US3582142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas injection arrangement for resuspending settled solids in shut-down slurry pipeline
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1969-02-26
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-02-26
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for facilitating the resuspension of settled solids in a shutdown slurry pipeline. Small amounts of gas under high pressure are explosively vented or injected into a pipeline at selected locations to loosen compacted slurry solid phase material to facilitate its resuspension in the liquid phase upon pipeline restart.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E Titus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:35
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/032; B08B9/0321; B08B9/0328; B08B2209/00; B08B2209/02; B08B2209/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for facilitating the resuspension of settled solids in a shutdown slurry pipeline, said slurry having a solid phase and a liquid phase, said pipeline being inclined to the horizontal over at least a portion of its length and including an uppermost portion at one end of said inclined portion and a lowermost portion at the other end of said inclined portion where slumping and compacting of said solid phase is likely to occur under the influence of gravity upon pipeline shutdown, said apparatus comprising: inlet pipe means communicating with the interior of said pipeline along a substantial portion of the pipeline where plug formation by said slurry solid phase is likely to occur due to slumping and compacting of the solid phase under the influence of gravity; a source of high-pressure gas operatively associated with said inlet pipe means, said gas being chemically inert with respect to said slurry; and means disposed in operative association with said inlet pipe means and said source of high-pressure gas for selectively introducing said gas into said pipeline so as to loosen the solid phase material comprising the plug to facilitate the resuspension of said slurry solid phase in said liquid phase upon restart of said shutdown slurry pipeline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
Apparatus for facilitating the resuspension of settled solids in a shutdown slurry pipeline, said slurry having a solid phase and a liquid phase, said pipeline being inclined to the horizontal over at least a portion of its length and including an uppermost portion at one end of said inclined portion and a lowermost portion at the other end of said inclined portion where slumping and compacting of said solid phase is likely to occur under the influence of gravity upon pipeline shutdown, said apparatus comprising: inlet pipe means communicating with the interior of said pipeline along a substantial portion of the pipeline where plug formation by said slurry solid phase is likely to occur due to slumping and compacting of the solid phase under the influence of gravity; a source of high-pressure gas operatively associated with said inlet pipe means, said gas being chemically inert with respect to said slurry; and means disposed in operative association with said inlet pipe means and said source of high-pressure gas for selectively introducing said gas into said pipeline so as to loosen the solid phase material comprising the plug to facilitate the resuspension of said slurry solid phase in said liquid phase upon restart of said shutdown slurry pipeline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparaTus of claim 1 wherein said source of high-pressure gas comprises tank means affixed to said inlet pipe means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said tank means comprises a plurality of separate high-pressure tanks and said inlet pipe means comprises a plurality of separate inlet pipes spaced along said pipeline and connected to said tanks.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for facilitating the resuspension of settled solids in a shutdown slurry pipeline, said slurry having a solid phase and a liquid phase, said pipeline being inclined to the horizontal over at least a portion of its length and including an uppermost portion at one end of said inclined portion and a lowermost portion at the other end of said inclined portion, where slumping and compacting of said solid phase is likely to occur under the influence of gravity upon pipeline shutdown, said method comprising: selectively explosively introducing gas which is chemically inert with respect to said slurry under high pressure along a substantial portion of the lowermost portion of the pipeline where plug formation by said slurry solid phase is likely to occur due to slumping and compacting of the solid phase under the influence of gravity to thereby loosen the solid phase material comprising the plug to facilitate the resuspension thereof upon pipeline restart; and resuming slurry transport in said pipeline.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for facilitating the resuspension of settled solids in a shutdown slurry pipeline, said slurry having a solid phase and a liquid phase, said pipeline being inclined to the horizontal over at least a portion of its length and including an uppermost portion at one end of said inclined portion and a lowermost portion at the other end of said inclined portion, where slumping and compacting of said solid phase is likely to occur under the influence of gravity upon pipeline shutdown, said method comprising: selectively explosively introducing gas which is chemically inert with respect to said slurry under high pressure along a substantial portion of the lowermost portion of the pipeline where plug formation by said slurry solid phase is likely to occur due to slumping and compacting of the solid phase under the influence of gravity to thereby loosen the solid phase material comprising the plug to facilitate the resuspension thereof upon pipeline restart; and resuming slurry transport in said pipeline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said gas is introduced under high pressure into said pipeline at a plurality of locations spaced along said pipeline.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |