| 摘要 |
Particulate materials are blended in a vessel provided with a plurality of vertically extending conduits therein. The vessel comprises a downwardly converging frustoconically shaped bottom wall which defines the lower region of the vessel. The lower ends of the conduits extend through corresponding openings in the bottom wall and are connected by suitable conduit means with a solids outlet at the open bottom of the bottom wall, an outlet conduit extending downwardly therefrom with a solids flow control valve interposed therein. A recycle conduit extends from the interior of the outlet conduit at a position above the solids flow control valve therein upwardly to a solids hopper positioned above the vessel. A blower is connected to the upper portion of the vessel and applies vacuum thereto and to the recycle conduit for withdrawing particulate materials or solids through the recycle conduit into the hopper. A hopper conduit extends from the bottom of the hopper to the interior of the upper portion of the vessel and is provided with a flow control valve interposed therein. A sample valve mechanism is interposed in the recycle conduit for withdrawing samples of the solids from within the recycle conduit. Recycle vents communicate between the interior of the recycle conduit and atmosphere via excess flow valves to provide means for facilitating the fluidizing of solids within the recycle conduit in response to the vacuum applied thereto by the blower. Methods of blending solids using the described apparatus are also disclosed. |
