US4532026A — Method to improve circulation control in fluidize…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 237 words

A method of controlling fluidization of a particulate material flowing through a fluid conduit, wherein the composition and flow rate of the fluidized mixture of said particulate material in an aerating gas is maintained by introducing aerating gas into said conduit at a plurality of spaced apart locations long said conduit, which comprises positioning a penetrating source of electromagnetic radiation adjacent to said conduit wall to irradiate said fluidized mixture of said particulate material and said gas in said conduit, positioning a radiation detector to intercept radiation from said source after partial absorption of said radiation by said fluidized mixture in said conduit, monitoring the amount of radiation intercepted by said detector to thereby detect localized regions of inhomogeneity in the density of said mixture, and controlling the flow of said aeration gas into said conduit at at least one of said spaced apart locations in an amount and to an extent necessary to maintain substantially uniform density of said mixture in the region of said detector, whereby the composition of said mixture of particulate material and gas and the flow characteristic of said flowing mixture in said conduit may be controlled, including maximum volume of said particulate material at a given density without slumping of said particulate material or without instability of flow and accompanying increased mechanical vibration of said conduit induced by formation and collapse of bubbles of gas in said mixture within said conduit.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 237 words

A method of controlling fluidization of a particulate material flowing through a fluid conduit, wherein the composition and flow rate of the fluidized mixture of said particulate material in an aerating gas is maintained by introducing aerating gas into said conduit at a plurality of spaced apart locations long said conduit, which comprises positioning a penetrating source of electromagnetic radiation adjacent to said conduit wall to irradiate said fluidized mixture of said particulate material and said gas in said conduit, positioning a radiation detector to intercept radiation from said source after partial absorption of said radiation by said fluidized mixture in said conduit, monitoring the amount of radiation intercepted by said detector to thereby detect localized regions of inhomogeneity in the density of said mixture, and controlling the flow of said aeration gas into said conduit at at least one of said spaced apart locations in an amount and to an extent necessary to maintain substantially uniform density of said mixture in the region of said detector, whereby the composition of said mixture of particulate material and gas and the flow characteristic of said flowing mixture in said conduit may be controlled, including maximum volume of said particulate material at a given density without slumping of said particulate material or without instability of flow and accompanying increased mechanical vibration of said conduit induced by formation and collapse of bubbles of gas in said mixture within said conduit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said conduit varies in volume along the length thereof.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method in accordance with claim 2 in which said conduit is a U-tube.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 in which said gas is introduced radially into said conduit at each of said plurality of spaced apart locations.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 in which said penetrative electromagnetic radiation source is selected from the group consisting of fast neutrons, epithermal neutrons, thermal neutrons, gamma rays and X-rays.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method in accordance with claim 5 in which said source is a gamma ray emitting radioactive isotope and said radiation detector is a gamma ray detector.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aeration gas is steam and said steam is supplied from a common source to at least two of said axially spaced apart locations, and flow of said steam from said common source is controllable at least at one of two said locations.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method of claim 1 wherein upon detection of a sudden increase or sudden decrease in detected radiation through said mixture in said conduit due to formation and collapse of gas bubbles therein, said aeration gas flow is controlled to suppress growth of said bubbles as indicated by a substantial decrease in rapid variations in said monitored radiation.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 192 words

In a fluid catalytic cracking system wherein heated fresh or regenerated catalyst is supplied to a reactor pipe from a regenerator vessel with a hydrocarbonaceous feed stream and spect catalyst from a separator-stripper is returned from said reactor to said regenerator by the introduction of aeration fluid into the conduits for circulation of said catalyst, the improvement for controlling the composition of the mixture of said catalyst and fluid, at a desired flow rate of said catalyst which comprises; positioning a source of penetrating electromagnetic energy to traverse at least one of said conduits to irradiate said fluidized mixture of catalyst particles and said fluid flowing therein, positioning a radiation detector to intercept radiation traversing said mixture flowing in said at least one conduit, monitoring the amount of said penetrating energy not absorbed in said mixture and detected by said radiation detector, to thereby detect pockets of inhomogeneity in the density of said mixture, and controlling the flow of said fluid into said at least one conduit at a localized region along the length thereof in an amount and to an extent necessary to reduce irregularities in the density of said mixture.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 192 words

In a fluid catalytic cracking system wherein heated fresh or regenerated catalyst is supplied to a reactor pipe from a regenerator vessel with a hydrocarbonaceous feed stream and spect catalyst from a separator-stripper is returned from said reactor to said regenerator by the introduction of aeration fluid into the conduits for circulation of said catalyst, the improvement for controlling the composition of the mixture of said catalyst and fluid, at a desired flow rate of said catalyst which comprises; positioning a source of penetrating electromagnetic energy to traverse at least one of said conduits to irradiate said fluidized mixture of catalyst particles and said fluid flowing therein, positioning a radiation detector to intercept radiation traversing said mixture flowing in said at least one conduit, monitoring the amount of said penetrating energy not absorbed in said mixture and detected by said radiation detector, to thereby detect pockets of inhomogeneity in the density of said mixture, and controlling the flow of said fluid into said at least one conduit at a localized region along the length thereof in an amount and to an extent necessary to reduce irregularities in the density of said mixture.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-07-29	1989-01-28	1989-07-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-07-29	1993-01-28	1993-07-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-07-29	1997-01-28	1997-07-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method to improve circulation control in fluidized systems

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