Dilution apparatus and method

Claim 1

Apparatus for diluting polymer solutions having a gel-like consistency to provide a polymer solution having a substantially non-gel-like consistency while at the same time minimizing polymer degradation as the polymer solution is undergoing a physical change from a gel-like consistency to a substantially non-gel-like consistency, comprising: an elongated chamber having an inlet for introducing a polymer solution having a gel-like consistency into the chamber and an outlet for removing the polymer solution in a substantially non-gel-like form from the chamber; polymer solution distributor means within the chamber at the inlet thereof for initially dispersing and increasing the surface area of the gel-like polymer solution as it is introduced into the chamber; conduit means at the inlet of the chamber for introducing a fluid diluent to be absorbed by the gel-like polymer solution; at least three polymer solution dispersing stations positioned in longitudinally spaced relation to one another along the length of the chamber, each of the stations in the chamber including at least two perforated members, each member of a station having a plurality of small openings of substantially the same size therethrough, the openings in the perforated members of the station adjacent the inlet of the chamber being larger than the openings in the perforated members of the other stations in the chamber; flow control elements positioned in the chamber between each of the polymer solution dispersing stations, said flow control elements acting to substantially eliminate shear forces which may tend to degrade the polymer comprising the polymer solution, the perforated members of each station being arranged with respect to each other and with respect to the perforated members of each of the other stations and with respect to the flow control elements to provide an uninterrupted, continuous, non-turbulent flow of the polymer solution from one station to the next station, the size of the perforations in the perforated members at each station being such that the surface area of the gel-like polymer solution exposed to the fluid diluent will be progressively increased at each successive station to enable larger volumes of the fluid diluent to be absorbed by the gel-like polymer solution until the polymer solution is in a substantially non-gel like form when it exits from the chamber and the polymer will have undergone essentially no degradation.