Portable Device for the Boration of Continuously Flowing Water

Abstract

A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water includes metering assemblies provided with corresponding grinders and feeders; a feeder for supplying water to the circuit; a meter and/or flow regulator for adapting the concentration of the products supplied to the water; a pumping arrangement for conveying the mixture to a mixing reactor; a reactor with a mechanical mixer; a recirculation line of the mixer; and a supply pumping arrangement, preferably forming two units in independent cages or containers, including a crane arrangement for supplying the boration products in big bags.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, characterised by comprising: dispensing assemblies, provided with the corresponding crushers and feeders, a feeder into the water circuit, a flow gauge and/or regulator for matching the concentration of products supplied into the water, pumping means for taking the mix to a mixing reactor; a reactor with a mechanical mixer; a recirculation line for the mixer; pumping means for supply.

2. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to claim 1, characterised by being made up of two units: A first unit, which comprises a dispensing mechanism, and a loading device for the dispensing unit; and A second unit, which comprises a mixing mechanism and the pumping means needed to discharge the solution towards the installation where this is needed.

3. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to claim 2, characterised in that the units are made up of independent items, able to be connected together by means of the proper conduits, each of said units being set in a carrying cage or container.

4. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to any of claims 2 to 3, characterised in that the first unit is made up of two parts: A lower part, which holds the set of items, and An upper part which holds the roof and which can be telescopically lifted by mechanical, hydraulic pneumatic or electrical means, from a first, transport, position to a second, operating, position.

5. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that at least the first unit (1), for supply and dispensing, comprises at least one crane integrated in this.

6. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that this comprises a crane for each primary dispenser.

7. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to any of claims 5 to 6, characterised in that the crane is made up of a track along which a hoist moves.

8. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to claim 7, characterised in that the crane is extendible, so that this is withdrawn or retracted in a transport position and extended or deployed in an operating position.

9. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the dispensing assemblies constitute supply units, each of these comprising corresponding crushers and feeders.

10. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the feeder to the water circuit forms a water supply line which is provided with filtration means, and also provided with heating means.

11. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to any of claims 2 to 10, characterised in that the reactor comprises: A main inlet line, for the flow of water including the borated compounds; A recirculation line; A supply line; A motor integrated in a hollow made at the top; Venting ducts; An agitation paddle connected to the upper motor; Access holes for cleaning; An insulating envelope for thermal protection.

12. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to claim 11, characterised in that the agitation paddle consists of an impeller, formed of a disk perpendicular to the rotation axis, provided with radial or eccentrically arranged paddles perpendicular to said disk.

13. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to any of claims 2 to 11, characterised in that this comprises heating means in the reactor, in the inlet line or in any of the components.

14. A portable apparatus for borating a continuous flow of water, according to any of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that this includes an electricity generating set for the power supply of the systems in the apparatus, and a cabinet for keeping tools and auxiliary items, such as hoses for joining the units together.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In order to illustrate the following explanation, we are enclosing with this descriptive report seven sheets of drawings, in which eight figures represent the essence of this invention as an example, without constituting any limitation, and in which:

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a view of a diagram of the apparatus disclosed in the invention;

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a first dispensing unit;

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the unit from FIG. 2 in a first, transport, position;

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the unit from FIGS. 2 and 3 in a second, operating, position;

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a second unit, for mixing and pumping;

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a front view of the unit of FIG. 5;

[0061] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the unit from FIGS. 5 and 6; and

[0062] FIG. 8 shows a rear view of the unit from FIGS. 5 to 7, in which the pumping means can be appreciated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0063] The invention, as has been described, consists of an apparatus for borating water in continuous flow, to be used particularly in nuclear installations, through the neutrophagous power of boron.

[0064] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is made up of two main units, to wit: [0065] A first unit (1) for dispensing; this first unit comprises a dispensing mechanism (11,12,13), and a device for loading the dispensing mechanism; and [0066] A second unit (2), comprising a mixing mechanism (21) and the required pumping means (5,16,17).

[0067] According to another embodiment it would be possible to integrate both these units (1,2) in a single assembly, though for mobility reasons this is not so preferable; in this case the connections between the two units could be permanent.

[0068] The inlet line (18) is provided with a filter (3) which enables eliminating the particles circulating with the water, and possibly with a heating element (20) so that the water has a minimum operating temperature (over 3 OC). Under this temperature the heating element (20) will come on and heat up the water as far as necessary to be able to proceed to the dissolving process.

[0069] One or more boron compounds, normally borax, and a pH regulator are supplied into the inlet line. The supply device is located in the first unit (1). This first unit (1) comprises a reception hopper (11,12) for each of the components and is provided with crushers (31,32) and dispensers (41,42). The components are inserted in a mixing hopper (13), which in turn comprises a dispenser (43), which pour onto a body (14) for insertion of the mixed product in the flow line of inlet water, already at the minimum operating temperature. This insertion body (14) is isolated from said flow line by means of the proper valve (15).

[0070] This first unit (1) is integrated in a cage or container which holds the set of items for reception, filtration or heating of the water. This cage or container is made up of a base body (51) and a roof (52). The roof (52) is connected to the base body by means of a set of extendible bodies (55). These extendible bodies can be made up of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders or mechanical slides either driven by electric motors or manually operated. When operating, the extendible bodies extend, lifting the roof (52), and with this one or more crane-bodies (54) integrated in said roof (52). The crane-body (54) is made up of a hoist which can slide along a bar or beam (53), as was stated, joined to the roof. According to a preferred embodiment, said bar or beam (53) can be extended by hinging an end portion, telescopically, or by mechanical coupling of a supplement. The hoist can thus slide from the vertical area of a positioning zone for big bags containing the product to the corresponding dispensing zone, and is able to pour material and fill the relevant hopper easily. Normally each of the reception hoppers will have a corresponding crane-body (54). The material poured from the reception hoppers (11,12) is taken to the mixer hopper (13), and from this to the introduction body (14), and the mix is pumped to the second unit by means of a pump, for example (4).

[0071] The second unit (2) comprises the reactor (21). This also comprises discharge means (5) for the mix entering this reactor, a discharge pump (17) for the mix for its outside usage, as well as a recirculation pump (16) which reinserts any unused product in the reactor through the line (10). The reactor (21) consists of a tank provided with or forming a roof (28), which has been provided with a concavity (7) in which a motor (6) is housed in order to obtain the maximum capacity with the minimum height. The motor (6) is extended in an axle (61) which moves a drive paddle (62) at the bottom. The paddle (62) is preferably made up of a disk perpendicular to the axle, from which radial or eccentrically arranged paddles emerge, on a plane parallel to the motor axle.

[0072] The apparatus is complemented with an electricity-generating set for the electricity supply of the apparatus systems, and a cabinet for keeping tools and auxiliary items, such as hoses for joining the units together.