Claims
- 1. Apparatus for receiving a polymer and water and activating and dissolving the polymer comprising:
- a mixing vessel defining a first processing zone and a second processing zone, said mixing vessel including baffle means for isolating said first processing zone from said second processing zone, said baffle means forming an outlet, said second processing zone being in communication with said first processing zone through said outlet,
- means for supplying a polymer to said first processing zone of said mixing vessel,
- means for supplying water to said first processing zone of said mixing vessel,
- means for retaining the polymer in said first processing zone for a first contact time,
- means for subjecting the polymer in said first processing zone to a first shear rate while it is retained in said first processing zone by rotating a first impeller means in said first processing zone to initiate dissolution and activation of the polymer in the water by moving the polymer in a direction away from said outlet,
- means for moving the polymer through said first processing zone and said outlet, and into said second processing zone of said mixing vessel,
- means for retaining the polymer in said second processing zone for a second contact time, the second contact time being greater than the first contact time,
- means for subjecting the polymer in said second processing zone to a second shear rate while it is retained in said second processing zone by rotating a second impeller means in said second processing zone said second shear rate further dissolving and activating the polymer to form an active polymer solution, said second shear rate being lower than said first shear rate
- means for discharging the active polymer solution from said second processing zone.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first impeller means comprises a first rotating shaft extending through said first processing zone; a first circular plate fixedly attached to and extending radially outward from said shaft within said first processing zone; a second circular plate, said first circular plate being disposed between said second circular plate and said baffle means, said second plate generally aligned with said first plate and defining a central circular aperture, said shaft extending through said circular aperture; and a plurality of fins extending outward radially from said shaft, each of said fins being attached to said first plate and said second plate and extending from said first plate to said second plate.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the diameter of said circular aperture is substantially greater than the diameter of said shaft to define an annular passageway.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said circular aperture is aligned with said outlet.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein an outer edge of each fin adjacent said second circular plate defines a notch and at least one of said fins defines an aperture generally between said notch and said first circular plate to enhance movement of said fins through the polymer adding to the turbulence generated by said rotating first impeller means.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first plate is in a parallel spaced relation with said baffle means.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second impeller means comprises a second rotary shaft extending through the second processing zone; a plurality of disk means having a top and bottom surface defining a circular aperture through which passes said shaft, at least one of said disk means having at least one radially extending first groove in one of the top surface and bottom surface of said at least one disk means.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said at least one disk means has at least one radially extending second groove in the other of the top surface and bottom surface of said at least one disk means.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said at least one disk means includes four (4) first grooves at right angles with respect to each other and four (4) second grooves at right angles to each other, said second grooves being offset 45 degrees with respect to said first grooves.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said plurality of disk means includes three parallel disk means, each said disk means being spaced from an adjacent said disk means by an equal distance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/657,829, filed Feb. 19, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,635 which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/595,313, filed Oct. 10, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,456, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/089,344, filed Aug. 25, 1987 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (28)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
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257740 |
Feb 1988 |
EPX |
Divisions (2)
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Number |
Date |
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595313 |
Oct 1990 |
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89344 |
Aug 1987 |
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Continuations (1)
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657829 |
Feb 1991 |
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