Addition system

{
  "publication_number": "US9776152B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Addition system",
  "abstract": "An addition system for introducing particulate material into an industrial process is disclosed. The addition system comprises a vessel for holding the particulate material, a weighing device, piping, a controller, and a frame to support the piping. The piping comprises a first valve for transferring the particulate material to the industrial process, and a second valve for transferring a first stream of pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas to the vessel. The vessel comprises a filling nozzle located on the top of the vessel.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An addition system for introducing particulate material into an industrial process, said addition system comprising: (a) a vessel for holding the particulate material, wherein the vessel has a top and a bottom and the vessel comprises a filling nozzle located on the top of the vessel; (b) a weighing device; (c) piping that comprises a first valve for transferring the particulate material from the vessel to the industrial process, and a second valve for transferring a first stream of pressurized gas from a source of pressurized gas to the vessel; (d) a controller for controlling operation of the addition system; (e) a frame to support the piping and optionally the controller; and (f) a particulate material emptying device to load the particulate material into the filling nozzle, wherein the particulate material emptying device comprises a funnel adapter, a tilting cradle and a bucket; the funnel adapter is connected to the filling nozzle on a hinge through a funnel clamp; and the tilting cradle is connected to the filling nozzle on the hinge through a tilting cradle clamp.",
    "2. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the filling nozzle comprises a funnel and a third valve.",
    "3. The addition system of claim 1, wherein a hinged or detachable cover is located on top of the filling nozzle.",
    "4. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the weighing device comprises one or more load cells.",
    "5. The addition system of claim 4, wherein the load cells are mounted on the vessel and supported on the frame.",
    "6. The addition system of claim 4, wherein the load cells are mounted on the vessel and supported off the ground on one or more legs.",
    "7. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the piping comprises quick disconnect couplings with flexible hosing and tubing.",
    "8. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a micro-PLC.",
    "9. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the first valve is a metering valve.",
    "10. The addition system of claim 1, further comprising a metering device interfaced with the vessel and configured to provide a metric indicative of an amount of particulate material transferred from the vessel to the industrial process.",
    "11. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the particulate material emptying device is controlled by the controller.",
    "12. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the funnel adapter contains a first rubber gasket or seal to secure the funnel to the top of the filling nozzle and a second rubber gasket or seal to secure the bucket to the funnel adapter.",
    "13. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the vessel is cone-shaped.",
    "14. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the vessel is a dished-end bottom.",
    "15. The addition system of claim 1, wherein the industrial process is a fluid catalytic cracking process."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention is an addition system for adding particulate matter to industrial processes, such as a fluid catalytic cracking (“FCC”) process, where small amounts of powder need to be added in a controlled manner.\n\nRefiners and other industrial manufacturers who add powdered catalyst additives to their processes at a rate of 20 lb/day or greater are well served by the technology available on the market today. In such applications, catalyst and additive suppliers normally supply their smallest standard addition system (for example, 50 ft 3 (1.5 ton) capacity) such that the catalyst or additive are supplied to the industrial process in 1 ton tote bins, 1 ton supersacks, or open-topped 55 gallon drums. The catalyst or additive is most commonly transferred from these shipping containers into the addition system using a vacuum ejector built into the addition system, although pressurized and gravity unloading are practiced.\n\nFor processors who want to add less than about 20 lb/day, the above method is not practical. The weight resolution of the addition system is not sensitive enough, and shipping a 2,000 lb tote bin or supersack for a 10 lb/day application would mean ordering 200 days worth of catalyst or additive at a time. This is not cost effective.\n\nCurrently, industrial processors typically have two options to handle small quantities of catalyst or additives. One option is to receive the additive deliveries loose in open topped 55 gallon drums or 20-40 lb pails, and an operator would then need to scoop the additive out using a ladle or similar device, and add it to the process using a manual shot pot.",
  "cpc": [
    "B01J 8/003",
    "B01J 2208/00539",
    "B01J 2208/00619",
    "B01J 2208/00752",
    "B01J 8/0015",
    "B65G 65/23",
    "B65G 65/32",
    "B67C 11/04",
    "C10G 11/18",
    "C10G 11/187",
    "G01F 11/003",
    "G01G 17/04"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01J 8/00",
    "B65G 65/23",
    "B65G 65/32",
    "B67C 11/04",
    "C10G 11/18",
    "G01F 11/00",
    "G01G 17/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Johnson Matthey Process Technologies Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Martin Evans",
    "Rahul Jagannath PRASAD",
    "Manishkumar Jayantilal JOSHI"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-03",
  "publication_date": "2017-10-03",
  "grant_date": "2017-10-03",
  "priority_date": "2015-02-09",
  "application_number": "US-201615014325-A",
  "family_id": "55453269",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US2467162A",
    "GB922556A",
    "US3137402A",
    "GB962482A",
    "GB1037968A",
    "GB1152235A",
    "WO2001005496A1",
    "US7050944B2",
    "US7606678B2",
    "US8099259B2",
    "US6859759B2",
    "US7815867B2",
    "US8097213B2"
  ]
}