Wet abrasive blasting system and method
Wet abrasive blasting systems are described that have a slurry piping system and a gas piping system that have pipes and other piping components, such as valves and regulators, that have a more consistent internal cross-sectional area than conventional wet abrasive blasting systems. The more consistent flow area provides astonishing improvements in blasting efficiency and consistent and predictable slurry flow rates.
1. A wet abrasive blasting system, comprising:
a mixer combining a slurry stream and a pressurized gas stream to form a three-phase blasting stream;
slurry piping system that connects a source of pressurized slurry to the mixer, wherein the slurry piping system comprises pipes and other components; and
pressurized gas piping system that connects a source of pressurized gas to the mixer, wherein the pressurized gas piping system comprising comprises pipes and an air regulator; wherein a portion of the pipe has an internal cross-sectional flow area and the air regulator has a minimum orifice internal cross-sectional flow area that is greater than 25% less than the internal cross-sectional flow area of the pipe.
2. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 1 , wherein the air regulator has a minimum orifice internal cross-sectional flow area that is within 15% of the internal cross-sectional flow area of the pipe.
3. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 1 , wherein the air regulator has a minimum orifice internal cross-sectional flow area that is greater than 10% less than the internal cross-sectional flow area of the pipe.
4. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 1 , wherein the source of pressurized slurry is a blast pot and the wet abrasive blasting system comprising a water pump in fluid communication with the blast pot such that water pressure forces slurry into the compressed air circuit.
5. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 4 , wherein the blast pot is substantially full of water during a blasting operation and the water pump is capable of maintaining pressure in the blast pot.
6. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 5 , wherein the source of pressurized gas is an air compressor.
7. A wet abrasive blasting system, comprising:
a mixer;
a check valve installed in a horizontal position; and
piping system connecting the check valve to the mixer, wherein the check valve has a cracking pressure of greater than 2 psi, a flow area within 25% of the flow area of a pipe in the piping system, and is positioned at the same elevation as the mixer.
8. A wet abrasive blasting system, comprising:
a mixer combining a slurry stream and a pressurized gas stream to form a three-phase blasting stream;
slurry piping system that connects a source of pressurized slurry to the mixer, wherein the slurry piping system comprises pipes and other components; and
pressurized gas piping system that connects a source of pressurized gas to the mixer, wherein the pressurized gas piping system comprising comprises pipes and a check valve; wherein a portion of the pipe has an internal cross-sectional flow area and the check valve have a minimum orifice internal cross-sectional flow area that is greater than 25% less than the internal cross-sectional flow area of the pipe.
9. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 8 , wherein the check valve has a minimum orifice internal cross-sectional flow area that is within 15% of the internal cross-sectional flow area of the pipe.
10. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 8 , wherein the check valve has a minimum orifice internal cross-sectional flow area that is greater than 10% less than the internal cross-sectional flow area of the pipe.
11. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 8 , wherein the check valve is a spring-loaded check valve.
12. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 11 , wherein the check valve has a cracking force of greater than 2 psi.
13. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 8 , wherein the check valve is installed in a horizontal position.
14. The wet abrasive blasting system of claim 8 , wherein the check valve is installed at the same height as the mixer.