Disclosed are systems and methods for detecting the beginning of a flush volume. A blended fluid is output by a fluid blending apparatus and pumped into a wellbore. The blended fluid transitions from a first composition to a second composition. A blending signal comprising time-varying data relating to characteristics of the blending apparatus or measured from sensors associated with the blending apparatus is received. Based on a first portion of the blending signal corresponding to the first composition, a calibration profile is generated. Based on the calibration profile and a second portion of the blending signal corresponding to the second composition, a transition indicator corresponding to a change in the blended fluid from the first composition to the second composition is determined. Based on the transition indicator, a flush signal indicating the beginning of a flush volume being output by the blending apparatus and pumped into the wellbore is generated.

A method and system for concrete monitoring calibration using truck-mounted mixer drum jump speed data selectively assimilated from previous deliveries. The method involves measuring energy at a first drum speed and a second drum speed. Slump is calculated using low speed energy/speed/slump curve data, or pre-stored equation wherein slump is derived as a function of slope of the line. The energy, speed, slump relationship in the provided concrete is compared to at least two pre-stored data curves across drum speed ranges of 15 0.5 RPM-6 RPM and 6 RPM-20 RPM, to ascertain whether the provided concrete matches any of the stored curve data; either activating the monitoring system for all drum speed ranges where a match is confirmed or allowing the monitoring system to calculate slump only at low drum speeds.

A method is provided for monitoring a flow behavior of mixed components without requiring additional instrumentation or sampling. The method is carried out by determining ratios of the power required to rotate a mixing impeller at different rotational speeds and then comparing the ratios. Characteristics about the mixed components are determined based on differences between the ratios.

The apparatus for testing the stability of dispersed particles in flowing suspensions includes a sample receiving cup having a lower wall and an open upper end. A cup outlet is disposed in the lower wall, and the sample receiving cup is adapted for receiving a suspension sample through the open upper end. A pump is in fluid communication with the sample receiving cup through the cup outlet. The pump extracts the suspension sample through the cup outlet to produce a pressurized suspension stream. A recirculation pipe has a pipe inlet and a pipe outlet, the pipe inlet being in fluid communication with the pump for receiving the pressurized suspension stream, and the pipe outlet returns the pressurized suspension stream to the sample receiving cup, through the open upper end thereof. A power monitor is in communication with the pump for monitoring the power output of the pump.

A method and system for concrete monitoring calibration using truck-mounted mixer drum jump speed data selectively assimilated from previous deliveries. In preferred embodiments, the invention surprisingly employs data obtained using different concrete mix designs, as well as jump speed data obtained from high speed mixing after the trucks arrive at the construction delivery site and before pouring the concrete into place at the site. The method involves measuring energy (E) in terms of pressure or force associated with mixing the concrete (“E1”) at a first drum speed (“V1”) and measuring energy (E2) after a speed jump of +/- 2.5 RPM or more to a second drum speed (V2). Slump is calculated using low speed energy/speed/slump curve data, or pre-stored equation wherein slump (S) is derived as a function of slope of the line defined by E1,V1 and E2,V2 and intercept of the plotted relationship (at E axis where V is zero). The E/V/S relationship in the provided concrete is compared to at least two pre-stored data curves across drum speed ranges of 0.5 RPM - 6 RPM and 6 RPM - 20 RPM, to ascertain whether the provided concrete matches any of the stored curve data (i.e., previous concrete E/V/S profiles); and either activating the monitoring system for all drum speed ranges where a match is confirmed or allowing the monitoring system to calculate slump only at low drum speeds (below 6 RPM) and alerting a system user or operator that the system is only active for low speed monitoring

Method and system to measure and monitor the grey water content in a rotating concrete mixer drum mixer truck using a sensor attached to the interior of the concrete mixer drum. By measuring the grey water content before a batching process takes place, the batched water (and cement content and admixture type and content) can be modified in order to maintain expected performance of the batched load in terms of both strength and rheology, or more simply, some or all of the grey water can be discharged from the concrete mixer drum before batching.

A viscosity estimation device includes: a current detector detecting a drive current supplied to an induction motor which stirs a substance due to rotation of a rotating shaft which is rotationally driven; a rotation detector detecting rotation of the rotating shaft; and a calculator obtaining a viscosity correlation value, which is a value having a correlation with a viscosity of the substance, using a detection result of the current detector and a detection result of the rotation detector.

There are described methods and systems for handling fresh concrete inside a drum. In an aspect, a method of determining calibration data for use in determining workability of fresh concrete inside a rotating drum based on hydraulic pressure is described. This method has receiving a probe pressure value indicative of pressure exerted on a rheological probe mounted inside the drum and immerged in the fresh concrete; determining a workability value indicative of workability of the fresh concrete based on the probe pressure value and on calibration data for the rheological probe; receiving a hydraulic pressure value indicative of pressure of a hydraulic fluid used for rotating the drum; and determining hydraulic calibration data by associating the hydraulic pressure value and the workability value to one another.

Method and system to measure and monitor the grey water content in a rotating concrete mixer drum mixer truck using a sensor attached to the interior of the concrete mixer drum. By measuring the grey water content before a batching process takes place, the batched water (and cement content and admixture type and content) can be modified in order to maintain expected performance of the batched load in terms of both strength and rheology, or more simply, some or all of the grey water can be discharged from the concrete mixer drum before batching.

The present invention relates to a method for determining the clay content of an oil sands tailings stream. The method comprises treating an oil sands tailings stream with a PEO flocculant, passing the mixture through a dynamic mixer comprising a mixer shaft and a power drive for rotating said shaft, wherein the power input needed to maintain a mixer rotational speed (RPM) is measured. For an oil sands tailings stream having a specified solids content, the power measurement and PEO dosage level is correlated to a clay content characterization index, for example methylene blue index (MBI), to determine in real-time the clay content during the processing of an oil sands tailings stream.