Pressure regulation system and method for a fluidic product having particles

Abstract

A method of maintaining a backpressure of a fluidic product is provided. The method includes pressurizing a first reservoir to a first predetermined pressure level using compressed air, delivering the fluidic product to the pressurized first reservoir until a current level of the fluidic product in the first reservoir reaches a first predetermined level, pressurizing a second reservoir to a second predetermined pressure level using the compressed air, delivering the fluidic product to the pressurized second reservoir until a current level of the fluidic product in the second reservoir reaches a second predetermined level, and controlling the backpressure of the fluidic product using the first reservoir and the second reservoir such that a discharge flow of the fluidic product is continuous.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system of maintaining a backpressure of a fluidic product, the system comprising:
 an air supply assembly configured to pressurize a first reservoir to a first predetermined pressure level using compressed air, and pressurize a second reservoir to a second predetermined pressure level using the compressed air;   a pump configured to deliver the fluidic product to the pressurized first reservoir until a current level of the fluidic product in the first reservoir reaches a first predetermined level, and to deliver the fluidic product to the pressurized second reservoir until a current level of the fluidic product in the second reservoir reaches a second predetermined level; and   a controller configured to control the backpressure of the fluidic product using the first reservoir and the second reservoir such that a discharge flow of the fluidic product is continuous.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a backpressure regulator assembly being controllable by the controller, the backpressure regulator having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, the inlet being configured to receive the fluidic product and fluidically connected to both the first reservoir and the second reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the first outlet is fluidically connected to the first reservoir and the second outlet is fluidically connected to the second reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a first end of the first reservoir is fluidically connected to the inlet of the backpressure regulator assembly and an opposite second end of the first reservoir is fluidically connected to the air supply assembly, and a first end of the second reservoir is fluidically connected to the inlet of the backpressure regulator assembly and an opposite second end of the second reservoir is fluidically connected to the air supply assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a first slurry supply valve is connected at one end to the inlet of the backpressure regulator assembly and at the other end to the first end of the first reservoir, and a second slurry supply valve is connected at one end to the inlet of the backpressure regulator assembly and at the other end to the first end of the second reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a first slurry discharge valve is connected to the first end of the first reservoir, and a second slurry discharge valve is connected to the first end of the second reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically control opening and closing operations of at least one of: the air supply assembly, the first slurry supply valve, the second slurry supply valve, the first slurry discharge valve, and the second slurry discharge valve.