Process for admixing polymer emulsions with water to produce highly viscous liquids

Claim 2

A process for dissolving a high molecular weight polymer in water to form a highly viscous liquid having a viscosity ranging from about 100 centipoises to about 5,000 centipoises; which process comprises the steps of: (a) admixing water with an emulsion containing said polymer; (b) charging the resulting admixture at a pressure ranging from about 15 to about 300 psi through an orifice that restricts the cross-sectional area of flow of said admixture; (c) discharging the admixture into a turbulent zone having a pressure of about 1 psi; (d) agitating the admixture within said turbulent zone by at least one impeller means; and thereafter (e) withdrawing the liquid thus formed from the turbulent zone.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer constituent of the polymer emulsion consists of high molecular weight, long chain polymers selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide, carboxymethylcellulose, and guar gum.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 therein said admixture is charged through an orifice with a diameter ranging from about one-sixteenth to about one-half inch.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein said admixture is charged at a pressure ranging from about 70 to about 100 psi through an orifice that restricts the cross-sectional area of flow of said admixture.

Claim 6

A process for dissolving a high molecular weight polymer in water to form a highly viscous liquid having a viscosity ranging from about 100 centipoises to about 5,000 centipoises, which process comprises the steps of: (a) admixing water with an emulsion containing said polymer; (b) charging the resulting admixture at a pressure ranging from about 15 to about 300 psi through an orifice that restricts the cross-sectional area of flow of said admixture; (c) discharging the admixture into a turbulent zone having a pressure of about 1 psi; (d) agitating the admixture within said turbulent zone by at least one impeller means; and thereafter (e) directing the liquid thus formed through the turbulent zone to a quiescent zone to permit the formation of said highly viscous liquid.

Claim 7

A process for dissolving a high molecular weight polymer in water to form a highly viscous liquid having a viscosity ranging from about 100 centipoises to about 5,000 centipoises, which process comprises the steps of: (a) admixing water with an emulsion containing said polymer; (b) charging the resulting admixture at a pressure ranging from about 15 to about 300 psi through an orifice that restricts the cross-sectional area of flow of said admixture; (c) discharging the admixture into a turbulent zone having a pressure of about 1 psi; (d) agitating the admixture within said turbulent zone by at least one impeller means; and thereafter (e) directing the liquid thus formed through the turbulent zone to a quiescent zone to permit the formation of said highly viscous liquid.

Claim 8

The process of claim 5 wherein the polymer constituent of the polymer emulsion consists of high molecular weight, long chain polymers selected from the group consisting of polyacrylamide, carboxymethylcellulose, and guar gum.

Claim 9

The process of claim 5 wherein said admixture is charged through an orifice with a diameter ranging from about one-sixteenth to about one-half inch.

Claim 10

The process of claim 5 wherein said admixture is charged at a pressure ranging from about 70 to about 100 psi through an orifice that restricts the cross-sectional area of flow of said admixture.