Method and apparatus for transferring material into a fluid stream

Abstract

Method and apparatus for transfer of material such as liquids or fluid like solids into a high-pressure fluid stream to establish a desired flow rate by using a metering device, a reservoir for mixing fluids and solids, a first conduit connected to a top of the reservoir for flowing fluids and controlling atmosphere pressure, a second conduit connected to a top of the reservoir for supplying solids, the metering device connected to the bottom of the reservoir and controlled by a metering controller for controlling pressure of a mixture of fluids and solids, and a cross conduit mounted to the metering device for injecting the mixture of fluids and solids into the fluid stream.

1 . An apparatus for transferring material into a fluid stream comprising: 
 (a) a reservoir adapted to store the material;    (b) a first conduit connected to a top portion of the reservoir for flowing fluids and controlling pressure;    (c) a metering device connected with the reservoir and controlled by a metering controller for controlling the pressure of a fluid stream; and    (d) a mixing chamber connected with the metering device, said mixing chamber adapted to contact the material with the fluid stream.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluids are liquids, fluid like solids or nitrogen.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the material comprises sieved sand, resin coated sand, resin coated ceramic proppant, glass spheres, plastic spheres, synthetic particles or a mix thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is adapted to withstand high-pressure, of at least about 10,000 psi.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir has a working volume between about 0.001 m 3  and 20 m 3 .  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first conduit includes a valve for controlling a volume of fluids and a valve for controlling an atmospheric vent.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second conduit includes a valve for controlling a volume of material.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the metering device includes a seat and a dart for controlling pressure of the fluid stream.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the seat is cylindrically shaped and tapered both top and bottom toward the central portion.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the dart is cone shape and is movable toward and away from the seat.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the dart includes a linear actuator which is connected to a metering controller.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mixing chamber includes an entering gate for controlling pressure and an exit gate for injecting the fluid stream.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first conduit includes an adjustable choke between the first conduit and the entering gate for creating a pressure differential.  
   
   
       14 . A method for transferring material into a fluid stream comprising the steps of: 
 (a) adding material into a reservoir;    (b) flowing a fluid stream to the material;    (c) controlling pressure of the material and a fluid stream using a metering device;    (d) creating a pressure differential across the material using an adjustable choke; and    (e) allowing gravity and the pressure differential to add the material into the fluid stream,    wherein the metering device may be used to control the rate at which the material is added.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the material comprises sieved sand, resin coated sand, resin coated ceramic proppant, glass spheres, plastic spheres, synthetic particles or a mix thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid is nitrogen.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the material is a proppant.