GB1564862A - Method and apparatus for mixing viscous materials - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for mixing viscous materials Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB1564862A GB1564862A GB5336/77A GB533677A GB1564862A GB 1564862 A GB1564862 A GB 1564862A GB 5336/77 A GB5336/77 A GB 5336/77A GB 533677 A GB533677 A GB 533677A GB 1564862 A GB1564862 A GB 1564862A
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- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- stream
- tube
- dividing
- fluid mass
- high pressure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
- B01F33/00—Other mixers; Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers
- B01F33/40—Mixers using gas or liquid agitation, e.g. with air supply tubes
- B01F33/404—Mixers using gas or liquid agitation, e.g. with air supply tubes for mixing material moving continuously therethrough, e.g. using impinging jets
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
Description
(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MIXING VISCOUS MATERIALS
(71) We, ExxoN RESEARCH AND EN GINEFRING COMPANY, a Corporation duly organised and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of
America, of Linden, New Jersey, United
States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mixing viscous material.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mixing a highly viscous fluid mass by altering the flow pattern of a viscous fluid stream so as to generate interfacial surfaces in the fluid mass.
The thorough mixing of extremely viscous material has been a problem of considerable commercial concern. One approach to mixing viscous materials (which may be chemically reacting) involves transporting a viscous fluid mass through a conduit containing baffles or other obstructions which serve to split the stream of fluid materials flowing through the conduit, effectively spreading the stream out and creating a large surface area, and then combining the stream again an overlapped type of relationship so as to provide relatively efficient mixing without turbulence and independent of the flow rate of the (reacting) stream. Typical of such devices are those described in U.S. Patent 3,239,197 and U.S.
Patent 3,664,638, for example. Among the deficiencies of the type of mixing devices just mentioned are the relatively large pres- sure drops associated with extensive intcr- nal baffles and the difficulty of cleaning such devices, particularly when the fluid mass as a highly reactive material such as a thermoset resin which rapidly sets and cures into a solid mass.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of mixing viscous a fluid mass comprising:
establishing a stream of fluid mass containing components to be mixed;
subjecting said stream of fluid mass to the impingement of a jet of high pressure fluid at a plurality of predetermined points along the stream of fluid mass to divide said stream of fluid mass into a plurality of successive portions of said stream;
subjecting alternate successive portions of said stream to a substantially impinging jet of high pressure fluid in a manner which imparts a predetermined rotational flow pattern in a first direction to said alternate, successive portions of said stream; and
subjecting the remaining portions of said stream to a substantially tantentially impinging jet of high pressure fluid in a manner which imparts to said remaining portions a predetermined rotational flow pattern in the opposite direction to said first direction, whereby interfacial surfaces are generated by said stream divisions and are recombined during passage between said divisions, thereby mixing said components of said viscous fluid mass.
Thus, for example, a predetermined rotational flow is imparted in a first direction to alternate substreams, for example, substream 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. by subjecting these alternate substreams to a tangentially impinging jet of the high pressure fluid. The remaining substreams, for example, substream 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. are rotated in a predetermined flow opposite in direction to the first rotational direction by the tangential impingement of a jet of the high pressure fluid.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, which can operate as a type of static mixer, for mixing a fluid mass compris ing:- an elongated tube having a first end into which material to be mixed can be introduced and a second end from which mixed material can exit;
a plurality of stream-dividing nozzles located at predetermined intervals along said elongated tube, each having a radially or substantially radially directed inlet into the tube for introducing a high pressure fluid whereby, in use of the apparatus, a stream of viscous material travelling from said first end to said second end will be divided into a plurality of successive portions when subjected to the impingement of high pressure fluid from said nozzles;;
a plurality of stream-rotating nozzles located along said tube, each having a substantially tangentially directed inlet into the tube for introducing a high pressure fluid substantially tangentially to the inner surface of the tube, said stream-rotating nozzles alternating with said stream-dividing nozzles along said tube and alternate stream-rotating nozzles being disposed in opposite tangential relationship whereby, in use of the apparatus, the plurality of stream portions can be given rotational motion in which the rotational motion imparted to any one stream portion will be in opposite direction to that of the next stream portion.
Preferably all the nozzles for introducing jets of high pressure fluid are spaced at substantially equal distance along the elongated tube. Preferably, the streamdividing nozzles are located on the tube at substantially 90" with respect to the streamrotating nozzles.
The term "jet of high pressure fluid" is employed herein to mean a jet of fluid which is at a pressure which is at least sufficient to effect the required stream-division and stream-rotation. The actual pressure will, clearly, depend upon the viscosity of the particular fluid mass stream involved and can easily be determined by simple experiment.
The method and apparatus of the invention will now be described by way of nonlimitative example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which :
Figure 1 is a perspective and isometric view of a device including a simple form of apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged partial view partly in section, diagrammatically showing the fluid flow in the apparatus in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 1 partly cut away and partly showing the directional motion of the impinging fluid streams;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a nozzle used for introducing a high pressure fluid tangential to the inner surface of the apparatus according to the present invention; and
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a nozzle used for dividing the stream of fluid mass into substreams in accordance with the present invention.
A particularly desirable application of the present invention is in rapidly mixing extremely viscous reactive materials such as a foamable liquid resin composition, particularly a foamable resin composition containing reinforcing fibers, solid fillers and the like. Thus, the present invention will be described with reference to this particular application. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited strictly to the specific embodiments shown and described herein but may be modified extensively within the scope of the appended claims.
In preparing a fiber-reinforced plastic foam it is necessary to introduce resin precursors premixed with fiberglass and other reinforcing material into the mixer simultaneously with a catalyst (if desired), blowing agents and any other required ingredients. These reactant materials must be mixed thoroughly and rapidly since within a very short period of time they will begin to react. Accordingly, they must be quickly placed in a mold immediately after mixing so the foaming process may occur therein. Thus, referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, a mixer embodying the invention is indicated generally at 12. A stream of viscous material of the type mentioned above is shown as line 10 entering opening 15. Precisely predetermined quantities of viscous materials can be supplied to the mixing device 12 by means of, for example, precision volumetric control pumps (not shown).
The viscous stream of material enters the first passageway at 15 and is caused to flow through the elongated tube or conduit 11 of mixer 12 by a ram or plunger of a pumping device, for example. Mixer 12 contains no moving parts. Such a mixture is frequently referred to as a static mixer.
The mixing device is an elongated tube or conduit 11 which has a first end 14 and a second end 16. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the mixer 12 is provided with a mounting flange 17 for operatively connecting the inlet end of the mixer to a metering and pumping system.
Thus, as is shown, entrance passages 18 and 19 are provided for the flow of liquid reactants from meters and pumps (not shown) into the principle flow passage of mixer 12 through opening 15 at first end 14. Thus, flange 17 provides a convenient mounting means for mounting the mixer and a suitable entrance support system having a corresDonding flange such as flange 20.
The mixer 12 is also provided with a second flange 21 at second end 16 for cooperatively mounting with any desired distribution system. Thus, elbow 22 is mounted on a flange 23 and when operatively connected with mixer 12, the thoroughly mixed stream of material exiting the mixer at second end 16 can be discharged, for example, downwardly into a suitable mold (not shown).
At various intervals along the length of mixer 12 are a series of mounting blocks 24 for supporting the mixer in a suitable position. Other mounting means, of course, can be employed.
Spaced along the conduit or elongated tube 11, which forms the central mixing chamber 12, are a plurality of nozzle means for introducing a high pressure fluid into the reactor substantially radially so as to divide a stream of material flowing through the mixer into a plurality of substreams.
These dividing means are shown as nozzles Bl, D1, B2 and D. in Figure 1. As can be seen in Figure 3, it is preferred that each dividing nozzle be substantially at 1800 with respect to the next dividing nozzle. Thus, Dt is on the opposite side of the tubular body portion 11 of mixer 12 than Bl, but spaced further along the longitudinal axis.
Further in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figure 5, the dividing nozzles or jet fittings such as B, are inclined, generally at an angle, 6, of about 10 , with respect to the radius of the tubular body portion so as to deliver a jet of high pressure fluid that has both a forward component as well as a radial component, for the purposes hereinafter discussed.
Returning again to Figure 1, a plurality of means for introducing a high pressure fluid tangential to the periphery of the main tubular section of mixer 12 is provided. These fluid stream rotating nozzles are designated as At, Cl, A2 and C2 in the figure. As can be seen particularly with regard to Figure 3, these nozzles, A1 and C, for example, are arranged on opposite sides of the main tubular body portion of mixer 12. As shown in Figure 2, these nozzle ffttings, also, are inclined at an angle, 0, of about 10" with respect to the radius of the main tubular section so as to impart a high pressure rotation fluid stream having both a forward component and a tangential component thereby rotating a substream in a clockwise or counterclockwise fashion.Indeed, the tangential component is so arranged that alternate nozzles will have a first tangential entry direction and the remaining nozzles will have a second tangential direction opposite from said first tangential direction.
In Figure 3, lines 1, 2, 3 and 4, diagrammatically depict the general directional movement of the high pressure fluid introduced via each respective nozzle. Thus, the high pressure fluid introduced via fluid stream divider nozzles B1 and Dl enters generally radially as is indicated by lines 1 and 2 respectively. The high pressure fluid introduced via the tangential nozzles A1 and Cl have opposite rotational directions shown by lines 3 and 4 respectively. Thus, the rotational direction of fluid entering via Cl is clockwise whereas the rotational direction of fluid entering via A1 is counterclockwise. This clockwise, counterclockwise rotational direction is also shown in
Figure 2.
The number of nozzles for dividing a main stream and the number of nozzles to provide substreams and the number of nozzles for rotating the various substreams may be varied to give the desired performance for any specific viscous liquid mixing problem. As should be appreciated, the apparatus also may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials, including metal, the choice of materials being predicated upon the particular conditions which will be encountered in the situation for which the apparatus is designed.
As is shown in the drawings, and in particular in Figures 4 and 5, the various nozzles means include threaded inserts for suitably connecting the nozzle means to a course of high pressure fluid. Thus, threads 32 permit easily connecting a source of high pressure fluid to the mixer. Also threads 33 permit easy removal of the insert portion for cleaning, if necessary, of the radially directing opening 31 of B1 and the tangential opening 35 of A1.
Generally, in the practice of the present invention the high pressure fluid employed will be a gaseous material such as air or nitrogen; however, the fluid material introduced under high pressure may also be one of the components of the main fluid stream to be mixed.
The operation of all or any of the previously illustrated embodiments of the present invention and the method thereof is substantially achieved as follows: (a) A stream of relatively viscous material is established by introducing the material to be mixed at first end 14 of the mixer 12. For example, polyurethane resin precursor with fiberglass is metered and introduced through passageway 18 and catalyst and blowing agent is metered and introduced via passage 19 thereby establishing stream 10 for a transversed flow through the tubular conduit 11 of mixer 12.
(b) The main stream thus established is divided into a plurality of substreams by the high pressure fluids introduced at spaced predetermined positions along the longitudinal axis of the main stream and substantially radial thereto, for example, via 131, Dl, B2 and D1.
(c) The substreams are then rotated in a predetermined flow pattern by the high pressure fluid introduced tangentially at spaced predetermined positions along the longitudinal axis of the main stream, for example, via Al, C1, A2 and D2. It should be noted that alternate substreams have imparted to them a first predetermined rotational flow pattern in a first direction which is opposite to the predetermined rotational flow pattern imparted to the remaining substreams. Thus, for example, a plurality of substreams will be given a clockwise rotational motion while alternate substreams will be given counterclockwise rotational motion.
The net effect of dividing the stream of viscous material into substreams and rotating the various substreams in opposite directions is to continually divide and recombine the substreams so that complete mixing is achieved. Thus, the viscous material is forced to flow through a serpentine path without being in contact with dams or baffles or other such internal arrangements.
Thus, in the case of forming a foamable resin composition of the type which will typically foam and begin to set within about 30 seconds after the foam components begin to come into contact with each other, the device of the present invention offers considerable advantage in regard to cleaning the mixer after each use.
WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of mixing a viscous fluid mass comprising:
establishing a stream of fluid mass containing components to be mixed;
subjecting said stream of fluid mass to the impingement of a jet of high pressure fluid at a plurality of predetermined points along the stream of fluid mass to divide said stream of fluid mass into a plurality of successive portions of said stream;
subjecting alternate successive portions of said stream to a substantially impinging jet of high pressure fluid in a manner which imparts a predetermined rotational flow pattern in a first direction to said alternate, successive portions of said stream; and
subjecting the remaining portions of said stream to a substantially tangentially impinging jet of high pressure fluid in a manner which imparts to said remaining portions a predetermined rotational flow pat- tern in the opposite direction to said first direction, whereby interfacial surfaces are generated by said stream divisions and are recombined during passage between said divisions, thereby mixing said components of said viscous fluid mass.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high pressure fluid is a gas which is not reactive with the components being mixed.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high pressure fluid is a component to be mixed with the stream.
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each said stream-dividing jet impinges on the fluid mass in a manner assisting the downstream flow of the mass.
5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each said stream-rotating jet impinges on the fluid mass in a manner asisting the downstream flow of the mass.
6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each stream-dividing jet impinges on the fluid mass at substantially 1800 with respect to the next stream-dividing jet.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each stream-rotating jet impinges on the fluid mass at substantially 1800C with respect to the next streamrotating jet.
8. A method as claimed in claim 6 and claim 7, wherein the stream-dividing jets impinge on the fluid mass at substantially 90" with respect to the impingement of the stream-rotating jets.
9. A method of mixing a viscous fluid mass as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described.
10. A method of mixing a viscous fluid mass as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. An apparatus for mixing a fluid mass comprising: an elongated tube having a first end into which material to be mixed can be introduced and a second end from which mixed material can exit:
a plurality of stream-dividing nozzles located at predetermined intervals along said elongated tube, each having a radially or substantially radially directed inlet into the tube for introducing a high pressure fluid whereby, in use of the apparatus, a stream of viscous material travelling from said first end to said second end will be divided into a plurality of successive portions when subjected to the impingement of high pressure fluid from said nozzles; ;
a plurality of stream-rotating nozzles located along said tube, each having a substantially tangentially directed inlet into the tube for introducing a high pressure fluid substantially tangentially to the inner surface of the tube, said stream-rotating nozzles alternating with said stream-dividing nozzles along said tube and alternate stream-rotating nozzles being disposed in opposite tangential relationship whereby, in use of the apparatus, the plurality of stream portions can be given rotational motion in which the rotational motion imparted to any one stream portion will be in opposite direction to that of the next stream portion.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inlets into the tube of the stream-dividing and stream-rotating nozzles
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (16)
1. A method of mixing a viscous fluid mass comprising:
establishing a stream of fluid mass containing components to be mixed;
subjecting said stream of fluid mass to the impingement of a jet of high pressure fluid at a plurality of predetermined points along the stream of fluid mass to divide said stream of fluid mass into a plurality of successive portions of said stream;
subjecting alternate successive portions of said stream to a substantially impinging jet of high pressure fluid in a manner which imparts a predetermined rotational flow pattern in a first direction to said alternate, successive portions of said stream; and
subjecting the remaining portions of said stream to a substantially tangentially impinging jet of high pressure fluid in a manner which imparts to said remaining portions a predetermined rotational flow pat- tern in the opposite direction to said first direction, whereby interfacial surfaces are generated by said stream divisions and are recombined during passage between said divisions, thereby mixing said components of said viscous fluid mass.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high pressure fluid is a gas which is not reactive with the components being mixed.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the high pressure fluid is a component to be mixed with the stream.
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each said stream-dividing jet impinges on the fluid mass in a manner assisting the downstream flow of the mass.
5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each said stream-rotating jet impinges on the fluid mass in a manner asisting the downstream flow of the mass.
6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each stream-dividing jet impinges on the fluid mass at substantially 1800 with respect to the next stream-dividing jet.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each stream-rotating jet impinges on the fluid mass at substantially 1800C with respect to the next streamrotating jet.
8. A method as claimed in claim 6 and claim 7, wherein the stream-dividing jets impinge on the fluid mass at substantially 90" with respect to the impingement of the stream-rotating jets.
9. A method of mixing a viscous fluid mass as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described.
10. A method of mixing a viscous fluid mass as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. An apparatus for mixing a fluid mass comprising: an elongated tube having a first end into which material to be mixed can be introduced and a second end from which mixed material can exit:
a plurality of stream-dividing nozzles located at predetermined intervals along said elongated tube, each having a radially or substantially radially directed inlet into the tube for introducing a high pressure fluid whereby, in use of the apparatus, a stream of viscous material travelling from said first end to said second end will be divided into a plurality of successive portions when subjected to the impingement of high pressure fluid from said nozzles;;
a plurality of stream-rotating nozzles located along said tube, each having a substantially tangentially directed inlet into the tube for introducing a high pressure fluid substantially tangentially to the inner surface of the tube, said stream-rotating nozzles alternating with said stream-dividing nozzles along said tube and alternate stream-rotating nozzles being disposed in opposite tangential relationship whereby, in use of the apparatus, the plurality of stream portions can be given rotational motion in which the rotational motion imparted to any one stream portion will be in opposite direction to that of the next stream portion.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inlets into the tube of the stream-dividing and stream-rotating nozzles
are inclined toward the second end of the tube at an angle of substantially 10 with respect to the radius of the tube whereby, in use of the apparatus, the successive portions of the stream having a downstream motion imparted thereto.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein each stream-dividing nozzle is located on the tube at 1800 with respect to the next stream-dividing nozzle.
14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein each streamrotating nozzle is located on the tube at 1800 with respect to the next stream-rotating nozzle.
15. An apparatus claimed in claim 13 and claim 14, wherein the stream-dividing nozzles are located on the tube at substantially 90" with respect to the stream-rotating nozzles.
16. An apparatus for mixing a fluid mass as claimed in claim 11 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB5336/77A GB1564862A (en) | 1977-02-09 | 1977-02-09 | Method and apparatus for mixing viscous materials |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB5336/77A GB1564862A (en) | 1977-02-09 | 1977-02-09 | Method and apparatus for mixing viscous materials |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB1564862A true GB1564862A (en) | 1980-04-16 |
Family
ID=9794208
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB5336/77A Expired GB1564862A (en) | 1977-02-09 | 1977-02-09 | Method and apparatus for mixing viscous materials |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB1564862A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2004007062A2 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2004-01-22 | 1 1 Prototyping Herbak Gmbh | Device for mixing liquids |
-
1977
- 1977-02-09 GB GB5336/77A patent/GB1564862A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2004007062A2 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2004-01-22 | 1 1 Prototyping Herbak Gmbh | Device for mixing liquids |
| WO2004007062A3 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2004-04-01 | Zsolt Herbak | Device for mixing liquids |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Patent sealed [section 19, patents act 1949] | ||
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |