An apparatus (100) for the production of a plaster slurry is described, the apparatus (100) comprising a mixer (102) for mixing at least plaster and water to form a plaster slurry, the mixer (102) comprising an outlet conduit (122), a foam generator (106) for mixing at least air, a foaming agent and water to produce a foam, the foam generator (106) in fluid communication with the mixer (102) via a fluid pathway (116) comprising a foam conduit (117); and a mass flow meter (124), wherein the mass flow meter (124) is configured to measure the density and mass flow rate of the foam within the foam conduit (117) or the plaster slurry within the outlet conduit (122). Additionally, a method of manufacturing a plaster slurry is described.

This disclosure describes volumetric mobile powder mixer (VMPM) systems and methods for VMPM operation and use. The VMPM is providing with a number of storage compartments (or bins) for liquid or solid ingredients including at least one powder storage bin, a powder transport system, a dust handling system, a solid/liquid mixing system, a cellular foam generator, a product delivery system, and a controller capable of monitoring the delivery and mixing of each of the ingredients, as well as the discharge of the final product. The controller determines if the proper mixture is being discharged by the VMPM and, if not, alerts the VMPM operator. In an automated embodiment, the VMPM controller is also configured to independently control the delivery and mixing of each of the ingredients, as well as the delivery of the final product.

A gypsum slurry mixer output canister is provided, including a canister housing having an upper end, an opposite lower end and defining a canister interior, a cover secured to the upper end, a slurry inlet in operational relationship to the upper end, a spiral block associated with the upper end, and having a helical flow surface depending into the interior. A flow distributor is secured to the lower end and is in fluid communication with the interior, and a slurry outlet is defined by the lower canister housing end.

Cellular concrete is formed from a cement-based wet mix slurry with a foam entrained into the wet mix. The foam is created using a foaming agent, mixed with water and air using a foam generator. The wet mix is mixed with the foam to form the cellular concrete wet mix. Poor component metering and blending practices in the current state of the art limits the performance capabilities of existing cellular concrete placements. The presently disclosed technology addresses this with a cellular concrete mixing system comprising a dry mix hopper to store a quantity of dry mix, a mixing tank to blend the dry mix and water together to form a wet mix, a holding tank to store a quantity of the wet mix, a foam generator to generate foam from air, water, and foam concentrate, and a blend controller to control operation of the overall mixing system.

A material delivery apparatus for delivering foam into a mixer of a ready-mix truck comprising an elongated bar, a support arm, a guide tube and a delivery tube is disclosed. There is a foam tube having one end mounted to the delivery tube and another end mounted to a foam generator. The delivery tube slides within the guide tube. There is a cable mounted to the delivery tube and to a motor reel on an opposite end. Included is a control panel communicatively coupled to the motor reel and the foam generator. The mixer of a ready-mix truck is aligned underneath the delivery tube. The controller is operated to control volume and rate at which foam is to be delivered by the foam generator. The delivery tube is positioned to accurately delivery the foam in the mixer to mix the foam with concrete to produce foam concrete.

A gypsum slurry mixer output canister is provided, including a canister housing having an upper end, an opposite lower end and defining a canister interior, a cover secured to the upper end, a slurry inlet in operational relationship to the upper end, a spiral block associated with the upper end, and having a helical flow surface depending into the interior. A flow distributor is secured to the lower end and is in fluid communication with the interior, and a slurry outlet is defined by the lower canister housing end.

This disclosure describes volumetric mobile powder mixer (VMPM) systems and methods for VMPM operation and use. The VMPM is providing with a number of storage compartments (or bins) for liquid or solid ingredients including at least one powder storage bin, a powder transport system, a dust handling system, a solid/liquid mixing system, a cellular foam generator, a product delivery system, and a controller capable of monitoring the delivery and mixing of each of the ingredients, as well as the discharge of the final product. The controller determines if the proper mixture is being discharged by the VMPM and, if not, alerts the VMPM operator. In an automated embodiment, the VMPM controller is also configured to independently control the delivery and mixing of each of the ingredients, as well as the delivery of the final product.

A method of preparing a concrete composition for downhole injection includes utilizing a controller to control a process including circulating process water in a process water supply loop for a predetermined period while monitoring and controlling the temperature and flow rate of the process water, circulating aqueous-based air entrainment solution in an aqueous-based air entrainment solution supply loop for the predetermined period and controlling the flow rate of the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and after the predetermined period of time in which the flow of process water and aqueous-based air entrainment solution have stabilized, simultaneously actuating valves to divert and mix the process water, the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and compressed air to produce an air-entrained foam and mixing the foam with a concrete composition to be deployed downhole.

A method of preparing a concrete composition for downhole injection includes utilizing a controller to control a process including circulating process water in a process water supply loop for a predetermined period while monitoring and controlling the temperature and flow rate of the process water, circulating aqueous-based air entrainment solution in an aqueous-based air entrainment solution supply loop for the predetermined period and controlling the flow rate of the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and after the predetermined period of time in which the flow of process water and aqueous-based air entrainment solution have stabilized, simultaneously actuating valves to divert and mix the process water, the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and compressed air to produce an air-entrained foam and mixing the foam with a concrete composition to be deployed downhole.

This disclosure describes volumetric mobile powder mixer (VMPM) systems and methods for VMPM operation and use. The VMPM is providing with a number of storage compartments (or bins) for liquid or solid ingredients including at least one powder storage bin, a powder transport system, a dust handling system, a solid/liquid mixing system, a cellular foam generator, a product delivery system, and a controller capable of monitoring the delivery and mixing of each of the ingredients, as well as the discharge of the final product. The controller determines if the proper mixture is being discharged by the VMPM and, if not, alerts the VMPM operator. In an automated embodiment, the VMPM controller is also configured to independently control the delivery and mixing of each of the ingredients, as well as the delivery of the final product.