Patent ID: 8721793

Claim:
A feed pipe mixing system for delivering a homogenous massecuite product to a centrifuge, the feed pipe mixing system comprising: a vertical feed pipe defining an upper end, and a lower end, wherein the vertical feed pipe comprises: (a) a mixing chamber disposed between the upper and lower ends of the vertical feed pipe and operable to mix a massecuite feed with feed water, surfactants, partially diluted molasses or a combination thereof to produce the homogenous massecuite product; (b) a massecuite inlet disposed on a side of the vertical feed pipe above the mixing chamber, wherein the massecuite inlet is configured to deliver a massecuite feed into the vertical feed pipe; (c) a massecuite outlet disposed on the lower end of the vertical feed pipe and configured to discharge the homogenous massecuite product from the vertical feed pipe to the centrifuge; and (d) a feed water pipe configured to deliver feed water, surfactants, partially diluted molasses or a combination thereof to the mixing chamber for mixing with the massecuite feed; an agitator configured to mix the massecuite feed in the mixing chamber, the agitator comprising: a motor disposed on the upper end of the vertical feed pipe, and an agitator shaft attached to the motor and axially extending within the vertical feed pipe.