JP2011050884A - Mixer and fuel manufacturing apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique which enables an efficient emulsification of a compound liquid of fuel oil, water, and an emulsifier, and a manufacture of emulsion fuel in which an emulsion state can be maintained for a long time. <P>SOLUTION: A mixer 20 comprises a cylindrical body part 23 having a liquid inlet 21 at one end part and a liquid outlet 22 at the other end part, a propellerlike stirring member 25 arranged rotatably centering a spindle 24 of an axis 23c direction of the body part 23 in the body part 23, and a plurality of projecting members 26 provided projectingly from the inner peripheral surface 23a of the body part 23 of the liquid outlet 22 side from the stirring member 25 toward the axis 23c. Funnellike parts 23s and 23t having a continuously reduced diameter toward the liquid inlet 21 and the liquid outlet 22 respectively are provided on parts close to both end parts of the body part 23. Further, a spiral convex striplike part 28 is formed in the body part 23 inner peripheral surface on the upstream side (liquid inlet 21 side) of the stirring member 25 and the body part 23 inner peripheral surface on the downstream side (liquid outlet 22 side) of the stirring member 25. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for producing an emulsion fuel using fuel oil, water and a surfactant as raw materials.

  As for the technology for producing an emulsion fuel from fuel oil, water and a surfactant, many developments and proposals have been made heretofore. However, as a mixing and stirring technology related to the present invention, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 are described. There are things.

  In Patent Document 1, an outer rotor and an inner rotor having a smooth cylindrical inner peripheral surface and formed with a plurality of slits penetrating inward and outward are arranged inside a case and arranged outside the case. Describes an apparatus for producing emulsion fuel by emulsifying the liquid introduced into the case by rotating the outer rotor and the inner rotor in a reverse direction with each other. Patent Document 2 includes a long cylindrical container in which a rotating body of a spiral band is inserted, and a motor that rotates the rotating body, and the liquid introduced into the long cylindrical container is stirred by the rotating body. And an emulsifying device is described.

  Patent Document 3 describes a technique for producing an emulsion fuel by passing a mixture of water, an emulsifier and a hydrocarbon fuel through a static mixer. Patent Document 4 describes a liquid stirring apparatus having a structure in which a plurality of rotors and a plurality of nozzles are alternately arranged in a cylindrical space.

JP 2009-642 A JP 2007-152214 A JP 2006-188616 A JP 2001-348581 A

  By using the “emulsification and pulverization apparatus” described in Patent Document 1 and the “emulsion production apparatus” described in Patent Document 2, an emulsion fuel having a predetermined performance can be manufactured. In addition to a motor that drives a pump that circulates and flows a mixed liquid that is a raw material, a motor for operating each device is required. For this reason, not only a plurality of power sources are required, but also a system for controlling these power sources is required, which complicates the structure.

  On the other hand, the static mixer described in Patent Document 3 and the liquid agitation device described in Patent Document 4 do not require a motor for operating the respective devices, but have insufficient stirring ability, so that the mixed liquid as a raw material It may take a long time to emulsify. In addition, since the emulsion fuel produced by these devices may gradually separate water and oil components over time, it is difficult to maintain the emulsion state immediately after production for a long period of time. .

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a technique capable of efficiently emulsifying a mixed liquid of fuel oil, water and an emulsifier, and producing an emulsion fuel in which the emulsion state is maintained for a long time. It is in.

  A mixer according to the present invention includes a cylindrical main body portion having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, and a propeller-like shape disposed in the main body portion so as to be rotatable around a support shaft in the axial direction of the main body portion. A stirring member, and a plurality of projecting members provided so as to protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion closer to the liquid outlet than the stirring member toward the axis.

  With such a configuration, the liquid flowing into the main body from the liquid inlet is stirred, sheared, and dispersed by the propeller-like stirring member that rotates with the kinetic energy of the liquid, while moving through the main body toward the liquid outlet. After flowing and colliding with a plurality of projecting members located downstream from the stirring member, they are further stirred and dispersed, and then flow out from the liquid outlet. Therefore, if the liquid mixture of fuel oil, water and emulsifier is fed into the main body from the liquid inlet, each component of the liquid mixture is agitated, sheared, and dispersed by the collision with the agitating member and the protruding member, The mixed liquid can be efficiently emulsified.

  Here, it is desirable to provide a funnel-shaped portion having a diameter reduced toward the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, respectively, at portions near both ends of the main body. With such a configuration, the liquid fed from the liquid inlet is turbulent in the liquid by flowing into the funnel-shaped portion in a state where the diameter has been expanded along the flow direction. The action is enhanced and effective for promoting emulsification. In addition, since the liquid flowing in the main body portion toward the liquid outlet flows out of the liquid outlet in a state where the flow direction is converged by passing through the funnel-shaped portion having a diameter reduced toward the liquid outlet, The flow efficiency of the liquid is not deteriorated.

  Moreover, it is desirable to provide a spiral ridge or groove having a center line as the axis on the inner surface of the main body located upstream from the stirring member. With such a configuration, the liquid flowing in from the liquid inlet becomes a spiral flow by flowing along the spiral ridges or grooves, so that the stirring and mixing action is enhanced and the emulsification is promoted. Effective.

  Furthermore, a translucent part can also be provided in a part of the peripheral wall of the main body part. With such a configuration, the state of the liquid flowing in the main body can be visually confirmed from the outside, so that the situation in the main body can be accurately grasped. It is also possible to irradiate light, electromagnetic waves, or the like from the light transmitting part toward the liquid flowing in the main body part.

  Next, the fuel production apparatus of the present invention includes a storage tank that contains a mixed liquid of fuel oil, water, and an emulsifier, and a circulation channel that circulates the mixed liquid in the storage tank. The mixer according to any one of 4 is communicated in series with the circulation channel with the liquid inlet of the mixer facing the upstream side of the circulation channel.

  With such a configuration, the liquid mixture contained in the storage tank passes through the mixer every time it circulates in the circulation flow path, and is emulsified by stirring, shearing, and dispersing action inside the mixer. Since it progresses rapidly, the mixture of fuel oil, water and emulsifier can be efficiently changed to emulsion fuel, and in the finished emulsion fuel, oil-water separation does not occur and the emulsion state can be maintained for a long time. it can.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique capable of efficiently emulsifying a mixed liquid of fuel oil, water and an emulsifier, and producing an emulsion fuel in which the emulsion state is maintained for a long time.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the fuel manufacturing apparatus which is embodiment of this invention. It is an external view which shows the mixer which comprises the fuel manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the mixer shown in FIG. It is the sectional view on the AA line in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3. It is CC sectional view taken on the line in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel manufacturing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment has a storage tank 11 that contains a mixed liquid M of fuel oil F, water W, and emulsifier E, and a circulation that circulates the mixed liquid M in the storage tank 11. The mixer 20 according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is provided with a flow path 12 and a pump P1, and the liquid inlet 21 of the mixer 20 is directed to the upstream side of the circulation flow path 12, and the liquid outlet 22 is provided. Are communicated in series with the circulation channel 12 in a state in which is directed to the downstream side of the circulation channel 12. Further, around the storage tank 11, an oil tank 13 for storing the fuel oil F, a chemical tank 14 for storing the emulsifier E, and pumps P2 and P3 for feeding the fuel oil F and the emulsifier E to the storage tank 11, respectively. And a water supply pipe 15 for supplying the water W from the water supply facility (not shown) to the storage tank 11. On the outer periphery of the liquid inlet 21 and the liquid outlet 22, male screw portions 21m and 22m for connecting to piping (not shown) constituting the circulation channel 12 are formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mixer 20 includes a cylindrical main body 23 having a liquid inlet 21 at one end and a liquid outlet 22 at the other end, A propeller-like stirring member 25 that is rotatably arranged around a support shaft 24 in the direction of the axis 23c of the main body 23, and an axial center from the inner peripheral surface 23a of the main body 23 on the liquid outlet 22 side of the stirring member 25. And a plurality of projecting members 26 provided so as to project toward 23c. Further, a translucent portion 29 is provided on a part of the peripheral wall 23 w of the main body portion 23. As shown in FIG. 4, the support shaft 24 is fixed to the center of a cross-shaped support member 27 disposed in the main body 23 in a state orthogonal to the shaft center 23c (see FIG. 3), and as shown in FIG. A stopper 24 s for holding the stirring member 25 rotatably is fixed to the tip of the support shaft 24 on the liquid outlet 22 side.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the stirring member 25 includes a hub 25b that is rotatably attached to the support shaft 24, and four blades 25a that are formed on the outer periphery of the hub 25b at intervals of 90 degrees. As shown in FIG. 6, on the inner peripheral surface 23a of the main body 23 on the liquid outlet 22 side of the stirring member 25, there are four rows of protruding members 26 arranged in series in the axial center 23c direction at equal intervals. , Four rows are provided at intervals of 90 degrees around the axis 23c. Since each of the protruding members 26 is cylindrical and its length is less than half of the inner diameter of the main body 23, as shown in FIG. 6, there is an axial center 23c near the axial center 23c on the distal end side of the protruding member 26. A region S where the protruding member 26 does not exist is formed on the same axis.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, funnel-shaped portions 23 s and 23 t that are continuously reduced in diameter toward the liquid inlet 21 and the liquid outlet 22 are provided at portions near both ends of the main body 23. ing. In addition, shafts 23c are respectively provided on the inner peripheral surface of the main body 23 on the upstream side (the liquid inlet 21 side) from the stirring member 25 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body 23 on the downstream side (the liquid outlet 22 side) from the stirring member 25. A spiral ridge 28 is formed as a center line. The protruding portion 28 has a length (a length corresponding to one pitch) that makes one rotation around the axis 23 c of the main body portion 23.

  In the fuel production apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, when the pump P <b> 1 is operated in a state where the mixed liquid M of the fuel oil F, water W, and the emulsifier E is stored in the storage tank 11, the mixed liquid M in the storage tank 11 is The tank is sucked into the upstream portion 12a of the circulation channel connected to the bottom of the storage tank 11 and again passes through the downstream portion 12b of the circulation channel connected to the upper portion of the storage tank 11 via the pump P1 and the mixer 20. 11 flows into. Such a circulating flow of the liquid mixture M is continued while the pump P1 is operating.

  When the mixed liquid M circulates in the circulation path M, the mixed liquid M flowing into the main body 23 from the liquid inlet 21 of the mixer 20 shown in FIG. 3 rotates with the kinetic energy of the mixed liquid M. Flowing through the main body 23 toward the liquid outlet 22 while being stirred, sheared, and dispersed by the propeller-like stirring member 25, and further by collision with a plurality of projecting members 26 located downstream from the stirring member 25, After being stirred and dispersed, it flows out from the liquid outlet 22 to the circulation path 12 (see FIG. 1). Thus, the liquid mixture M that has flowed into the main body 23 from the liquid inlet 21 collides with the agitating member 25 and the protruding member 26 many times, so that each component of the liquid mixture M is agitated and sheared. Therefore, the mixed solution M can be efficiently emulsified.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the mixed liquid M fed from the liquid inlet 21 flows into the funnel-shaped portion 23 s having a diameter expanded along the flow direction, whereby turbulent flow is generated in the mixed liquid M. This is effective in promoting emulsification because of the increased stirring and mixing action. In addition, the mixed liquid M flowing in the main body 23 toward the liquid outlet 22 passes through the funnel-shaped portion 23t having a diameter reduced toward the liquid outlet 22, and the flow direction is converged. Since it flows out from the liquid outlet 22, the flow efficiency of the liquid mixture M does not deteriorate.

  Further, since the spiral protrusion 28 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 23 a of the main body 23 on the upstream side of the stirring member 25, the mixed liquid M flowing from the liquid inlet 21 flows along the protrusion 28. Therefore, a stirring and mixing action is enhanced, which is effective for promoting emulsification. A similar spiral flow can also be generated when a concave groove (not shown) is formed instead of the ridge 28.

  In this way, the liquid mixture M accommodated in the storage tank 11 passes through the mixer 20 every time it circulates in the circulation flow path 12, and thereby the liquid mixture M is mixed by the stirring, shearing, and dispersing action generated therein. Since the emulsification proceeds rapidly, the mixed solution M can be efficiently changed to the emulsion fuel, and the emulsion state can be maintained for a long time in the completed emulsion fuel.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the mixer 20, since the light transmitting portion 29 is provided in a part of the peripheral wall 23 w of the main body portion 23, the state of the mixed liquid M flowing in the main body portion 23 is changed to the outside. By visually confirming from the above, the situation in the main body portion 23 can be accurately grasped. Further, it is possible to irradiate light, electromagnetic waves, or the like that further promote the emulsification reaction from the light transmitting part 29 toward the mixed liquid M that flows in the main body part 23.

  In the fuel production apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1, for example, an emulsifier (1-2% by volume) is added to a mixture of fuel oil F (heavy oil) and water W at a ratio of about 3: 1 (volume ratio). After 100 liters of the formed mixed liquid M was stored in the storage tank 11, the pump P1 was operated to continuously circulate the mixed liquid M. When about 10 to 20 minutes passed, the emulsion was almost completely emulsified. We were able to. Further, even when the completed emulsion fuel was left for a long time (about 60 to 90 days), the emulsion state could be maintained without separation of oil and water.

  The mixer and fuel production apparatus of the present invention can be widely used in the field of producing fuels such as boilers by emulsifying a mixture of fuel oil, water and emulsifier.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel manufacturing apparatus 11 Reservoir 12 Circulation flow path 12a Circulation flow path upstream part 12b Circulation flow path downstream part 13 Oil tank 14 Chemical tank 15 Water supply piping 20 Mixer 21 Inlet port 22 Outlet port 21m, 22m Male screw part 23 Main body portion 23a Inner peripheral surface 23c Shaft center 23s, 23t Funnel-shaped portion 23w Peripheral wall 24 Support shaft 24s Stopper 25 Stirring member 25a Blade 25b Hub 26 Projection member 27 Support member 28 Projection portion 29 Translucent portion E Emulsifier F Fuel oil P1, P2, P3 pump S area W water

Claims (5)

  From a cylindrical main body having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a propeller-shaped stirring member disposed in the main body so as to be rotatable around a support shaft in the axial direction of the main body, and the stirring member And a plurality of projecting members provided so as to project from the inner peripheral surface of the main body on the liquid outlet side toward the axis.   The mixer according to claim 1, wherein a funnel-shaped portion having a diameter reduced toward the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet is provided in a portion near both ends of the main body.   3. The mixer according to claim 1, wherein a spiral ridge or groove having a central axis as the center line is formed on the inner surface of the main body located upstream of the stirring member.   The mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a translucent part is provided on a part of the peripheral wall of the main body part.   A storage tank that contains a mixed liquid of fuel oil, water, and an emulsifier, and a circulation passage that circulates the mixed liquid in the storage tank, and the mixer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A fuel production apparatus characterized in that a liquid inlet of the mixer is communicated in series with the circulation channel in a state where the inlet is directed to the upstream side of the circulation channel.

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