Patent ID: 7566165

Claim:
A manifold suitable for introducing one or more additives into a fluid stream, the manifold comprising: (a) a conduit for conveying the fluid stream, the conduit having a length and a flowpath extending along the length thereof, the conduit comprising: (i) an exterior wall, the exterior wall defining a surface of the conduit, (ii) an interior wall, the interior wall defining a diameter of the flowpath, and (iii) a plurality of ports extending from the exterior wall to the interior wall of the conduit, each of the ports having a center point and being disposed at a discrete location about the diameter of the flowpath and along the length of the conduit such that the center points of the ports are disposed on two or more transverse planes of the conduit and no longitudinal, diametrical plane of the conduit passing through the center point of any one of the ports is coplanar with a longitudinal, diametrical plane of the conduit passing through the center point of a longitudinally adjacent port, (b) a plurality of corresponding nozzles, each nozzle connected to a respective port and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a duct connecting the distal and proximal ends thereof, the distal end of each nozzle projecting inward from the interior wall of the conduit and being disposed in the flowpath of the conduit to permit fluid communication between the duct and the flowpath, and (c) a plurality of corresponding valves, each valve being connected to a respective nozzle, each valve being in fluid communication with the duct of the respective nozzle and adapted to introduce at least one additive into the duct of the nozzle and into the flowpath of the conduit.