GB247541A - Improvements in and relating to mixing methods and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

247,541. Gilchrist & Co., (Assignees of Shafor, R. W.). Feb. 13, 1925, [Convention date]. Mixers with circulating devices. - In apparatus for mixing substances with fluids such as in liming sugar juices, the mixing is facilitated by the employment of groups of baffles which may split up the flow and alter successively the direction thereof. As shown in Fig. 1, a cylindrical vessel 11 is provided with a propeller 13 rotating within an inner container 14 having a fluid inlet 15 forming part of a steam chest or other temperature regulating chamber. Radial partitions 17 prevent undue fluid rotation. Supply inlets for fluid and substances to be mixed are arranged at 20, 21, and the fluid is caused by propeller action to pass through the container 14 and to ascend through a series of baffles 23, which are preferably conical and arranged in groups one above another. The baffles of one group are arranged at an angle to those of an adjacent group and may also be in staggered relationship as shown, so that the small streams are caused to change the direction of flow and at the same time are divided in passing from one group of baffles to the next. The apparatus may be employed continuously or a charge may be drawn in and circulated to the required degree of mixing. In a modification the staggering of the baffles is omitted, and in another modification the baffles are arranged radially. The flared inlet 15 assists in preventing the inclusion of air in the mixture. In further modifications the baffles fill the mixing container and may be arranged with heating coils, and in place of a propeller an outside conduit may be arranged with a centrifugal pump. A battery of this latter arrangement is shown in Fig. 8, the liquid entering at 37 and being pumped by a centrifugal pump 38 or otherwise through the tank 36. From the tank 36 the liquid passes through pipes 39, 41 and pumps 42 to successive tanks. Additional substances may be added during the passage by means of valvecontrolled supply pipes. In another modification the mixing tank is rectangular and a propeller arranged in a cylindrical container therein, the baffles being arranged at the sides of the tank. In a further modification heating coils are arranged in conjunction with a propeller or a pump. Various modifications of the bafffes are described in the Specification. In one form the blades are arranged radially with alternate rows comprising rotatably mounted and fixed blades. In another form the blades are inclined upwardly and outwardly, the top row consisting of blades curved outwardly. In further arrangements the blades are oppositely curved in successive rows or each blade is itself in the form of a double curve. The blades may be corrugated. A modification is shown in Fig. 21 with some of the blades 65 arranged in the general direction of flow, others 64, 63 at an angle thereto, and a terminal set consisting of double curved blades 66.