Intermixing of fluid in plural tanks while maintaining the fluid levels in the tanks independent

US4215719A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• AGFA-Gervaert AG · DE

Inventors

• Erwin Laar · Taufkirchen, DE
• Werner Sieber · Riehen, CH
• Josef Spickenreither · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 30, 1978
• Grant date: Aug 5, 1980
• Expiry date: Aug 30, 1998

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T137/86187
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Fluid is withdrawn from plural fluid-filled tanks via respective outflow conduits leading into a common mixing conduit which includes a mixing pump, and then branches off through respective inflow conduits for return of intermixed fluid back to the individual tanks. Each inflow conduit is provided with a valve unit comprising a vessel-like housing having an inlet port and an outlet port. The flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is regulated in dependence upon the height of fluid in the respective tank. The fluid height is sensed indirectly by sensing the height or pressure of fluid in the interior of the vessel-like housing, the latter being at least partly lower than the height of fluid in the respective tank. Thus, the return of fluid into each tank is regulated to maintain a respective fluid height therein independently of the other tanks.