A system is disclosed for transporting solid particles having a size range from 1/10 micron to 22 mm. in diameter, including a feed hopper formed of an inverted cone frustum, a cylindrical tube, and an inverted cone, a source of solid particles contained in the feed hopper, a transparent pipe inserted into the feed hopper coaxially with the axis of the feed hopper, fluid introducing pipes for introducing fluid such as gas or liquid into the bottom of the feed hopper including a spout inlet feed pipe at the apex of the inverted cone and coaxially located opposite the transport pipe and forming an adjustable gap between the bottom of the transport pipe and the top of the spout inlet pipe, and at least one annulus feed pipe entering a side wall of the inverted cone, and computer controlled values to regulate the temperature, humidity and rate of flow of the introduced fluid. The solid particles are fluidized in the hopper and then fed into the transport pipe to be delivered where desired. In one preferred embodiment the solid particles obscure infrared radiation, and accordingly, a cloud of such particles vented outside a vehicle from inside a vehicle is effective to obscure the movement of such a vehicle from infrared ray detectors.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method which is capable of reducing a crushing rate of grain when the grain such as rice is transported by means of gas through pipes. The temperature of the grain in a grain accommodation tank which is connected to a transportation pipe for grain is measured. A temperature signal indicating this temperature is sent to control means, which determines the temperature of transportation gas so that a difference between this temperature and the temperature of the grain is within a predetermined range. The determined temperature is transmitted to an intercooler so that the temperature of the transportation gas which is sent from a blower and flows through the transportation pipe is controlled to be at the determined specific temperature. Transportation of the grain by means of the transportation gas at this temperature prevents the grain from crushing.
Solid samples having a uniform sorbate content are produced by directing a gas having a constant sorbate pressure through a plurality of containers, each container enclosing a solid sample. The sorbate content of the solid samples equilibrates with the sorbate pressure in the gas, thereby causing the solid samples to have a uniform sorbate content. An apparatus that can be employed to generate solid samples having a uniform sorbate content includes a relative humidity generator, and a manifold which connects the relative humidity generator to a plurality of solid sample containers.
Vessels for selectively holding drilling cuttings material and methods employing such vessels; the vessels, in at least certain aspects, having a body with a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which the material may exit from the body; a first opening through which the material enters into the container; a second opening through which the material passes out from the container; and movement apparatus with a movement member within the container movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the material into the second opening; and in certain aspects, the vessels having moisture-content sensor apparatus on the body for sensing moisture content of material within a vessel; conduit apparatus for conducting drilling cuttings from the exit opening; valve apparatus for selectively controlling flow of material in the conduit apparatus; and a controller in communication with the moisture-content sensor apparatus and the valve apparatus for selectively controlling flow in the conduit apparatus.
An apparatus for transporting solid waste drill cuttings material produced in the drilling of an oil or gas well, the apparatus including: a waste supply apparatus; a feeder to transport the material; a pneumatic conveying apparatus to which the material is transferred from the feeder; at least one blockage sensing device in the conveyor; and a control apparatus for controlling feed rate of the feeder.
Methods for processing drill cuttings including measuring moisture content of the drill cuttings; systems for doing this; methods for moving drill cuttings using conduits with spaced-apart inlets for applying positive pressure; and feeding apparatuses for loading drill cuttings into a positive pressure conduit.
