir for supplying a concentrated deodorizing liquid, a means for supplying water for diluting the aqueous deodorizing liquid, an eductor for mixing the dilution water supplied and the deodorizing liquid supplied, a means for controlling the amount of the deodorizing solution, and a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying the deodorizing solution, reference column 2, lines 37-46. Note that Labonte, Jr., is also an open system primarily designed for sewers, solid waste dumps, landfills, waste lagoons, and the like. Labonte, Jr., does have some mention of a control system via the use of a monitor to detect for instance the level of hydrogen sulfite on whether to continue or stop the system and to select the amount of deodorizing liquid to be used, i.e. being a higher or lower flowrate. Further, note that Labonte, Jr., does not address use in explosive or toxic environments. 
     Continuing, in looking at a typical prior art scrubber as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,874 to deVries disclosed is a method and means for controlling a mist scrubbing process in which a gas containing odorous and acidic contaminants are contacted in a reaction chamber with tiny droplets of an aqueous reagent to react with and destroy the contaminants. In deVries, although this is an open system also, however, having monitoring based on measuring chemical properties of the spent contaminated mist and scrubbed gas output. Specifically, in deVries the control system measures pH of the spent stray liquid settling at the bottom of the chamber to control the flow of a “base” chemically speaking, with this being in addition to a measurement of the acidic component of the scrubbed gas leaving the reaction chamber to control the rate at which an oxidizing agent is injected into the system. As previously discussed in scrubber systems such as deVries, there is little concern for complete atomization of the injected mist solution as there is expected to be residual liquid mist solution at the bottom of the chamber that is used to ensure bonding with the with the contaminants, i.e. more mist is available than contaminants need to bond with, in an attempt to have more complete scrubbing, in conjunction with the injected mist having a “once through” application in its potential bonding contact with the gas contaminants and is not recycled, however, as stated previously the residual mist solution is measured for pH. 
     Further, in looking at the prior art in this area for another open system that generates an open mist of decontaminant, reference U.S. Pat. No. 7,008,592 to Sias et al. wherein disclosed is a decontamination apparatus method using an activated cleaning fluid mist for decontamination of environments and open or exposed articles from microbiological organisms. The Sias et al., apparatus comprises a cleaning fluid, a mist generator having an input flow of the cleaning fluid and an output flow of a mist of the cleaning fluid that contains ions, from an activator to activate the cleaning fluid mist that is operational to help increase efficiency of the decontamination process by the activated decontaminant entering into a redox reaction with the microbiological contaminant, reference column 1, lines 62-64, column 2, lines 20-26, and column 5, lines 50-60. Next, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,025 B1 to Rasouli et al., disclosed is another open loop odor generator utilizing a disc with a porous substrate having a releasable aroma that reacts to a control system signal that allows a variety of scents to be disbursed from a single disc thereby allowing a computer connected to the internet to send a signal to the odor generator to generate a selected scent from a remote location. Thus in Rasouli et al., per se the control is not for overcoming a contaminant, however, being for a selected scent sampling from a remote location. 
     Continuing, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,498 to Kuivalainen disclosed is an apparatus for the purification of waste gases that includes the use of reagents or absorbent, wherein a “wet” zone recycles the wetting zone particles that have been separated from the from the gas outside of the wetting zone chamber by first introducing the contaminated gases into the wetted zone of the chamber with the absorbent or reagent in suspension. Wherein in Kuivalainen, next the wet chamber mixture of the contaminated gas and absorbents and reagents moves to a dry chamber portion to dry the wetted particles from the wet zone with the goal being to re-carry the particles that are unreacted back into the wet zone to increase the efficiency of the reaction process. There is no teaching in Kuivalainen related to an active control system to regulate the amount of transition between the wet and dry zones or the amount of absorbents or reagents to introduce into the system, there is some specific test data related to empirical reactions using the apparatus, however, no ongoing control of the process is disclosed. 
     In addressing another area, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,330 to Johansson et al., disclosed in a method and apparatus for treating contaminated gasses having a multi medium nozzle that allows multiple fluids to be used in a single nozzle, that can be utilized for multiple chemical injections simultaneously or if desired using one of the nozzle fluid feeds to act as a cleaning agent for the nozzle that has undesirable deposits from another injected fluid. 
     What is needed is a fluid conditioning apparatus that is operable for the control of a closed loop system having feedback on contamination levels for a process with the ability to adjust the fluid injection rate and/or process fluid treatment flowrates to control the process contamination levels to a selected level, in addition with the capability for the fluid conditioning apparatus to be operable in hazardous or toxic environments, either for the closed loop process itself or the external environment that the fluid conditioning apparatus is in. Thus, the fluid conditioning apparatus could have the ability to operate in an intrinsically safe manner with the controls in place to set the amount of fluid injected, timing intervals for fluid injection, and have a mechanism to motivate the system fluid to be conditioned at a selected flowrate until a selected de contamination level is reached for the associated process. Further, it would be desirable to provide for removal of a portion of the un-atomized fluid injection from the process fluid stream to ensure a higher efficiency of the fluid injection de-contaminating the process in a shorter time period. In addition, the fluid conditioning apparatus should be skidded as a unit including the control system for potential portability to be in fluid communication with a multitude of selected systems that need fluid de-contamination from their associated processes. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Broadly, the present invention is a fluid conditioning apparatus for conditioning a fluid disposed within, wherein the fluid conditioning apparatus is in fluid communication with a self contained system. The fluid conditioning apparatus includes a housing having a surrounding sidewall positioned about a longitudinal axis, the surrounding sidewall having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the sidewall, inlet portion, and outlet portion all defining a housing interior. Further included in the fluid conditioning apparatus is a means for disbursing a selected component within the housing interior and a means for controlling the selected component disbursing to a achieve a selected fluid condition. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which; 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the fluid conditioning apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side elevation view of the fluid conditioning apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional perspective view  3 - 3  from  FIG. 1  of the fluid conditioning apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the fluid conditioning apparatus including the support structure; 
         FIG. 5  shows a side elevation view of the fluid conditioning apparatus including the support structure; 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional side elevation view  6 - 6  from  FIG. 1  of the fluid conditioning apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  shows an overall fluid schematic of the fluid conditioning apparatus including an adjacent vessel that is being conditioned to achieve a selected fluid condition in the vessel; 
         FIG. 8  shows a fluid schematic detail of the control box enclosure; 
         FIG. 9  shows a detail of the component arrangement within the control box enclosure body; 
         FIG. 10  shows a detail of the component arrangement within the control box enclosure cover; 
         FIG. 11  shows a detail of the component arrangement disposed upon the control box cover; 
         FIG. 12  shows a typical use application arrangement of the fluid conditioning apparatus with the vessel; and 
         FIG. 13  shows a cross section of the nozzle for injection of the selected fluid into the fluid conditioning apparatus. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS 
     
         
           30  Fluid conditioning apparatus 
           32  Fluid being selectably conditioned from the vessel  142   
           34  Selected fluid  32  condition 
           36  Incoming fluid  32  condition 
           38  Outgoing fluid  32  condition 
           40  Decontamination rate of the system 
           42  Fluid communication (CP) 
           44  Self contained system 
           46  Housing 
           48  Surrounding sidewall of housing  46   
           50  Longitudinal axis of housing  46   
           52  Inlet portion of the housing  46  surrounding sidewall  48   
           54  Outlet portion of the housing  46  surrounding sidewall  48   
           56  Interior of housing 
           58  Closed loop fluid duct 
           60  Conditioning portion of duct  58  (A) 
           62  Contamination portion of duct  58   
           64  Monitoring portion of duct  58   
           66  Testing portion of duct  58   
           68  Selected component 
           70  Selected fluid of the selected component  68  (CO) 
           71  Flow direction of selected fluid  70   
           72  Source of selected fluid  70  (CS) 
           74  Means for disbursing the selected component  68   
           76  Means for controlling the selected component  68   
           78  Means for producing a selected gas pressure and flow 
           80  Means for monitoring the fluid  32   
           82  Monitoring the fluid  32  adjacent to the inlet portion  52   
           84  Monitoring the fluid  32  adjacent to the outlet portion  54   
           86  Control for adjusting the selected fluid  70   
           88  Atomization rate of selected fluid  70   
           90  Determining a volume disbursed of the selected component  68  or liquid  70   
           92  Cycling or pulsing of the selected component  68  disbursing volume  90   
           94  Determining an allowable fluid  32  flowrate 
           96  Injector (H) 
           98  Fluid communication of injector  96   
           100  Means for moving the fluid  32   
           102  Means for moving the fluid  32  disposed within the duct  58  (B) 
           104  Anti-static element 
           106  Fan 
           108  Gas motor (G) 
           110  Sound attenuation for the gas motor  108   
           111  Flow direction of the gas 
           112  Air supply (AS) 
           114  Enclosure body (C) 
           115  Enclosure cover (C) 
           116  Power switch 
           118  Air timers 
           119  Pump—gas/liquid 
           120  Pilot valve 
           122  Air supply compressor 
           124  Primary air control (D) 
           126  First regulated air supply 
           128  Second regulated air supply (E) 
           130  Controlled air supply to injector nozzle  96  (AO) 
           131  First air control to power motor  108  (RA 1 ) 
           132  Secondary air control to enclosure  114  and  115  components including pump  119 , air timer  118 , and power switch  116  (RA 2 ) 
           134  Earth point (EP) 
           136  Sample points (SP) 
           138  Support structure 
           140  Suction drum 
           142  Vessel 
           144  Vessel inlet portion 
           146  Vessel outlet portion 
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With initial reference to  FIG. 1  shown is a perspective view of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 ,  FIG. 2  shows a side elevation view of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 , and  FIG. 3  shows a cross sectional perspective view  3 - 3  from  FIG. 1  of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 . Continuing,  FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  including the support structure  138  that the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  is disposed within,  FIG. 5  shows a side elevation view of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  including the support structure  138  from  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional side elevation view  6 - 6  from  FIG. 1  of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 . Yet further,  FIG. 7  shows an overall fluid schematic of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  including an adjacent vessel  142  that is being conditioned to achieve a selected fluid  32  condition within the vessel  142  and  FIG. 8  shows a fluid schematic detail of the control box enclosure body  114  and enclosure cover  115 . Next,  FIG. 9  shows a detail of the component arrangement within the control box enclosure body  114  and  FIG. 10  shows a detail of the component arrangement within the control box enclosure cover  115 . Continuing onward,  FIG. 11  shows a detail of the component arrangement disposed upon the control box enclosure cover  115  and  FIG. 12  shows a typical use application arrangement of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  with the vessel  142  whose fluid  32  is being selectably conditioned. Further,  FIG. 13  shows a cross section of the nozzle  96  for injection  98  of the selected fluid  70  into the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 . 
     Broadly stated, in referring to  FIGS. 1 to 11  the present invention of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  that is for selectably conditioning  34  a fluid  32  disposed within the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 , wherein the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  is in fluid communication  42  with a self contained or termed closed loop system in the form of a vessel  142 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . Returning to  FIGS. 1 to 11 , the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  includes a housing  46  having a surrounding sidewall  48  positioned about a longitudinal axis  50 , the surrounding sidewall  48  having an inlet portion  52  and an outlet portion  54 . The sidewall  48 , the inlet portion  52 , and the outlet portion  54  all defining a housing interior  56 , as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . Further included in the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  is a means  74  for disbursing a selected component  68  within the housing  46  interior  56  and a means  76  for controlling the selected component  68  disbursing to a achieve a selected fluid condition  34  ultimately within the vessel  142 . 
     Starting with the housing  46 , as best detailed in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , in-between the inlet portion  52  and the outlet portion  54  that respectively interface via the fluid communication  42  with the vessel  142  being specifically the vessel inlet portion  144  and the vessel outlet portion  146 , essentially forming the self contained system  44 , see  FIG. 12  for the use view of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  and basic layout of the self contained system. Returning to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , looking at particular at the housing  46  being termed a duct, it can be seen that there is the conditioning portion  60  being downstream from the selected component  68  injection point continuing toward the outlet portion  54 , note that as shown with the means  100  for moving the fluid being optional, as the means  100  may exist outside of the housing  46  or even outside of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 , with the means  100  possibly being disposed within the fluid communication  42  or vessel  142 . Just upstream from the housing conditioning portion  60  is the contamination portion  62  of the duct or being adjacent to the inlet portion  52  of the housing  46 , thus being the point operationally where the fluid  32  communication is substantially directly from the vessel  142  via the fluid communication  42  as previously described. In addition a suction drum  140  is optionally provided to help knock out liquid components coming into the inlet portion  52  to help prevent damage to the means  100  for moving the fluid  32 . 
     Continuing on the housing  46 , there are also means  80  for monitoring the fluid  32  in what is termed sample points  136  on the housing  46  and the vessel  142 , with the monitoring portion  64  of the duct being positioned adjacent to the inlet portion  52 , wherein monitoring  82  at portion  64  is used to ascertain substantially the fluid  32  condition  36  in the vessel  142  or optionally directly monitoring the fluid  32  condition  36  at the vessel  142 . Going further downstream with the flow of the fluid  32  within the housing  46 , a testing portion  66  is positioned adjacent to the outlet portion  54 , for monitoring  84 , that is operationally used to ascertain the change in fluid  32  condition from the monitoring portion  64 , with the information being used for control of means  74  for disbursing the selected component  68  and/or the means  76  for controlling the selected component  68  as subsequently described. Further to ensure anti-static properties of the housing  46 , earth points  134  are provided for on the housing  46  and possibly on the fluid communication  42  or anywhere else the specific vessel  142  procedures require earth points  134 . Looking at particular on the housing  46  the materials of construction are preferably aluminum, with alternatives of stainless steel, or any various composite type materials than may exhibit anti-static or other desired anti-corrosion properties. Other housing  46  materials would be acceptable providing that the functional characteristics of the alternative materials would be acceptable especially in the area of compatibility with the fluid  32  and the attendant environmental conditions such a corrosiveness, flammability, vessel  142  internal pressure, and the like. 
     Looking in detail at the selected component  68 , which is typically a selected fluid  70  that is atomizable into the fluid  32  within the housing  46  interior  56  at the previously mentioned conditioning portion  60  of the duct or housing  46 . However, note that the selected component  68  could be a solid, liquid or gas, or combination thereof. As best seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8  schematically and  FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 , the fluid  70  has a flow direction  71  as originating from a source  72 . Note that the fluid  70  is preferably a liquid; however, it could also be in a gaseous form also. The fluid  70  is a selected chemical composition that is determined by the particular decontamination required within the vessel  142 , and is preferably atomized to substantially be a dry vapor as it is communicated to the vessel  142 . 
     Continuing, the means  76  for controlling is preferably operable by determining a volume of the component  68  disbursed resulting in a particular decontamination rate  40  of the system being the combination of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 , the vessel  142  and the adjacent fluid communication  42 , see  FIG. 12 , wherein the means  76  further breaks down into the control  86  for adjusting the component  68  or typically being the selected fluid  70 . The preferred method of accomplishing the means  76  is by the use of an air timer  118  in conjunction with an air operated pump  119 , wherein the air timer  118  is operated at a selected setting for the timing period based upon achieving the selected fluid condition  34  ultimately within the vessel  142  as best shown in  FIGS. 8 to 12 . In addition, a power switch  116  controls the air supply between the air timers  118 . 
     Continuing, the pneumatic timers  118 , see  FIG. 11 , regulate the pneumatic air supply to the air pump  119  thereby controlling the pumping of the selected fluid  70  into the injector  96 . Referring to  FIG. 8  primarily, and also to  FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 , the timers  118  are in series to one another for their fluid communication signals, wherein the pilot valve  120  works by sending a signal to one of the timers  118  via the power switch  116 , with the pilot valve  120  receiving a timed signal from a timer  118  which allows the pilot valve  120  to send a signal to the other series timer  118  and thus the liquid or selected fluid  70  initiating flow from pump  119 . With the process being cyclical, with the other timer  118  adjacent to the pump  119  completing its time sequence, then the process starts again. Thus, the pulsing or stroke of the pump  119  is controllable through the adjustment of the timers  118 . 
     An inline gas analyzer could be introduced that is in fluid communication with the duct  58  that would allow the treated vessel  142  fluid  32  when it reaches the desired outgoing fluid condition  38  to be released to the external (outside) environment. The air timer  118  is preferably a make and model number SMC-VR2110/VM13 or a suitable functional equivalent. The power switch  116  is preferably a make and model number SMC-VM4P or a suitable functional equivalent. Further, the pump  119  is preferably a make and model number SMC-PB1013-01 or a suitable functional equivalent. The means  76  that utilizes the air timer  118  and the pump  119  is principally schematically shown in  FIG. 8  and physically shown in  FIGS. 9-11  with the schematic association with the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  in overall schematic shown in  FIG. 7 . The selected pump  119  volume as measured in cubic centimeters per unit time and is in the range of about zero (0) to five-hundred (500) cubic-centimeters per hour (cc/hr). Further, the pilot valve  120  is preferably a make and model number SMC-SYA-5220-01 or a suitable functional equivalent. 
     Alternatively, the means  76  could be operable by cycling the component  68  disbursing to a higher and a lower volume over a time period, or in other words selectively pulsating  92  the component  68  volumetric flowrate, being operational to preferably add a greater degree of flexibility to the timing and amount of the selected component  68  that is disbursed within the housing interior  56 , ultimately helping to move towards a more desired fluid  32  conditioning  34  within the vessel  142 . Wherein, the pulsating of the component  68  would also be preferably accomplished by the aforementioned air timer  118  and the pump  119  by the control of the flow  111  of the gas or air to the pump  119 . The selected pulsating volume of the pump  119  as measured in cubic centimeters per unit time with a no flow time period is in the range of about zero (0) to five-hundred (500) cubic-centimeters per hour (cc/hr). 
     Further, alternatively the means  76  for controlling could be operable by determining an allowable fluid  32  flowrate  94  therethrough the inlet portion  52  and the outlet portion  54 . The fluid flowrate is best shown in  FIG. 12  as the inlet fluid  32  condition  36  and moving toward the outlet fluid  32  condition  38  or this could be termed as the rate of fluid  32  conditioning or treatment. This flowrate is typically in the range of about 0.61 cubic meters per second (cm/s) or about 1,293 CFM, at a fan rotational speed of about 2,770 rpm, however, the flowrate could be more or less depending upon the application specifics such as vessel  142  contamination amount, the chemical makeup of the selected component  68 , and the rate at which the selected component is dispersed within the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  interior  56 . The method of controlling the fluid  32  flowrate through the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  can be accomplished by conventional valving either disposed within the housing  46  interior  56  or outside of housing  46  and adjacent to the fluid  32  communication  42  to or within the vessel  142  and/or by way of adjusting the volumetric flow rate of the means  100  for moving the fluid  32  from the inlet portion  52  to the outlet portion  54  being preferably by varying fan rotational speed (rpm) or alternative methods such as changing fan blades or any functional equivalent. The control for selecting the flowrate of the fluid  32  from the inlet portion  52  to the outlet portion  54  of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  is determined from the fluid  32  achieving the selected condition at the incoming point  36  which substantially reflects the condition of the fluid  32  within the vessel  142 , as opposed to the condition of the fluid  32  that is outgoing  38  that has typically the addition of the selected component  68 . This determination of the fluid  32  condition can wither be done manually or in an automated fashion. Further, the means  76  for controlling the selected component  68  could be acceptably accomplished by components other that the aforementioned air timer  118  and pump  119  as long as the generally described function of the means  76  is maintained. 
     Continuing on the means  100  for moving the fluid  32  as best shown in  FIG. 6 , it is preferably adaptable for operation within a compressible fluid  32  as typically the fluid  32  is in gaseous form, and further as the fluid  32  can contain volatile, flammable, and/or toxic components the means  100  can be intrinsically safe in its operation being defined as not having the ability to provide a source of ignition to the fluid  32 , with this entailing a multitude of design factors such as the non use of any electrical power, having non static electricity generating components, using micro power levels for signaling that do not reach an ignition threshold, and the like. The means  100  allows for a selected fluid  32  flowrate  94  through the housing  46 . Thus, also preferably the dynamic component of the means  100  has anti-static  104  element properties, principally being the fan  106  portion that is disposed within the interior  56  of the duct  58  resulting in the means  102  for moving the fluid  32  in the interior  56  or within the duct  58 . This results in the means  100  for moving the fluid  32  and the means  102  for moving the fluid  32  within the duct  58  are preferably an intrinsically safe fan  106  for use in hazardous atmospheres with a fan type of a CBI, at a rotational speed of 2770 RPM, having an Atex category of CE Ex II 3Gc with a rating of 0.61 cubic meters and pressure of 2,490 Pascals manufactured by Halifax fans. The fan itself can have brass rubbing strips, or brass positioned in potential contact/rub areas to minimize the chance of spark as an ignition source. The aforementioned fan being preferably driven by an air or gas motor  108  of about 3.6 HP at 130 CFM motor intake flowrate operating at 2,700 RPM, also preferably including an exhaust silencer  110  that is preferably a make and model Apro-SLD050 or suitable equivalent. Note that alternative fans and motors could be utilized that meet the previously described criteria or primarily operating in a compressible fluid and being intrinsically safe in operation. 
     Continuing, the means  74  for disbursing the selected component  68  as best shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7  is preferably an injector  96 , see  FIG. 13  for cross sectional detail, that could also be termed an atomizer as preferably a brand GTC model number MWB 1520B1C that is disposed within the interior  56  of the housing  46 , wherein operationally the means  74  atomizes the selected component  68  to be disbursed within the fluid  32  ultimately being for interaction with the fluid components originating from within the vessel  142  to achieve the selected fluid  32  condition  34 . The selected injector  98  controls the atomization rate  88  of the selected fluid  70  and for determining a volume  90  of the selected component  68  of fluid  70  that is communicated  98  through the injector  96 . However, other injectors could also be utilized that are similar in function to the GTC unit described above. Further, other components differentiated from the described injector  98  also could be utilized provided that they are operational to atomize the selected component  68  into the fluid  32  similar to the previously described means  74 . In referring to  FIGS. 4, 5, and 12 , it can be seen that the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  has an optional support structure  138  that can be in the form of a frame that can “skid” the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  for enhanced portability and providing a mount for the control  86  via the enclosures  114  and  115 , in addition to various other components such as the sound attenuation element  110  and other various components. 
     In looking at the previously described means  76  controlling, the means  74  for disbursing, and the means  100  for moving the fluid  32 , all or a portion of can be a part of the same control system that is operable in an intrinsically safe manner, resulting in preferably a non-electrical system that is primarily disposed within the control  86  that is disposed within enclosure body  114  and enclosure cover  115  that is best shown schematically in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , and physically in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , and as incorporated into the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  in  FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5 . Thus, in the enclosure which includes the respective housing halves of the aforementioned enclosure body  114  and the enclosure cover  115  that contain the components of the pneumatic controller assembly  128 , the gas driven pump  119 , the pilot valve  120 , the power switch  116 , and the air timers  118 . Wherein the means  78  for producing a selected gas pressure and flowrate preferably includes the source of the pneumatic energy from an air supply compressor  122  being considered as air supply  112  that feeds the primary air control  124  including the first regulated air supply  126  that branches off a line  131  that is in fluid communication with the motor  108  and continuing to the second regulated air supply  128  whose outlet is a line  132  that is in fluid communication with the enclosure body  114 . In focusing on  FIGS. 8 to 10  the direction of pneumatic gas flow being denoted by  111 , that feeds the air pump  119 , the pilot valve  120 , and the air timers  118 , with the power switch  116  controlling air between the air timers  118 . 
     The injector  96 , as best shown in  FIG. 13  is disposed within the conditioning portion  60  receives a controlled air supply  130  from the control enclosure  86  and the controlled flow of the selected fluid  70  to facilitate the controlled or selected atomization rate  88  of the selected fluid  70  into the fluid  32  within the housing  46  interior  56  again for achieving a selected fluid  32  condition  43  within the vessel  142 . The control of the atomization rate  88  of the selected fluid  70  is as previously described for the means  74  for disbursing and the means  76  for controlling that covers the flowrate of the selected fluid  70  through the injector  96  and the optional pulsation of the fluid  70  flowrate through the injector  96 . Further, an optional control system can monitor the fluid  32  between the inlet portion  52  and the outlet portion  54  to adjust the selected fluid  70  injection into the fluid  32  that is disposed within the housing  56  volumetrically and/or pulsation wise in possible conjunction with the fan  106  fluid  32  flowrate to automate the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  into a system for automatically achieving the selected fluid  32  condition  34  within the vessel  142 . 
     What this results in is that the means  76  for controlling the selected component  68  as related to achieving the selected fluid condition  34  in the vessel  142  is all facilitated in an intrinsically safe manner, and in this particular embodiment without the use of electrical power or signaling, thus eliminating the source for ignition, allowing the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  to operate in flammable or hazardous environments. Thus, in a specific embodiment sense, control of the injector  96  fluid  70  flowrate and pulsation, in addition to the fan  106  are all done in an intrinsically safe manner by not having either electrical power or signaling present via the use of pneumatic air for both power and signaling purposes. 
     Method of Use 
     Referring in particular to  FIG. 12  showing the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  in use, a method for using the fluid conditioning apparatus is disclosed that includes the steps of firstly of providing the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  that includes a housing  46  having a surrounding sidewall  48  positioned about a longitudinal axis  50 . With the surrounding sidewall  48  having an inlet portion  52  and an outlet portion  54 , resulting in the sidewall  48 , inlet portion  52 , and outlet portion  54  all defining the housing interior  56 . Further included in the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  is the means  74  for disbursing  88  the selected component  68  within the housing  46  interior. Also further included in the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  is the means  76  for controlling the selected component  68  disbursing  88  to achieve the selected fluid condition  34  in addition to providing the means  100  for moving the fluid  32 . Wherein the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  itself is best shown in a detailed manner in  FIGS. 1 to 11 . 
     Continuing, in returning to reference  FIG. 12 , as local conditions require, the fluid communication  42  lines would be interconnected as between the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  and the vessel  142 , resulting in a closed loop or self contained system  44 , wherein the fluid communication is grounded electrically having an earth point if required by local codes. Further to this on the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  itself the earth point  134 , see  FIGS. 2 and 5 , would be placed in electrical communication with an applicable grounding point. Wherein the vessel  142  would need degassing or other decontamination, with a typical example being the undesirable presence of flammable or hazardous vapors residing within the vessel, wherein the vessel has been emptied of its original fluid for repair, cleaning and the like. Of course there is an environmental impact to be considered if these undesirable vessel  142  gases were simply purged out into the atmosphere without any type of treatment, thus neutralizing to an extent the environmentally adverse properties of these flammable and/or hazardous gases is in important consideration. Thus, in a closed system or as being termed a self contained system  44 , removes the requirement for air or another medium to be introduced into the treatment area to replace the external environment atmosphere as it is being taken out of or moved through the system. This results in the present system being able to draw off vapor from the vessel  142  needing treatment then conditioning it through the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  and eventually releasing it to the atmosphere when the treatment is completed. 
     Further, a next step is activating the means  100  for moving the fluid  32  that is preferably in the form of the air operated motor  108  that is rotationally coupled to the fan  106  to initiate the movement of the fluid  32  within the closed loop or self contained system  44  as shown in  FIG. 12 . Note that as previously described the means  100  for moving the fluid  32  is also preferably set up to operate in an intrinsically safe manner, i.e. being operable in a flammable environment as the fan motor  108  is air driven and the fan  106  itself is constructed of a non-sparking material in conjunction with having anti-static generation properties. Note that the volumetric rate at which the fluid  32  is moved within the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 , the fluid communication  42  and the vessel  142  can optionally be variable as operationally altering the introduction of the selected component  68  or fluid  70  into the vessel  142 . The variable volumetric rate for the fluid  32  by of the means  100  for moving the fluid  32  can be accomplished by controlling the amount of air feed into the motor  108  and thus the motor  108  RPM and fan  106  RPM, alternatively or in combination the fan  106  be adjustable or interchanged with a fan  106  of a different size that would also result in a different volumetric rate for the fluid  32 . 
     Continuing, a next step is in activating the selected component  68  disbursing within the interior  56  of the housing  46 , which is to essentially control the selected fluid  70  being the preferred portion of the selected component  68  introduction into the fluid  32  that in turn interacts with the typically undesirable gases present within the vessel  142  to condition these gases to help make the vessel  142  safe for its planned repair, cleaning, or maintenance and to treat these undesirable gases so as to be environmentally acceptable. In initially using the control  86  that is housed in the enclosure body portion  114  and it&#39;s mating enclosure cover  115  as best shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , the control  86  or means  76  for controlling the selected component  68  or preferably selected fluid  70 , wherein the means  76  preferably includes pneumatic timers  118  and the air pump  119 , wherein the selected fluid  70  is regulated as to dosing or volume  90  length/cycle or pulsing  92  of the selected fluid  70  as atomized  88  through the nozzle injector  96  into the fluid  32  stream within the housing  46 . 
     This is accomplished by adjusting the pneumatic timers  118 , see  FIG. 11 , that in turn regulate the air supply to the air pump  119  thereby controlling the pumping of the selected fluid  70  into the injector  96 . Referring to  FIG. 8  primarily, and also to  FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 , the timers  118  are operable to be in series to one another for their fluid communication signals, wherein the pilot valve  120  works by sending a signal to one of the timers  118  via the power switch  116 , with the pilot valve  120  receiving a timed signal from a timer  118  which allows the pilot valve  120  to send a signal to the other series timer  118  and thus the liquid or selected fluid  70  initiating flow from the pump  119 , with the process being cyclical with the other timer  118  adjacent to the pump  119  completing its time sequence, then the process starts again. Thus, the pulsing or stroke of the pump  119  is controllable through the adjustment of the timers  118 . Once the means  100  to move the fluid  32  is activated and the selected fluid  70  is regulated as to dosing or volume  90  length/cycle or pulsing  92  of the selected fluid  70  the process is continued for a period known as the monitoring step to achieve the selected fluid condition  34  after a selected time period. It can be possible to engage in using the control  86  including the means  76  to readjust multiple times the selected fluid  70  being regulated as to dosing or volume  90  length/cycle or pulsing  92  of the selected fluid  70  in the process in being continued for a period known as the monitoring step and the using step in combination to further achieve the selected fluid condition  34  in the vessel. Additionally, additional injector  96  points could be added at various selected points within the fluid conditioning apparatus  30 , fluid communication  42 , and/or the vessel  142  as desired with each of their accompanying control  86  systems as previously described or with the multiple injectors  96  operating from a central control  86  system. 
     As a further optional refinement of the monitoring step, when monitoring the selected fluid condition  34  further comprises monitoring an outgoing fluid condition  38  at the outlet portion  54  and monitoring an incoming fluid condition  36  at the inlet portion  52  that is operational to ascertain a decontamination rate of the system or defined as achieving the selected fluid condition  34  within the vessel  142 , thus allowing the use of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  to stop. However, there could be a situation that even after achieving the selected fluid condition  34  with the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  there may be a dwell time period to re-test the fluid  32  for undesired flammable, hazardous, or other properties and possibly re-initiate the use of the fluid conditioning apparatus  30  as previously described. When the selected fluid condition  34  is finally achieved without the need for remonitoring of the selected fluid condition  34  then the fluid communication  42  can be removed from the vessel and atmospheric air or the environmental atmosphere can be introduced into the vessel  142 . 
     CONCLUSION 
     Accordingly, the present invention of a fluid conditioning apparatus  30  has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiment(s) of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though; that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.