WO2010065436A1

WO2010065436A1 - In-line blending of microspheres in polyols

Info

Publication number: WO2010065436A1
Application number: PCT/US2009/066051
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gino Francato
Original assignee: Dow Global Technologies Inc.
Priority date: 2008-12-01
Filing date: 2009-11-30
Publication date: 2010-06-10

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to blending microspheres in polyols, for example, as part of a process for making syntactic polyurethane. A system for providing a blend of microspheres dispersed in a polyol at a job site location, may include: a polyol receiving tank (110) configured to receive a polyol from an IBC (10), a dosing station (120) configured to provide a flow of fluidized microspheres, an in-line mixing machine (130) configured to mix the polyol from the polyol receiving tank with the flow of fluidized microspheres from the dosing station, and a conditioning tank (140) configured to receive the polyol -microsphere mixture. The in-line mixing machine may be a mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for transportation to the job site location for mixing the polyol with the microspheres at the job site location.

Description

IN-LINE BLENDING OF MICROSPHERES IN POLYOLS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/1 18,902 filed on December 1, 2008, entitled "IN-LINE BLENDING OF MICROSPFIERES IN POLYOLS". which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates in general to the blending of microspheres in polyols. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to equipment and systems that may be related to the production of syntactic polyurethane.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The term "polyol" refers to an alcohol containing multiple hydroxyl groups. Polyols are used as reactants to make other polymers. For example, polyols can be reacted with isocyanates to make polyurethanes.

The term "syntactic plastic" covers, in general, plastics which contain hollow fillers. Syntactic plastics are usually used as insulative coatings. In general, they offer relatively high compressive strength and thermal resistance. For at least these reasons, syntactic plastics are often used in offshore and/or submarine applications.

In addition, they may be used to provide fire resistance and/or sound insulation. The term "syntactic polyurethane" covers a syntactic plastic including polyurethane. Syntactic polyurethane may be made, for example, by mixing hollow microspheres with a polyurethane. Polyol blends containing hollow fillers are typically provided to users in drums. In some cases, these blends may separate during storage; the users may have to remix and/or reblend the hollow fillers into the polyol, risking contamination and/or damage to the hollow fillers therein. In addition, the required time, space, and money is a significant investment for the user. SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods and systems for providing a blend of microspheres dispersed in polyol at a job site location. A system for providing a blend of microspheres dispersed in a polyol at a job site location may include: a polyol receiving tank configured to receive a polyol from a container, a dosing station configured to provide a flow of fluidized microspheres, an in-line mixing machine configured to mix the polyol from the polyol receiving tank with the flow of fluidized microspheres from the dosing station, and a conditioning tank configured to receive the polyol-microsphere mixture. The in-line mixing machine may be a mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for transportation to the job site location for mixing the polyol with the fluidized microspheres at the job site location.

As another example, the present disclosure provides a system for providing a blend of microspheres dispersed in polyol at a job site location. The system may include: a dosing unit configured to provide a flow of microspheres to a mixing screw, a polyol tank configured to deliver polyol to the mixing screw, and a conditioning tank configured to receive the polyol-microsphere mixture. The mixing screw may be configured to mix the polyol from the polyol receiving tank with the flow of microspheres from the dosing unit. The system may be mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for mobile transportation to the job site location for mixing the polyol with the microspheres at the job site location.

As another example, the present disclosure provides a process for providing a blend of microspheres dispersed in a polyol at a job site location. The process may include: installing at the job site location a dosing unit configured to provide a flow of microspheres to a mixing screw, installing at the job site location an agitated polyol tank configured to deliver polyol to the mixing screw, installing at the job site a mixing screw, operating the mixing screw to mix the polyol from the polyol receiving tank with the flow of microspheres from the dosing unit, and delivering the flow of polyol-microsphere mixture to a conditioning tank configured to receive the polyol- microsphere mixture. The dosing unit, the polyol tank, the mixing screw, and the conditioning tank may be installed as a mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for mobile transportation to the job site location for mixing the polyol with the microspheres at the job site location.

Technical advantages of one or more embodiments of the present invention may include providing a mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for transportation to the job site location for mixing the polyol with the fluidized microspheres at the job site location. In comparison to typical customer solutions, the mobile, stand-alone blending unit may provide increased flexibility, reduced cost and/or investment, and/or more effective mixing and delivery. It will be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention may include some, all, or none of the enumerated technical advantages. In addition, other technical advantages of the present invention may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures, description and claims included herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system for providing a blend of microspheres in a polyol at a job site location, incorporating teachings of the present disclosure;

FIGURE 2 illustrates an example system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure;

FIGURES 3A-3C illustrate multiple views of an example system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure; and FIGURE 4 illustrates an example dosing station incorporating teachings of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by reference to FIGURES 1-4, wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts. Although the present discussion focuses on the application of the present teachings for the mixing of glass microspheres in polyol, the teachings may have applications in other processes and other fields. For example, hollow microspheres made of glass, ceramic, and/or plastic may be useful. As another example, hollow microspheres may be mixed with alternative chemicals (e.g., isocyanate, etc.). When the teachings of the present disclosure are implemented at a job site, a user may have the ability to blend hollow microspheres into a material at the job site for generally immediate use in a manufacturing process (e.g., manufacturing syntactic polyurethane).

The description below may discuss embodiments including a single hopper and/or a single mixer mounted on a mobile skid, but the teachings of the present disclosure may be applied more broadly. For example, one having ordinary skill in the art may incorporate the teachings of the present disclosure to include multiple mixers in a single skid-mounted unit. As another example, one may include multiple hoppers on a single skid-mounted unit. The exact capacities, flow rates, and configurations may depend on the need of the customer and/or the specific details of the intended use. The following discussion does not limit the teachings of the present disclosure to a single embodiment or set of embodiments.

FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system 100 configured to provide a blend of microspheres in a polyol at a job site location incorporating teachings of the present disclosure. System 100 may include any components, devices, and/or features configured to handle microspheres, polyol, and/or a polyol-microsphere mixture. In some embodiments, system 100 is a mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for mobile transportation to a job site location for mixing a polyol with a flow of microspheres at the job site. System 100 may include a polyol receiving tank 110, a dosing unit 120, a mixing screw 130, and a conditioning tank 140. System 100 may receive polyol from a polyol tank 10. Polyol tank 10 may include any components and/or devices configured to provide a flow of polyol 12 to system 100. For example, polyol tank 10 may include a fixed tank, a tanker truck, and/or any other container. As another example, polyol tank 10 may include an intermediate bulk container (IBC) and/or other standardized shipping and/or transport containers. An IBC may carry about 1000 kilograms of a polyol. System 100 may receive microspheres from a dosing station 20. Dosing station 20 may include any components and/or devices configured to provide a flow of microspheres 22 to system 100. In some embodiments, dosing station 20 may be configured to provide a continuous flow of microspheres 22 to system 100. In the production of syntactic polyurethane, dosing station 20 may be configured to provide a flow of glass microspheres. As an example, dosing station 20 may comprise a bulk bag unloader marketed by NOL-TEC SYSTEMS, INC., having a location at 425 Apollo Drive, Lino Lakes, MN 55014, and a website at http://www.nol-tec.com, which bulk bag unloader may be used as in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. A small bulk bag may include about 600 pounds of microspheres and a large bulk bag may include about 1200 pounds of microspheres.

Turning to the components of system 100, polyol receiving tank 110 may include any component and/or device configured to receive polyol flow 12 from polyol tank 10. For example, polyol receiving tank 110 may include a holding tank, a conduit, and/or any other component configured to handle polyol for its use by system 100. In some embodiments, polyol receiving tank 110 may include an agitator and/or other features configured to provide additional shaking and/or stirring to any polyol contained within polyol receiving tank 110. A polyol flow 112 from polyol receiving tank 110 may be valved, pumped, metered, and/or otherwise controlled to deliver a desired amount of polyol to mixing screw 130.

Dosing unit 120 may include any components, devices, and/or features configured to provide control for a flow of microspheres 122 from dosing station 20 to mixing screw 130. Dosing unit 120 may include valves, gates, flappers, nozzles, and/or any other component configured to control the flow of microspheres 122. Mixing screw 130 may include any components, devices, and/or features configured to blend the polyol flow 112 from polyol tank 110 with the flow of microspheres 122 from dosing station 20 to produce a polyol-microsphere mixture 132. In some embodiments, mixing screw 130 may produce polyol-microsphere mixture 132 with a predictable and/or accurate ratio between polyol flow 112 and the flow of microspheres 122. The output of mixing screw 130 includes a polyol- microsphere mixture 132. Mixing screw 130 may include one or more threads and/or barrels as suits the process chosen by the user.

Mixing screw 130 may include any components, devices, and/or features configured to affect the polyol-microsphere mixture 132. For example, mixing screw 130 may include one or more components configured to degass the polyol- microsphere mixture 132. In some embodiments, the amount of a dissolved gas in a liquid is proportional to the partial pressure of the liquid. In such cases, reducing the pressure of the liquid may allow some dissolved gas to escape solution. For example, subjecting a liquid to a vacuum may reduce the pressure sufficiently to allow some dissolved gasses to escape solution. Mixing screw 130 may include, among other degassing features, a vacuum degasser configured to reduce the pressure of polyol- microsphere mixture 132.

Conditioning tank 140 may include any components, devices, and/or features configured to receive the polyol-microsphere mixture 132 from mixing screw 130 and deliver the mixture 132 out of system 100. For example, conditioning tank 140 may include a metering station configured to offload the polyol-microsphere mixture 132 to a user's tank, to individual drums, and/or to the next stage in a user's process for manufacturing syntactic polyurethane. Conditioning tank 140 may include components and/or devices configured to measure, sense, and/or control one or more parameters of the polyol-microsphere mixture 132 (e.g., density, flow rate, quality, etc.).

System 100 may be mounted on skids 160 (discussed in relation to FIGURES 3A-3C). In such embodiments, system 100 may be transported and installed at a user's job site location, giving the user the ability to blend polyol and microspheres and use them almost immediately in the user's process. Installing system 100 and blending the polyol and microspheres at a job site reduces the risk of separation between the polyol and the microspheres. In embodiments where system 100 is skid- mounted, system 100 may be transported by ship and/or by train and then installed and/or removed in a short time (e.g., a couple of days). In contrast to known systems for blending polyols and microspheres, system 100 can be installed and operated with a reduced investment in labor, time, and/or other resources. In one example embodiment, system 100 may mix 2,700 pounds per hour of polyol and 1,600 pounds per hour of microspheres to provide around 3,500 pounds per hour of blended polyol- microsphere mixture. In another example embodiment, system 100 may provide a constant flow of blended polyol-microsphere mixture between 35 and 70 liters per minute. In contrast, existing batch processes for the blending of microspheres in polyol typically require a significant investment in capital equipment as well as plant space for vessels and blenders.

In one example application, the polyol-microsphere mixture 132 exiting mixing screw 130 and/or conditioning tank 140 may be blended with an isocyanate. In this example, the polyol-microsphere mixture 132 and the isocyanate may react to form a polyurethane as described above. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an additional mixing tank may be included in the mobile, stand-alone, skid mounted system to receive the isocyanate and accommodate the reaction between the polyol-microsphere mixture 132 and the isocyanate. In some embodiments, the system may perform the blending steps in a different sequence. For example, another embodiment may replace polyol tank 110 with an isocyanate tank and may blend microspheres from dosing unit 120 with the isocyanate before adding a polyol. In this embodiment, an isocyanate-microsphere mixture may be reacted with a polyol to form a polyurethane. A reaction tank for the isocyanate-microsphere mixture and the polyol may be included in the mobile, standalone, skid mounted system.

In another embodiment employing a different sequence, system 100 may include both polyol tank 110 and an isocyanate tank. The polyol and isocyanate may be blended prior to adding microspheres. In this embodiment, a dosing unit would provide a flow of microspheres to a reaction tank configured to blend the microspheres with the resulting polyol-isocyanate blend.

FIGURE 2 illustrates an example system 100 as well as an example dosing station 20 incorporating teachings of the present disclosure. As discussed in relation to FIGURE 1, dosing station 20 may include any components and/or devices configured to provide a flow of microspheres 22 to system 100. In some embodiments, dosing station 20 may be configured to provide a continuous flow of microspheres 22 to system 100. Dosing station 20 may include one or more microsphere containers 24, a first receiver 25, a second receiver 26, and a pump 28.

Microsphere containers 24 may include any container, vessel, etc. configured to hold microspheres for use in a blending process. For example, microspheres may be provided in bulk bags. As an example, a small bulk bag may include about 600 pounds of microspheres and a large bulk bag may include about 1200 pounds of microspheres. Microsphere containers 24 may be located above first receiver 25 and second receiver 26 to allow gravity to drain the microspheres from the containers 24 into first receiver 25 and second receiver 26. First receiver 25 and second receiver 26 may include any device, feature, and/or component of dosing station 20 configured to receive microspheres from microsphere containers 24. As an example, first receiver 25 and second receiver 26 may include a fluidization chamber configured to fluidize the microspheres with dry air to enhance later processing of the microspheres. Injection of a fluid (e.g., dry air) into the stream of microspheres provides the ability to pump the fluidized microspheres through piping systems and/or blend the fluidized microspheres with other components.

Pump 28 may include any component and/or device configured to impel the flow of fluidized microspheres 22 to system 100. Pump 28 may include any type of pump (e.g., a screw, a reciprocating pump, a double-action pump, a suction pump, a piston pump, a diaphragm pump, etc.) as long as pump 28 is selected to function with flow of fluidized microspheres 22. For example, if flow of fluidized microspheres includes glass microspheres, a screw pump or a reciprocating pump may damages the glass microspheres. In embodiments of the present disclosure using glass microspheres, a diaphragm pump may provide the flow without damaging the glass microspheres.

As shown in FIGURE 2, system 100 may receive a flow of fluidized microspheres 22 from dosing station 20 into dosing unit 120. Dosing unit 120 may include a hopper 124 and a dosing screw 126. Hopper 124 may be configured to receive a flow of fluidized microspheres 22. Hopper 124 may include any features, components, and/or devices configured to remove air from flow of fluidized microspheres 22. For example, hopper 124 may be agitated to remove air from flow of fluidized microspheres 22. Hopper 124 may be located above dosing screw 126 to allow gravity to deliver the microspheres to dosing screw 126. Dosing screw 126 may be any component, feature, and/or device of dosing unit 120 configured to provide control for a flow of microspheres 122 from hopper 124 to mixing screw 130. Polyol receiving tank 110 may provide a controlled flow of polyol to mixing screw 130. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2, flow of polyol 112 may travel from polyol receiving tank 110 to mixing screw 130 through a polyol dosing line 114. Polyol receiving tank 110 may also be connected mixing screw 130 via a polyol recycling line 116. Polyol recycling line 116 may provide enhanced control of the pressure at mixing screw 130. In addition, system 100 may include one or more features configured to repel moisture ingress to system 100 (e.g., a silica gel breather) because moisture intrusion into polyol may affect the processing.

Mixing screw 130 may bring a flow of microspheres 122 and polyol flow 112 into a chamber and mix them into polyol-microsphere mixture 132. Mixing screw 130 may include a screw motor 134, a vacuum chamber 136, and a density meter 138. Screw motor 134 may be configured to turn mixing screw 130. Screw motor 134 may include any motor (e.g., an electric motor, a pneumatic motor, a hydraulic motor, etc.). Vacuum chamber 136 may include any feature, device, and/or component of mixing screw 130 configured to degass polyol-microsphere mixture 132. Density meter 138 may include a meter configured to measure the density of polyol- microsphere mixture 132 as it is mixed. Density meter 138 may be used to control the process of system 100, as a quality control check, and/or for the records of the user.

Polyol-microsphere mixture 132 may be delivered from mixing screw 130 to conditioning tank 140 as appropriate for the user. For example, if the user is running a batch process, he or she may prefer to store up a supply of polyol-microsphere mixture 132 for use in the next batch. As another example, if the user is running a continuous process, conditioning tank 140 may provide a buffer in the event system 100 experiences fluctuations in its output rate. As another example, if the user decides to store polyol-microsphere mixture 132 in barrels and/or other containers, polyol-microsphere mixture 132 may be dispensed from conditioning tank 140 as barrels are changed out. Conditioning tank 140 may include any pumps, fitting, valves, and/or other components useful in the delivery of polyol-microsphere mixture 132.

FIGURES 3A-3C illustrate multiple views of an example system 100 incorporating teachings of the present disclosure. FIGURE 3A shows a front view; FIGURE 3B shows a side view; and FIGURE 3C shows a top view of the same example system 100. As discussed with relation to FIGURES 1 and 2, system 100 may include polyol receiving tank 110, dosing unit 120, and mixing screw 130, as well as a control panel 150 and skids 160. FIGURE 3 A shows one embodiment of polyol receiving tank 110 including an agitator 111 and one embodiment of dosing unit 120 including hopper 124 and dosing screw 126. As shown in FIGURE 3B, polyol receiving tank 110 provides polyol flow 112 through dosing line 114 and receives flow through recycle line 116. FIGURE 3 A also illustrates one embodiment of mixing screw 130 including one possible arrangement of screw motor 134, vacuum chamber 136, and density meter 138.

FIGURE 3B shows one possible arrangement for control panel 150. Control panel 150 may include any devices, features, and/or components used in the operation of system 100. For example, control panel 150 may control the operation of agitator 111, polyol dosing line 114, dosing screw 126, screw motor 134, etc. In addition, control panel 150 may monitor density meter 138 and/or various flow rates, temperatures, and/or conditions throughout system 100. Control panel 150 may provide audible, visual, electronic, and/or other alarms, safety interlocks, etc. In some embodiments, control panel 150 may provide connection to an information handling system (e.g., a computer, the internet, a local area network, a wide area network, etc.). Skids 160, as shown in FIGURES 3A and 3B, may provide convenient lifting and mounting points for system 100. For example, skids 160 may allow system 100 to be lifted by a forklift and/or other lifters. In such embodiments, system 100 may be transported and installed at a user's job site location, giving the user the ability to blend polyol and microspheres at the job site and use them almost immediately in the user's process. Installation and blending at the job site reduces the risk of separation between the polyol and the microspheres. In embodiments where system 100 is skid- mounted, system 100 may be transported by ship and/or by train and then installed and/or removed in a short time (e.g., a couple of days). In contrast to known systems for blending polyols and microspheres, system 100 can be installed and operated with a reduced investment in labor, time, and/or other resources. FIGURE 4 illustrates an example dosing station 20 incorporating teachings of the present disclosure. Dosing station 20 may include two complete dosing stations 20a and 20b. As shown in FIGURE 4, microspheres may be delivered to a job site location in containers 24 (e.g., a bulk bag). Containers 24 may be lifted by a hoist 30 traveling on beam 32. As shown in FIGURE 4, hoist 30a may be operable to lift container 24a and lower it onto first receiver 25. Pump 28 may be configured to draw flow of fluidized microspheres 22 from first receiver 25 and to deliver flow of fluidized microspheres 22 to system 100. Embodiments of dosing station 20 including two dosing stations (20a and 20b), as shown in FIGURE 4, may provide a continuous flow of fluidized microspheres 22 to system 100. A single dosing station may not be able to provide flow of fluidized microspheres 22 while container 24 is changed out. FIGURE 4 shows one embodiment of dosing station 20 that allows flow of fluidized microspheres 22 to system 100 from container 24b and second receiver 26 even while container 24a and first receiver 25 are empty or being recharged.

Although the figures and embodiments disclosed herein have been described with respect to manufacturing of syntactic polyurethane, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alternations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as illustrated by the following claims. As an example, the teachings of the present disclosure may be used in any process that may be improved by a mobile, stand-alone unit configured for mobile transportation to a job site location for the blending of a particulate in a liquid.

Claims

1. A system for providing a blend of microspheres dispersed in a polyol at a job site location, the system comprising: a polyol receiving tank configured to receive a polyol from a container; a dosing station configured to provide a flow of fluidized microspheres; an in-line mixing machine configured to mix the polyol from the polyol receiving tank with the flow of fluidized microspheres from the dosing station to produce a polyol-microsphere mixture; and a conditioning tank configured to receive the polyol-microsphere mixture; wherein the in-line mixing machine is a mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for mobile transportation to the job site location for mixing the polyol with the microspheres at the job site location.

2. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising a mixing screw configured to degass the polyol-microsphere mixture before it reaches the conditioning tank.

3. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising a breather to remove moisture from the system.

4. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the dosing station includes: a first receiver; and a second receiver; wherein the second receiver provides a continuous flow of fluidized microspheres while the first receiver is recharged.

5. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising a diaphragm pump configured to transfer the flow of fluidized microspheres from the dosing station to the in-line mixing machine.

6. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising a density meter configured to provide a density value for the polyol-microsphere mixture before the polyol-microsphere mixture is received by the conditioning tank.

7. A system according to Claim 1, further comprising: the polyol receiving tank mounted on a first skid; and the in-line mixing machine mounted on a second skid; wherein the first skid and the second skid are configured for transportation and installation at the job site location.

8. A system for providing a blend of microspheres dispersed in polyol at a job site location, the system comprising: a dosing unit configured to provide a flow of microspheres to a mixing screw; an polyol tank configured to deliver polyol to the mixing screw; the mixing screw configured to mix the polyol from the polyol receiving tank with the flow of microspheres from the dosing unit; and a conditioning tank configured to receive the polyol-microsphere mixture; wherein the system is a mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for mobile transportation to the job site location for mixing the polyol with the microspheres at the job site location.

9. A system according to Claim 8, wherein the dosing unit includes: an agitated hopper configured to hold microspheres; and a dosing screw configured to control the flow of fluidized microspheres from the agitated hopper.

10. A system according to Claim 8, further comprising a vacuum chamber configured to degass the polyol-microsphere mixture before it reaches the conditioning tank.

11. A system according to Claim 8, further comprising a cleaning tank configured to provide a cleaning agent for automatic cleaning of the mixing screw.

12. A system according to Claim 8, wherein the agitated polyol tank includes a recycle line configured to control the pressure of the polyol delivered to the mixing screw.

13. A system according to Claim 8, further comprising a breather to remove moisture from the system.

14. A system according to Claim 8, further comprising a density meter configured to provide a density value for the polyol-microsphere mixture as the polyol-microsphere mixture leaves the mixing screw.

15. A system according to Claim 8, wherein the system is mounted on a skid, the skid configured for transportation and rapid installation at the job site location.

16. A process for providing a blend of microspheres dispersed in a polyol at a job site location, the process comprising: installing at the job site location a dosing unit configured to provide a flow of microspheres to a mixing screw; installing at the job site location a polyol tank configured to deliver polyol to the mixing screw; installing at the job site a mixing screw; operating the mixing screw to mix the polyol from the polyol receiving tank with the flow of microspheres from the dosing unit; and delivering the flow of polyol-microsphere mixture to a conditioning tank configured to receive the polyol-microsphere mixture; wherein the dosing unit, the polyol tank, the mixing screw, and the conditioning tank are installed as a mobile, stand-alone blending unit configured for mobile transportation to the job site location for mixing the polyol with the microspheres at the job site location.

17. A process according to Claim 16, wherein the dosing unit includes: an agitated hopper configured to hold microspheres; and a dosing screw configured to control the flow of microspheres from the agitated hopper.

18. A process according to Claim 16, further comprising installing a vacuum chamber configured to degass the polyol-microsphere mixture before it reaches the conditioning tank.

19. A process according to Claim 16, further comprising installing a cleaning tank configured to provide a cleaning agent for automatic cleaning of the mixing screw.

20. A process according to Claim 16, wherein the system is mounted on a skid, the skid configured for transportation and rapid installation at the job site location.