PELLET COMPOSITIONS, KITS, AND METHODS FOR SEALING LEAKS
Pellet compositions for sealing a leak include (a) a fibrillated fibrous material, (b) a particulate material, and (c) a compound that by itself and/or in combination with at least one additional compound is configured to generate effervescence. Systems for sealing a leak include (a) a pellet composition, and (b) a first fluid configured for combination with the pellet composition, wherein the first fluid includes water. Methods for sealing a leak in a heat exchange system are described.
1 . A pellet composition for sealing a leak, the pellet composition comprising:
a fibrillated fibrous material;
a particulate material; and
a compound that by itself and/or in combination with at least one additional compound is configured to generate effervescence.
2 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the fibrillated fibrous material comprises poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide.
3 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the fibrillated fibrous material comprises an aramid fiber.
4 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the fibrillated fibrous material comprises from about 0.3 weight percent to about 10 weight percent of the pellet composition.
5 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the fibrillated fibrous material comprises from about 0.3 weight percent to about 2 weight percent of the pellet composition.
6 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the particulate material comprises a seed meal.
7 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the particulate material is selected from the group consisting of soybean meal, corn meal, wheat germ, wood pulp, and combinations thereof.
8 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the particulate material comprises soybean meal.
9 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the particulate material comprises up to about 85 weight percent of the pellet composition.
10 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the particulate material comprises from about 5 weight percent to about 15 weight percent of the pellet composition.
11 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the compound is configured to generate effervescence through a chemical reaction with the at least one additional compound.
12 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the effervescence comprises gaseous CO 2 , gaseous N 2 , or a combination thereof.
13 . The pellet composition of claim 1 further comprising the at least one additional compound.
14 . The pellet composition of claim 13 wherein the compound comprises an acid and wherein the at least one additional compound comprises a base.
15 . The pellet composition of claim 14 wherein the acid comprises a Brønsted-Lowry acid, and wherein the base comprises a Brønsted-Lowry base.
16 . The pellet composition of claim 14 wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, acetic acid, and combinations thereof.
17 . The pellet composition of claim 14 wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of carbonates, bicarbonates, and combinations thereof.
18 . The pellet composition of claim 14 wherein the acid comprises citric acid and wherein the base comprises sodium bicarbonate.
19 . The pellet composition of claim 1 further comprising a thickening agent.
20 . The pellet composition of claim 19 wherein the thickening agent comprises a mineral-based material.
21 . The pellet composition of claim 19 wherein the thickening agent comprises a clay and/or a clay analog.
22 . The pellet composition of claim 19 wherein the thickening agent comprises a mineral-based material selected from the group consisting of bentonite, attapulgite, and a combination thereof.
23 . The pellet composition of claim 19 wherein the thickening agent comprises up to about 95 weight percent of the pellet composition.
24 . The pellet composition of claim 19 wherein the thickening agent comprises up to about to about 55 weight percent of the pellet composition.
25 . The pellet composition of claim 1 further comprising a lubricant.
26 . The pellet composition of claim 25 wherein the lubricant is selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, soybean lecithin, and a combination thereof.
27 . The pellet composition of claim 25 , wherein the lubricant comprises up to about 8 weight percent of the pellet composition.
28 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the pellet composition forms a pellet having a diameter of between about 4 mm and about 8 mm.
29 . The pellet composition of claim 1 wherein the pellet composition forms a pellet having a length of between about 4 mm and about 25 mm.