Powder hydration systems with mixing apparatus and methods of use

1 . A powder mixing system comprising:

a conduit having a first end and an opposing second end, the conduit bounding a passage,

a fluid pump fluid coupled to the conduit, the fluid pump being configured to pump a liquid through the passage of the conduit; a

tubular transfer member in fluid communication with the conduit, the transfer member configured to couple to a powder bag housing a powder; and

further comprising:

an eductor coupled to the transfer member and disposed in-line with the conduit so that the liquid pumped through the conduit also passes through the eductor; and

an auger assembly comprising an auger blade, at least a portion of the auger assembly being rotatably disposed within the transfer member; and

wherein the eductor comprises a venturi; and

wherein the conduit further comprises a sidewall encircling the passage, a side opening extending through the sidewall and communicating with the passage; and

the auger assembly comprising:

a rotatable drive shaft passing through the side opening of the conduit so that a lower portion of the drive shaft is disposed within the passage of the conduit and an upper portion of the drive shaft is at least partially disposed within passage of the transfer member; and

the tubular transfer member bounds a passage and the transfer member further comprises a first end fluid coupled to the side opening of the conduit and an opposing second end configured to couple with the powder bag; and

the auger blade disposed on the upper portion of the drive shaft so as to be at least partially disposed within the passage of the transfer member.

2 . The mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eductor is disposed on the conduit downstream of the fluid pump.

3 . The mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the eductor further comprises a tubular sidewall having an interior surface that bounds a channel extending between an inlet end coupled to the conduit and an opposing outlet end coupled to the conduit, a side opening extending through the sidewall of the eductor communicating with the channel at a location between the inlet end and the outlet end; and the tubular transfer member bounds a passage, and the tubular transfer member further comprises a first end fluid coupled to the side opening of the eductor and an opposing second end configured to couple with the powder bag.

4 . The mixing system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the channel of the eductor comprises:

an inlet portion disposed at the inlet end and having a first maximum diameter;

a receiving portion disposed toward the outlet end and having a second maximum diameter; and

a constricting portion disposed between the inlet portion and the receiving portion and having a third maximum diameter that is smaller than the first maximum diameter and the second maximum diameter, the side opening being aligned with and communicating with the receiving portion or the constricting portion creating a pressure drop within the eductor when fluid is pumped through the channel and an assisting force that aids in flowing the powder through the transfer member.

5 . The mixing system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the transfer member comprises a tapered hopper having the first end that is constricted and fluid coupled to the side opening and the opposing second end that bounds an enlarged access opening.

6 . The mixing system as recited in claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of collapsible powder bags coupled to the second end of the hopper, each of the powder bags housing a powder, the plurality of collapsible powder bags comprising at least 2 collapsible powder bags.

7 . The mixing system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the powder bag comprises: a collapsible bag that bounds a compartment and is comprised of one or more sheets of a polymeric film, the collapsible bag having a front face and an opposing back face that extend between a first side and a spaced apart second side and that both extend between an upper end and an opposing lower end, the upper end terminating at an upper edge and the lower end terminating at lower edge; and a tubular port secured to the lower end of the collapsible bag, the tubular port bounding an opening that communicates with the compartment of the bag, wherein when the collapsible bag is inflated, the opening of the port has a central longitudinal axis that extends to the upper end of the collapsible bag and the collapsible bag has an asymmetrical configuration about the central longitudinal axis.

8 . The mixing system as recited in claim 7 , further comprising:

the first side of the collapsible bag having a maximum first distance from the central longitudinal axis measured orthogonal from the central longitudinal axis; and

the second side of the collapsible bag having a maximum second distance from the central longitudinal axis measured orthogonal from the central longitudinal axis, the maximum second distance being at least 3 times greater than the first maximum distance.