JPS6339927A - Method and apparatus for continuously producing activated emulsion polymer in variable ratio - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application] The present invention provides a method for controlling the concentration and activity of polymers at high speeds and in batches or under continuous loading. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for mixing and activating the mixture.

[Conventional technology]

Liquid or emulsion polymers are water-soluble, ion-filled organic molecules. The inert or raw polymer is encased by an oil carrier. In this state, the nine molecules wind up in a ring shape inside the lipid bag. The electric charge tries to break the ring shape, but the oil carrier cancels out the electric charge and maintains the ring shape.

Liquid polymers are used in a variety of industries to simplify the process and make it more economical. for example.

Liquid polymers are used for water purification and coagulation, automotive paint booths, and the separation of inorganic substances and solids from plant secretions in the chemical field.
Promote solid precipitation and floatation of coal fines in the coal industry 10,000 oil Improve oil recovery in the chemical industry.

It is used for improved recovery in the phosphoric acid industry, as a dewatering aid and maintenance aid in the paper and paper industries, and for settling waste in the steel industry. Those who understand this technology will immediately find it applicable to many other industries.

Usually the polymer is transported in an inactive state to where it will be used. At its point of use, the polymer must be activated before use. Typically, water or chemicals are added to the polymer to render it an electrolyte that can change the polymer from an inert state that is not easily immiscible to an active state that is immiscible by other substances. The process of converting the polymer into an active state is the process of imparting a sufficient amount of energy to the polymer. Two prior art examples of polymer activation devices include U.S. Pat.
,057,223 and 4,217,145.

Polymers stored in oil are inert.

To unwind the ionized molecules, the sac surrounded by lipids must be broken. In particular, the energy imparted to the inert polymer also includes a mechanical shock that disrupts the lipid coating, allowing water or other electrolytes to reach the long coiled molecules. Once this molecule enters water, it straightens, changing from a coiled shape to a long, at least straight, shape, as if the charges on the molecules repel each other. Until this linearization occurs, the two molecules are useless for most purposes.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The exact amount of energy required to activate emulsion polymers is not known. However, the viscosity of the polymer increases in proportion to its activation. The increase in viscosity is due to the presence of uncoiled molecules that are entangled with each other. The uncoiling of molecules creates active regions within which foreign substances can attach. The increased M content of these molecules then causes them to precipitate and carry undesired substances.

In the use of emulsion polymers, care must be taken to properly manufacture the polymer.

Different polymers require different amounts of energy for activation, 9 with stronger polymers requiring more force and others requiring less force. Furthermore, care must be taken not to cut too much of the molecule. Cutting too much tends to destroy the unwound coil, resulting in lower viscosity and less effectiveness. Even if it cannot be cut, the polymer is inefficient and uneconomical, so it is not effective.

Known activation devices have required relatively long periods of time (such as one hour) to complete activation of other polymers, for example. It may be necessary to maintain the tank during activation for this long period of time. Therefore, long-term activation becomes quite expensive. Furthermore, the long time required for activation increases the capital requirement for purchasing the device, for example when the device is in continuous operation, as is the problem with patch devices. in this way.

A faster polymer activation device is desired.

First, until now, a patch method has been used to activate and activate the liquid polymer. Polymer and water are placed in one common mixing tank. Once in the tank, the liquid is beaten or mixed for a period of time to impart energy to it. After mixing.

The resulting solution must be allowed to stand for as long as is necessary for one molecule to unwind.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved methods and apparatus for activating polymers. In particular, one objective is to provide a multi-stage process that can be a rapid, patch or continuous process. One objective here is to provide a device for activating a polymer in a second or a few seconds for the specific polymer being activated.

A further object is to substantially eliminate the need to hold a tank while a partially activated polymer is left.

Yet another object is to provide an apparatus and method for activating liquid polymers. What is the purpose here?

To provide an automatic, continuous device that can vary the rate of production of activated polymer while automatically maintaining the amount of energy applied and maintaining the desired concentration of polymer.

Yet another object of the invention is to substantially reduce, and in many cases eliminate, aging time, resulting in reduced costs.

[Means for solving problems]

The structure of the present invention consists of four steps as a polymer activation method. namely, pre-mixing, blending, recycling, and a final rapid vacuum. Premixing takes place in a manifold with an electrostatic mixer. The blending takes place in a centrifugal pump where water or other electrolyte (or mixture thereof) is blended with the polymer. The effluent from the centrifugal pump is partially divided and recycled via an electrostatic mixer and a centrifugal I pump. The other divided portion of the effluent stream is sent to a mixing pressure regulator where the pressure applied by the centrifugal pump is rapidly reduced to a pressure at or near atmospheric. This causes the long coiled polymer molecules to suddenly relax and force them to straighten. In one embodiment, the entire activation takes only 1 second.

The present invention allows for adjustments to control the amount of energy imparted to the polymer for activation.

When the relationship between the amount of energy introduced and the output rate is established, 1
The device of the invention automatically compensates for the changes that occur. The device also provides a polymer concentration controller.

〔Example〕

In FIG. 1, the configuration of this device is as follows: an input throttle valve 20 for controlling the rate of water added to the polymer; Centrifugal pump introducing water 22. Closed mixing loop 24° premixing manifold 26. A centrifugal pump 28 introduces the polymer. The water and polymer are first combined in a premix manifold 26. In FIG. 1, water flow is shown as a solid line, and polymer flow is shown as a dotted line.

Valve 20 may be set, by way of example, to provide about 1% water to polymer, with a useful range of 0.25-15%. Associated with valve 20 is a meter (not shown) calibrated in gallons per minute. Adjustment of the valve 20 allows the device to be adjusted to a desired production rate.

Mixing pressure regulator 30 is precise in three areas.

This regulator provides a constant net positive discharge head on the booster module or centrifugal pump 22, which is important to consider the hydraulics of the device.
argehe ad ). The regulator controls the amount of reflux that occurs during the reflux stage. It also provides a variable pressure drop zone in the final step to allow the operator to select the correct amount of mixing energy based on the type and concentration of polymer being processed. Harder or more concentrated polymers usually require more mixing energy.

More specifically, mixing manifold 26 (FIG. 2) is, for example, a block of metal having a central hole 32 extending substantially along its entire length. The hole 32 is.

A terminating wall 36 is formed in front of the input opening 34 which is bored and threaded on the opposite side. A fixed diameter port 38 is formed in the center of the bridging wall 36 to connect the water inlet hole 34 and the center hole 3.
The flow rate is controlled by the hole diameter.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0
Tsugo 4-P ro C'l') ro η ■ η [
F] p m to Nori CJ-1-t-
1t-I J First intersection. A threaded hole 40 is drilled on one side and opens into the other even wall 42 between the entrance to the threaded hole 40 and the central hole 32. A port 44 provides communication and flow rate control between the formed bore 40 and the central bore 32 in the wall 42.

Outlet port 46 is in direct communication with central hole 32 to provide continuous outflow of the polymer and water mixture.

The electrostatic mixer 50 (Figures 3 and 4) consists of two sets of semi-circular baffles, the baffles being at a certain angle to each other and having a circular overall shape when viewed from the end (Figure 4). It is formed as such.

The baffles 52 (FIG. 3A) on one side of the electrostatic mixer are a series of parallel, spaced apart plates. The baffles 54 on the other side of the electrostatic mixer meet at their ends to give a general zigzag appearance. Therefore, the electrostatic mixer 50 slides into the end opening 56'fj:
Go inside 2. A plug 58 then seals the end of the hole. In one embodiment, electrostatic mixer 50 is a standard reprint product from TAH Industries, Inc., Inlaystown, N.C.

The water passes through a centrifugal pump 22 into a mixing loop 24 (FIG. 1).
It is controlled and quantified by 20 throttle valves and meters. The initial activation or pre-blending step takes place inside the centrifugal pump assembly 22.

The centrifugal pump 22 has been derated to an order of magnitude of 2 to 7 on the high end of most applicable temperatures and discharges.

This is a slightly modified version of the commercially available product. On the lower side of the outflow, the lower standard value will be higher. In other words, the diameter of the impeller is trimmed to match the agitation and mixing for each flow rate, and its performance is reduced when the diameter is larger than expected from a commercially available normal centrifugal pump. This regulation is further controlled by regulating the water inlet flow. More specifically, by way of example only, centrifugal pumps typically have a series of flowcharts provided by the manufacturer. 1
Two flowcharts are commonly used, but one
For example, it is stated that it can deliver 20 gallons of water every minute to a peak 40 feet high. Another flowchart would note that the same pump could deliver five times the amount of water at a different rate, or in this particular case, 100 gallons of water per minute to the same 40-foot field. .

According to the present invention, the pump is operated to the manufacturer's specifications and pumps 100 gallons of water per minute, but the diameter of the impeller is small enough to pump 20 gallons of water per minute. The one-way pump continues to run at the manufacturer's specified 100 gallons per minute.

Thus, in this particular case, the centrifugal pump is derated by 5 (ie, from 100 gallons per minute to 20 gallons per minute). After lowering specifications, the increased speed of the impeller, typically required to pump 100 gallons per minute, imparts a higher level of energy to the mixture without increasing liquid flow.

The table below shows 28 of the many different pumps used in polymer injection.

Below are the Yohi pump models: Flow rate 054 AnCAT 0-864
gpdL-10AnCAT 0-2160
gpdL-20AnCAT 0-4320
gpdL-30AnCAT 0-6480
gpdL-60AnCAT 0-12.96
0gpdL-80AnCAT 0-17,28
0 gpdL -100AnCAT 0-21
．． In the 600 gpdL-60 type, the diameter of one impeller is 5
It was inches. In the L-80 type, it was 6 inches. L
-100 type was 6.25 inches.

The non-active emulsion polymer is introduced through the brimix manifold 26 into the mixing loop f24 with a variable speed sump pump 28 which delivers the polymer at the rate and concentration range it reaches. The variable speed pump 28 is calibrated in relation to its ability to deliver deactivated polymer at a rate that accurately achieves the desired concentration. The pump 28 is not adjustable and simply delivers the polymer to the mixing manifold 26.

The water and polymer mixture is returned through the roof '24'i to the premix manifold 26 and the booster module (centrifugal pump 22) which continues to boost the activation level of the polymer.

The final stage of polymer activation is controlled by a mixing pressure regulator 30. The polymer liquid passing through this controller 30 is subjected to a sudden pressure drop sufficient to activate the liquid.

This pressure drop may be adjustable 9 and represents an important factor for the deployment of activated polymer molecules. Pressure controller 30 is a standard commercial item.

To further illustrate, the mixing pressure controller 30 enables the discharge of the activated polymer at the desired level of activity into the mixing loop, on the one hand, the net Iditip suction head 12 of the centrifugal pump, and the cavitation I'm trying to prevent that from happening. Once the desired flow, rate and activity level have been selected.

Mixing pressure controller 30 automatically compensates for flow surges or overflows due to changes in discharge flow rate. In this manner, pressure controller 30 maintains the activity level of centrifugal pump 22 at the desired level.

Mixing pressure controllers are important in three areas. One is used to maintain a constant net positive discharge head on the hydraulically important booster module of the device.

It also controls the amount of reflux in the reflux stage and creates a variable pressure drop zone in the final stage, allowing the operator to select the correct amount of mixing energy based on the type and concentration of the polymer being processed. . In the case of high hardness polymers and high humidity of the liquid, the mixing energy is usually much higher.

Controller 30 is set to drop rapidly from the pressure on line 60 to or near atmospheric pressure. This sudden and sudden drop in pressure has an effect similar to the aging that occurs in storage tanks in the prior art. The limiting factor is that the pressure controller 30 cannot be adjusted to operate at a level that would cause cavitation within the pump 22.

The liquid outflow of the device equipped with the various pumps described above is as follows.

below? ! -Sun 054 AnCat O, 13to
logpmL-10AnCAT 3
to 10gpmL-20AnCAT
4 to 20 gpmL-30
AnCAT 4 to 30g
pmL-60AnCAT 5 to
60gpmL-80AneAT 5
to 80gpmL -100AnCAT
The 5 to 100 gpm device further includes a flow sensor (not shown) that senses the flow rate within the device. Once the water flow rate condition is sensed, (
(i.e., if the flow is less than 3 gallons per minute in pump L-10), the system will automatically shut off and an alarm will sound.

Additionally, a compound gauge 61 in the mixing loop is equipped with a device for visually checking the operating conditions of the pump.

In Operation 2 In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for automatically activating emulsion polymers in desired quantities and at desired activity levels is provided. The device is fast, inexpensive, and reliable, and exhibits a variety of performance characteristics not available with conventional devices.

More specifically, the device admits polymer through an inlet 62 and water through an inlet 64. Throttle valve 20 controls the amount of water entering and thus the ratio of water to polymer. Outflow from the pump 22 is performed depending on the diameter of the opening, the impedance of the electrostatic mixer 50, etc.
! Diversion occurs at India 66. The selectivity of the diversion depends on the nature of the product. In one typical system, about 60 inches of flow from pump 22 passes through vibro 0 and pressure controller 30 and out of the system. The remaining 40%! It flows back to the remixing manifold 26 and from there back to the centrifugal pump 22 at 68. In this way, the feedback loop 24,
66.26, 68.22 will always contain a fresh mixture of previously mixed water and polymer solution, fresh stock solution and refluxed mixture.

There are four stages in the device of the invention. Namely.

These are pre-mixing, blending, reflux, and the final step. Primix occurs when raw polymer and water meet in mixing manifold 26.

The vortex generated by the baffles 52, 54 (FIG. 3) of the electrostatic mixer 50 thoroughly mixes the water and polymer, but leaves the lipid sacs surrounding the coiled polymer molecules intact.

The blending process occurs as a first active action in the centrifugal pump 22, where the lipid bag is broken or broken.

The reflux process accounts for approximately 40% of the outflow from pump 22.

Energy given to completely destroy lipid sacs 1
The reception occurs within the feedback loop 24 that begins. A level of equilibrium and stability is achieved in that substantially all of the lipid sacs are ruptured by the time the effluent reaches the exit vibe 60 and the polymer is fully activated.

The final step occurs when there is a rapid vacuum in the regulator 30 that loosens the polymer molecules. The identical charges on the long polymer molecules then repel each other and act to linearize in response to the rapid vacuum in the regulator 30.

The principles and devices described above can be extended and modified to devices designed to activate different polymers of two different electrolytes.

These variations are illustrated in FIG. In Figure 5...
And the form of the Eve device uses polymers not only water.

It is intended to be mixed with additional chemicals. In this particular case, the polymer is mixed with dimethylamine (MDMA) and formaldehyde. In its pure form,
DMA is a highly flammable material that cannot be brought into factories.

The DMA is therefore introduced via a pump 8o, the outlet of which is connected to the water intake vibro 4 outside the factory and before reaching the throttle valve 20. After the DMA is mixed with water, it is safely pumped into the factory.

Formaldehyde is handled safely within the factory. Therefore, it is introduced via a pump 81 located at a suitable location. Formaldehyde is injected into the water and DMA mixture before it reaches pump 22 and the polymer. The rest of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is the same as the apparatus shown in FIG. Therefore, avoid repeating explanations. Pressure regulator 3o
What emerges is a composition consisting of a polymer mixed in a carrier of water, DMA, and formaldehyde.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a concrete example of the apparatus of the invention which implements the principles set out in FIGS. 1 to 5.

Apparatus 110 is used to mix and activate the emulsion polymer at a desired activation energy level.

Water and raw emulsicon polymer t- for introduction into mixing loop 112. The device 110 is further provided with an outlet for continuously discharging activated emulsion polymer at a desired rate through an outlet 114.

The mixing loop 112 includes an electrostatic mixing manifold or chamber 11.
6 and a booster module or centrifugal pump 118 in fluid communication with each other through conduits 120 and 122. Unactivated or raw polymer is introduced through conduit 124 into mixing loop 112 for activation in premix manifold or chamber 116. Water is supplied through a conduit 128 to a water inlet 126 in liquid communication with the mixing loop 112.

Raw polymer is supplied from the source to conduit 124 through shutoff valve 130 and pump 132t. The device 11,0 allows the desired concentration of activated polymer to be selected and the desired flow rate of water to be selected.

This process is completed by a motor 134 coupled to a pump 132 via a gearbox 136. Motor 1
34 controls the power through electric wire 138.
Receive from 0. Gearbox 136 can adjust the polymer feed rate to mixing loop f112 via pump 132.

Gearbox 136 is calibrated for each polymer utilized. This is because different liquid concentrations exhibit different flow rates for the same pump speed.

Dosing is performed by closing the shut-off valve 130 and filling the dosing column 142 with the polymer to be used. Metering column 142 supplies polymer to pump 132. Polymer is delivered to the mixing loop 112 at a selected rate in relation to the rate of reduction to the adjustment member 144 on the two-limer gearbox in the column 142. Shutoff valve 130 is then opened and polymer is delivered at the desired rate.

Gauges 146 and 148 are connected to the inlet and outlet sides of pump 1320, respectively. These gauges are used for visual inspection of proper pump operation. Gauge 146 is a vacuum pressure gauge and Gauge 148 monitors the pump discharge pressure. A high level valve at gauge 148 warns of a blockage in pump 132 or in the premix manifold or chamber and calls the system to identify and correct the cause of the failure. stop operating.

Conduit 128. Water is supplied to the mixing loop 112 via a metering valve 150 and a flow rate indicator 152. Flow rate indicator 15
2 is measured in gallons per minute.

By adjusting regulator valve 150, the desired flow rate of activated polymer liquid can be selected. Flow rate indicator 152 is equipped with a low flow sensor. When a low flow rate is detected within the device, a signal is sent via wire 154 to control/
? Sent to Nell 140.

The device will stop operating and the operator will be notified by an alarm.

Mixing pressure regulator 156 connects outlet 114 and mixing loop 11
Connect 2. The pressure regulator 156 has a regulator 158, which activates the pressure in the mixing pipe 112 as desired for ffi conversion. Centrifugal pump 118 receives its power from control panel 140 via cable 162.

r-di 164 is the premix manifold or chamber 116
Indicates the suction pressure of the drain pump 118. conduit 1
20 is a viewing window into the mixing loop so that the flow can be seen. A gauge 166 is connected to conduit 122 and indicates the mixing pressure within the mixing loop.

The outlet discharges the activated polymer into a tank (not shown) or directly into processing equipment (not shown). electric wire 168
Communicate between the tank and the control panel. Control when the activated polymer reaches the planned amount in the tank! Nell shuts down the device.

Once the discharge and energy levels are aligned, the system automatically activates the pressure controller 156 to vary the water flow rate to maintain the desired activation energy pressure level within the mixing loop 112. mixed loop 124
We can tell how much polymer is refluxing depending on the pressure inside, which also shows that it is proportional to the conduction of the activation energy. Therefore, as the mixing pressure increases, the pressure in the loop increases, which means an overflow of further polymer via the mixing pressure controller. The mixing loop 112 provides the desired release rate of activation energy and the adjustment that not only provides equilibrium to achieve the desired level but also prevents cavitation of the pump 118. To obtain the flow rate from pump 118, it is necessary to meet the demand of the net positive suction head (NPSH). Cavitation or boiling of the liquid occurs when the pump cannot be supplied to meet the demands of the NFSH.

Therefore, controller 156 and valve 150 balance loop 112 so that the flow rate and activation energy level are
Vary within a range to control the NPSH demand of pump 18.

The device is an automatic, effective, and economical device for mixing and activating emulsion polymers. More specifically, apparatus 110 provides concentration control of activated polymer within a range of about 0.10 to 15%. Furthermore, the device 110 automatically varies the rate of discharge.

On the other hand, Emal Noyon Moon! Maintain accurate mixing pressure to introduce controlled mixing energy into the lima.

Modifications to the invention can be easily made by those skilled in the art. The claims, therefore, encompass all equivalent constructions within the true scope and spirit of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of the invention with two inlets for water and the polymer to be activated. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the brimixing manifold. 3A and 3B are two profile views (rotated 90 degrees relative to each other) of an electrostatic mixer used inside the manifold of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is an end view of the electrostatic mixer taken along line 4--4 in FIG. 3A. FIG. 5 shows the first step for introducing one or more chemicals used in the electrolyte to activate the polymer.
A schematic diagram showing a more complicated version of the device shown in the figure. FIG. 6 is a front profile view of the device of the invention. FIG. 7 is a contour view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. In the figure, 20... Throttle valve, 22... Pump. 24...Mixing loop, 26...Brimixing manifold, 30...Mixing pressure controller, 32... Center hole. 34... Input opening, 36... Supporting wall, 46...
Outlet port, 50...electrostatic mixer. Dimethylamine-'DMAll Procedural Amendment (Method) Date of April 2, 1929

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The step of simultaneously supplying water and an inert emulsion polymer into a mixing loop and supplying a relatively large controlled amount of activation energy at a relatively low flow rate. A method for continuously producing an activated emulsion polymer at a variable rate, the method comprising: controlling the mixing pressure introduced to the polymer in a mixing loop; and controlling the flow rate of activated polymer from said mixing loop. . 2. The step of controlling the mixing pressure maintains a desired amount of activation of the polymer and water in the mixing loop to control the amount of activation of the polymer. The method described in Scope 1. 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of controlling the amount of polymer introduced into the mixing loop to control the concentration of the polymer. 4. A premixing manifold having a centrifugal pump with a volume proportional to the limited outflow produced by a high speed impeller, means for coupling a source of electrolyte to the input of said pump, and an electrostatic mixer therein. a pressure controller coupled to a first input of the manifold with an output of the pump; means for coupling a source of polymer to a second input of the manifold; and an output of the mixing manifold to the pump; and a connection between the input of
A polymer activation device, characterized in that a feedback loop is formed to return part of the output of the pump. 5. The pump increases its flow rate by a factor of about 5 from the standard type.
5. The activating device according to claim 4, which is a centrifugal pump with a lower standard, thereby imparting high energy to the mixed liquid. 6. The activation device according to claim 4, wherein the pump is downrated to a factor of 2-7. 7. The pressure regulator has means for rapidly and rapidly reducing the pressure in the part of the output that is not returned to the pump to cause sufficient relaxation of the molecules of the polymer but without cavitation within the pump. 5. The activation device according to claim 4, wherein no activation occurs. 8. a mixing loop including a pump and a premix chamber in flow communication, means for coupling a water supply to the input of said pump, and means for coupling a source of unactivated emulsion polymer to said mixing loop; A polymer activation device that continuously produces polymers at a variable rate. 9. The polymer activation apparatus of claim 8, wherein said pump pumps a variable amount of said polymer into said premix chamber to thereby control the concentration of emulsion polymer at said output rate. 10. The polymer activation device of claim 8, wherein said control means includes control means for controlling the flow of water into said pump.