JP2813673B2 - Stirrer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement in a stirrer used for emulsification, dispersion or mixing.

[Conventional technology]

In general, emulsification, dispersion or mixing of multiple fluids
This is achieved by arranging a stirrer in a fluid storage tank or a fluid flow path.

The stirring device includes a stirring chamber, a support for fixing the stirring chamber in a storage tank or the like, and an impeller rotatably arranged in the stirring chamber. The stirring chamber has a suction port for sucking a fluid from the outside to the inside, and a discharge port for discharging the fluid from the inside to the outside, and is generally implemented as a housing. It rotates indoors. Then, the fluid is introduced into the stirring chamber from the suction port, and is emulsified, dispersed, or mixed in the gap between the inner wall of the stirring chamber and the rotating blade tip by the rotation of the impeller. Alternatively, by being returned into the flow path, it undergoes an emulsification, dispersion or mixing process.

For example, in the case of the emulsification treatment, the rotation of the impeller causes the fluid to be sheared in the gap between the inner wall of the stirring chamber and the rotating blade tip, so that one fluid is emulsified with the other fluid.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Such a conventional stirrer also relies on rotation of the impeller for circulation of a fluid in a storage tank or the like. Such circulation is important for uniforming the fluid in the storage tank or the like.

However, the impeller only rotated in the stirring chamber, and the positions of the suction port and the discharge port were constant with respect to the fluid outside the stirring chamber. For this reason, a region not circulating was generated in the fluid outside the stirring chamber. More specifically, in the fluid near the outer surface of the stirring chamber, where the suction port and the discharge port are not provided, there is a portion that does not participate in suction or discharge to the stirring chamber, that is, does not move.

The generation of a portion that does not circulate in the fluid as described above, for example, in the case of a process such as emulsification, hinders uniformization of the entire processed product.

For this reason, in order to avoid such an inadequate circulation, some stirring devices have been introduced into the tank to stir the whole.

However, even with such an apparatus provided with a separate stirring means in the tank, it has not been possible to circulate uniformly around the stirring chamber. That is, uniform stirring could not be sufficiently performed on the fluid located in the vicinity of the outer surface of the stirring chamber where the suction port and the discharge port were not provided.

An object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem.

[Means for solving the problem]

Then, this invention solves said subject by providing the stirrer which has the following structures.

That is, the present invention includes a stirring chamber 2 disposed in a fluid to be subjected to processing such as emulsification, dispersion, or mixing, and an impeller 3 disposed in the stirring chamber 2. A suction port 23 for sucking a fluid from the outside to the inside is provided at an upper portion, and a discharge port 25 for discharging a fluid from the inside to the outside is provided at a lower portion, and the impeller 3 is provided with a discharge port 25 in the stirring chamber 2. part
The above-mentioned emulsification, dispersion or mixing is carried out by the high-speed rotation inside the 22 and by the shearing of the fluid performed in the minute gap between the inner wall of this portion 22 and the blade tip. The portion 22 provided with the discharge port 25 in the chamber 2 has a smaller diameter as it goes downward, and rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the impeller 3. Offer machine.

In the present invention, the fluid means not only a liquid and a gas, but also a fluid having a fluidity or the like. or,
The treatment such as emulsification, dispersion or mixing in the present invention is not limited to the treatment between the same phases such as a liquid phase and a liquid phase. For example, the treatment between different phases such as a gas phase and a liquid phase may also be performed. Including. In addition, the hierarchical relationship of the present invention,
It merely shows the relative positional relationship.

(Operation)

In the present invention, since the portion 22 provided with the discharge port 25 in the stirring chamber 2 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the impeller 3, the discharge position of the fluid changes with the rotation, and Good circulation of the fluid takes place throughout the intended fluid. In addition, since the diameter of the portion 22 provided at the discharge port 25 in the stirring chamber 2 decreases as it goes downward, the peripheral speed of rotation is large in the upper portion with a large diameter, and in the small lower portion. Has a low peripheral speed of rotation. As a result, when the fluid is discharged from the discharge port, the circumferential speed given to the fluid is different between the upper and lower sides, and the flow having the different speed further promotes the circulation of the entire fluid. Further, due to this speed difference, the fluid is discharged from the inside of the lower portion of the discharge port 25
A flow that flows toward the outside of the upper part is generated. Since this flow is added to the discharge flow due to the rotation of the impeller 3, which rotates with a small gap from the discharge port 25, a faster discharge flow is obtained, and the entire circulation is further promoted. is there.

In the present invention, the impeller 3 rotates at a high speed inside the portion 22 of the stirring chamber 2 where the discharge port 25 is provided, so that the minute gap between the inner wall of the portion 22 and the tip of the blade is obtained. Of the fluid performed in the step is performed. Especially,
Each time the discharge port 25 of the stirring chamber 2 that rotates in the opposite direction via a minute gap between the blade tip and the blade tip passes in front of the blade tip, the fluid is sheared between the two. Since the discharge port 25 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the impeller 3, the relative rotation speed of the two 25, 3 can be increased, and the shearing capacity of the fluid is limited to the conventional limit. It can be raised more than that.

In the present invention, the fluid means not only a liquid and a gas, but also a fluid having a fluidity or the like. or,
The treatment such as emulsification, dispersion or mixing in the present invention is not limited to the treatment between the same phases such as a liquid phase and a liquid phase. For example, the treatment between different phases such as a gas phase and a liquid phase may also be performed. Including.

(Operation)

In the present invention with the above-described means, at least one or both of the suction port 23 and the discharge port 25 provided in the stirring chamber 2 are rotated. Alternatively, the position of the discharge or both of them is sequentially changed, thereby making it possible to prevent the generation of the fluid alienated from the circulation.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment adopts a configuration in which the device of the present invention is inserted from above into a storage tank 1 for storing a fluid.

This apparatus includes a stirring chamber 2 and a support cylinder 17 for supporting the stirring chamber 2 in the storage tank 1 from above. Reference numeral 12 denotes a lid that covers the upper part of the storage tank 1. The cover 12 is provided with a through hole at the center for introducing the support cylinder 17 into the storage tank, and is detachably fixed to the storage tank 1 by an appropriate means such as a screw. The stirring chamber 2 houses an impeller 3 therein, and is provided at a lower end of a support cylinder 17 described later. The impeller 3 is provided at a lower end of a rotating shaft 410 described later.

The support cylinder 17 is rotatable in its circumferential direction, and includes a rotation shaft 410 at its center. The configuration around the support cylinder 17 will be described later in detail.

The rotating shaft 410 has a configuration for moving the impeller 3 up and down in the stirring chamber 2. This impeller 3
The clearance between the blade 31 of the impeller 3 and the inner wall of the lower housing 22 of the stirring chamber 2 described later, that is, the clearance of the shearing portion such as emulsification can be adjusted. Therefore, if such an adjustment is not required, the configuration for raising and lowering the impeller 3 described below need not be implemented.

The rotating shaft 410 has a motor 42 whose upper end is located at the upper part.
It is connected to the. This connection state will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the rotating shaft 410 and the shaft end of the motor 42 are connected via a telescopic bellows tube 411, and a lifting plate 412 is fixed to the upper end of the rotating shaft 410. . When the lifting plate 412 moves up and down, the rotating shaft 410
Moves up and down to perform the above-described movement of the impeller 3. Lifting board
412 has a receiving portion 413 on its upper surface. On the other hand, an elevating motor 420 is provided near the motor 42, and the elevating motor 420 is connected to a shaft 421 via a coupling 414. 415 is a bearing. The distal end of the shaft 421 has a male screw cut, and is received by the receiving portion 413. A female screw is cut in the receiving part 413,
It is screwed with the male screw of the shaft 421. Therefore, the lifting motor 4
As the 20 rotates, the lift 412 moves up and down.

416 is a bearing interposed between the rotating shaft 410 and the lifting board 412. Reference numeral 417 denotes a detent, which penetrates the elevating plate 412 and is fitted to a holder 100 of the support cylinder 17 described later. The mounting leg 14 supporting the motor 42 is hidden by the lift 412 in the figure and is difficult to determine, but is fixed to the holder 100.

The holding body 100 rotatably supports the support cylinder 17 via a bearing 101. The lower part of the holder 100 is fixed to the upper lid 12 of the storage tank 1.

A portion indicated by a spot in FIG. 2 is a member 102 formed integrally with the support cylinder 17 and rotating together with the support cylinder 17. A gear (not shown) is formed on the surface of the rotating member 102, and rotates by receiving a rotating force from a motor 430. This motor 430 is provided on the side of the support cylinder 17,
It is fixed to the holder 100 via a support 103. A shaft 433 extends from a tip of a shaft 431 of the motor 430 via a coupling 432. A worm gear (not shown) is formed at the tip of the 433, and is engaged with the gear on the surface of the rotating member 102. Therefore, by rotating the motor 430, the support cylinder 17 is rotated.

Next, the configuration around the stirring chamber 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The stirring chamber 2 is formed at the lower end of the support cylinder 17, and is formed by a housing 200 that covers the impeller 3. A suction port 23 is formed in an upper housing 21 forming the upper part of the housing 200. Also this housing
A discharge port 25 is formed in a lower housing 22 that forms the lower part of 200. Normally, the rotation of the impeller 3 causes
The fluid is guided into the stirring chamber 2 from 23, and after the processing such as emulsification, the fluid is discharged from the discharge port 25 to the outside of the stirring chamber 2. Inlet
The present invention can be implemented even if the 23 and the discharge port 25 are provided at opposite positions. That is, the discharge port 25 may be used as a suction port, and the suction port 23 may be used as a discharge port.

If the inside of the stirring chamber 2 is provided with a partition 201 that partitions the portion having the impeller 3 and the discharge port 25, that is, the inside of the lower housing 22, and the inside of the upper housing 21, it is effective in terms of processing efficiency. If such a partition 201 is unnecessary, it may be implemented without providing it.

With the above configuration, the support cylinder 17 can be rotated by rotating the motor 430. At this time, the housing 200 supported by the support cylinder 17
Rotates together with the support cylinder 17. Therefore, by rotating the motor 430, the suction port 23 and the discharge port 25 can be rotated. Where 43 is a bearing,
44 is an oil seal. Reference numeral 440 denotes a mechanical seal, which is unnecessary when shared with an oil seal.

With the above configuration, the circulation of the fluid around the outer periphery of the stirring chamber 2 can be performed in all directions without any corners, and the generation of the fluid alienated from the circulation is eliminated. Here, a configuration for reliably circulating such a fluid over the entire area of the storage tank 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Fins 80 spirally wound along the longitudinal direction of the support cylinder 17 are provided on the outer periphery of the support cylinder 17 in the storage tank 1.
Is provided.

When the fins 80 rotate in accordance with the rotation of the support cylinder 17, the fluid located in the upper part of the storage tank 1 descends along the outer periphery of the support cylinder 17 and is guided to the suction port 23.

Next, a configuration for circulating the fluid discharged from the post-processing discharge port 25 above the storage tank 1 will be described. This is done by supporting the support tube to the outside of the fin 80 at appropriate intervals.
A band-like fin 81 that spirals around the center 17 is formed. The band-like fin 81 is entirely twisted in a shape that carries the fluid in the opposite direction to the fin 80, that is, upward. The band-shaped fins 81 are supported together with the fins 80 by a support cylinder.
Rotate according to 17. Therefore, the band-shaped fin 81 is provided with a support (not shown) at an appropriate position, and is supported at an appropriate position on the surface of the support cylinder 17 via the support.

In each of the embodiments described above, the suction port 23,
Although the discharge port 25 rotates in the same body, the means for separately rotating the inside of the lower housing 22 and the upper housing 21 is provided, and the suction port 23 and the discharge port 25 are separately rotated. However, the present invention can be implemented. In this case, the upper housing 21, that is, the suction port 23, is connected to the rotating shaft 410, that is, the impeller 3.
The present invention can be implemented even if it rotates in the same manner. Such an embodiment will be described in detail below.

FIG. 5 is an overall schematic longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the stirrer provided with the rotating means of the lower housing 22, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the essential part.

In the stirrer of this embodiment, the storage tank 1 also includes a tank main body 11 for storing a fluid and a lid 12 for closing an upper opening thereof. The lid 12 is detachably attached to the tank body 11 by a suitable fixing means such as a screw.

The tank body 11 is rotatably supported above a gantry (not shown) via a rotating arm 13. The lid body 12 has an insertion opening for inserting the upper rotation shaft 41 at the center, and a support cylinder 17 for supporting the upper housing 21 described below is hung from the lower surface thereof. On the other hand, on the upper surface of the lid 12, a mounting leg 14 is provided upright from the periphery of the insertion opening. The mounting leg 14 is supported above a gantry (not shown) so as to be able to move up and down via an elevating arm 15, and mounts and fixes an upper motor 42 on an upper end thereof.

The lid 12 is opened and closed by removing the fixing means and raising the lifting arm 15. By rotating the rotation arm 13, the tank main body 11 can be tilted, and the fluid inside can be discharged. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 denotes an insertion hole for various sensors for measuring the state of the fluid inside the tank body 11, an input port for the processed material, and a connection port for adjusting the pressure in the tank (other than using at normal pressure, In many cases, the pressure is reduced or increased, including when the inside of the tank is evacuated, and when the pressure in the tank changes during processing, a pressure adjusting means may be required as a means for adjusting the pressure to a constant pressure. Instead of connecting a pressure adjusting means separately to the connection port, it is also possible to use a device that can simply open the connection port as a deaeration device when the pressure in the tank becomes high. The present invention can be implemented even if the connection with pressure adjusting means such as a compressor is achieved.)

Next, the stirring chamber 2 is divided into upper and lower portions of an upper housing 21 and a lower housing 22.

The upper housing 21 has an inverted funnel shape whose diameter increases downward, and the upper end thereof is
It is continuous with the 17 lower end. The upper housing 21 is formed with a suction port 23 for sucking a fluid from the outside to the inside. Although the shape and the number of the suction ports 23 are arbitrary,
It is preferable to form a plurality of suction ports 23 at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction.

The lower housing 22 has a substantially funnel shape whose diameter decreases as it goes downward, and its upper end is connected to the lower end of the upper housing 21 so as to be rotatable and slidable in the axial direction.

A labyrinth seal 24 is formed at this connection portion,
The labyrinth seal 24 allows the lower housing 22 to rotate while sealing the connection with the upper housing 21. Note that this connection portion does not necessarily need to be completely sealed, and it is sufficient that the lower housing 22 is rotatable with respect to the upper housing 21, and it is not necessary to connect the lower housing 22 so that it can be slidably separated in the axial direction. Therefore, it is also possible to change to another connection means other than the labyrinth seal 24.

The lower housing 22 has a discharge port 25 for discharging a fluid from the inside to the outside. Although the shape and the number of the discharge ports 25 are arbitrary, it is preferable to form a plurality of discharge ports 25 at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction as shown in FIGS.

The lower end of the lower housing 22 is continuous with a lower rotating shaft 51, and the lower rotating shaft 51 is connected to a drive shaft of a lower motor 52, whereby the entire lower housing 22 rotates.

Here, the configuration from the lower housing 22 to the lower motor 52 will be described. First, an opening is formed at the center of the bottom of the tank body 11, and this opening is
The upper end of the shaft seal support 53 is inserted and fixed. A shaft sealing portion 54 is arranged in the shaft sealing support portion 53, rotatably inserts the lower rotating shaft 51, and seals the inside and outside of the tank body 11. At the lower end of the shaft seal support portion 53, the upper end of the bearing support portion 55 is inserted slidably in the axial direction. The bearing support portion 55 has a bearing 56 inside, and rotatably supports the lower rotating shaft 51. The lower motor 52 is connected and fixed to the lower end of the bearing support 55 via a lower motor support 57. The shaft seal support 53 and the bearing support 55 are connected by a ring 58 that is screwed to the outer peripheral portion of both. The upper part of the ring body 58 and the shaft sealing support part 53 are screwed together with a forward screw 59, and the lower part of the ring body 58 and the bearing support part 55 are screwed together with a reverse screw 60. As a result, when the ring body 58 is rotated, the shaft seal supporting portion 53 and the bearing supporting portion 55 relatively slide by the forward screw 59 and the reverse screw 60. Where the shaft seal support
Since 53 is fixed to the bottom of the tank body 11 by bolts 62, the sliding causes the bearing support 55 to move up and down. With this vertical movement, the lower motor 52 fixed to the bearing support 55, the lower rotating shaft 51, the lower housing
All 22 will move up and down. 61 is a ring body 58
9 shows a rotation preventing rod for preventing the bearing support portion 55 from rotating together with the ring body 58 when the is rotated.

With the above configuration, the lower housing 22 rotates and can move up and down. However, the lower housing 22 does not necessarily need to be able to move up and down. Is also possible. Also, the configuration for rotation and the configuration for vertical movement can be changed to another appropriate configuration and implemented.

 Lastly, the impeller 3 will be described.

The impeller 3 can be arranged in the stirring chamber 2,
In this embodiment, it is located within lower housing 22. The impeller 3 has an appropriate number of blades 31, and rotates by being fixed to the lower end of the upper rotation shaft 41. This rotation direction is opposite to the rotation direction of the lower housing 22.

The upper rotating shaft 41 has an upper end connected to the drive shaft of the upper motor 42, penetrates through the inside of the support cylinder 17, and has a bearing near the lower end thereof.
It is rotatably supported in the upper part of the upper housing 21 via a shaft 43 and a shaft sealing part 44.

Although the shape of the blade 31 of the impeller 3 is free, it is preferable that the blade tip is formed so as to form a minute gap with the inner wall of the lower housing 22 and to draw a substantially spiral shape as a whole.

Next, the operation state of the stirrer of this embodiment will be described.
With the upper motor 42 as a drive source, the impeller 3 rotates clockwise as viewed from above. As a result, the lower housing 22 of the stirring chamber is
In the gap between the inner wall and the rotating blade tip, the fluid is sheared to perform an emulsification, dispersion or mixing action, and the fluid is sucked into the interior from the inlet port 23 and the sheared fluid is discharged. Discharge from outlet 25. The above operation is the same as that of the conventional stirrer, but in this stirrer, the lower housing 22 rotates counterclockwise to the impeller 3, that is, rotates counterclockwise when viewed from above. This makes it possible to increase the relative rotation speed between the impeller 3 and the inner wall of the stirring chamber 2,
Even after the rotation speed of the impeller itself has been increased to the limit at which cavitation occurs, the lower housing 22 of the stirring chamber 2 is rotated in the opposite direction, so that the impeller 3 and the inner wall of the stirring chamber 2 are kept in a state where cavitation does not occur. It is possible to increase the relative number of rotations and to increase the shear strength, the amount of energy, the number of passes, and thus the processing capacity.

Moreover, in the present invention, the agitating chamber wall that forms fluid shear with the impeller 3 is the inner wall of the lower housing 22 where the discharge port 25 is located. Accordingly, the rotation of the lower housing 22 causes the discharge port 25 to also rotate. as a result,
The discharge position of the fluid from the stirring chamber 2 is constantly changed, and the dispersion of the entire fluid in the storage tank 1 can be promoted.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the discharge port 25 has a direction. That is, the discharge port 25 is not formed in the radial direction, but is inclined in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the lower housing 22 from the inside of the lower housing 22 to the outside. As a result, the internal fluid is led to the outside with the rotation of the lower housing 22, and the discharge force of the rotation of the lower housing 22 is added to the discharge force of the impeller 3. And the dispersion of the entire fluid in the storage tank 1 can be further promoted.

Furthermore, the three members of the stirring chamber wall, which forms the shear of the fluid with the impeller, the suction port of the stirring chamber, and the discharge port of the stirring chamber,
It is also possible to implement and implement such that they all rotate independently of each other. This can be performed by making the lower housing 22 rotatable in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 (FIG. 9).

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the stirrer according to the present invention, at least one or both of the suction port 23 and the discharge port 25 provided in the stirring chamber 2 rotate, so that the fluid outside the stirring chamber 2 is sucked. Alternatively, the position of the discharge or both of them is sequentially changed, thereby making it possible to prevent the generation of the fluid alienated from the circulation. Moreover, since the diameter of the portion 22 of the stirring chamber 2 where the discharge port 25 is provided becomes smaller as it goes downward, the circumferential speed given to the fluid when discharging the fluid from the discharge port is reduced. The upper and lower portions are different from each other, and the flows having the different speeds further promote the entire circulation of the fluid to be treated contained in the storage tank. As described above, the circulation of the entire fluid is smooth in the processing such as emulsification. On the other hand, with respect to processing such as emulsification due to shearing of a fluid due to rotation of the impeller, the impeller 3 rotates at a high speed inside the portion 22 provided with the discharge port 25 in the stirring chamber 2 so that Fluid shearing is performed in a minute gap between the inner wall and the blade tip. In particular, every time the discharge port 25 of the stirring chamber 2 that rotates in the opposite direction through a small gap between the blade tip and the blade tip passes through the front of the blade tip, the fluid is sheared between the two. is there. Since the discharge port 25 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the impeller 3, the relative rotation speed of the two 25, 3 can be increased, and the shearing capacity of the fluid is limited to the conventional limit. It can be raised more than that.

Therefore, the present invention provides a discharge port that rotates in the opposite
An excellent fluid shearing process is performed between the impeller 3 and the impeller 3, and the entire fluid is circulated without any corners. Therefore, good emulsification, dispersion, and mixing of the fluid can be achieved throughout the fluid to be treated. And the like are realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the main part of the upper part.
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view showing the vicinity of the stirring chamber 2 in FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view of the storage tank 1 of FIG. Fifth
FIG. 6 is an overall schematic longitudinal sectional view of a stirrer according to another embodiment, FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the stirrer, FIG. 7 is a side view of a lower housing of the stirrer, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV. FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway front view of an essential part of an embodiment in which means for rotating the lower housing 22 is provided in the stirrer of FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Storage tank, 2 ... Stirring chamber, 3 ... Impeller, 11 ... Tank main body, 17 ... Support cylinder, 21 ... Upper housing, 22 ... Lower housing, 23 ... Suction port, 25 ... … Discharge port, 31… blades, 41… upper rotating shaft, 42… upper motor, 51… lower rotating shaft, 52… lower motor.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An agitating chamber (2) arranged in a fluid to be subjected to processing such as emulsification, dispersion or mixing, and an impeller (3) arranged in the agitating chamber (2), The stirring chamber (2) has a suction port (23) for sucking a fluid from the outside to the inside at an upper portion, and a discharge port (25) for discharging a fluid from the inside to the outside at a lower portion, and the impeller (3). Is the outlet (2) in the stirring chamber (2).
The high-speed rotation inside the part (22) provided with 5) causes the above-mentioned emulsification and dispersion due to the shearing of the fluid that takes place in the minute gap between the inner wall of this part (22) and the blade tip. Alternatively, the portion (22) provided with the discharge port (25) in the stirring chamber (2) has a smaller diameter as it goes downward, and the impeller (3) A stirrer characterized in that it rotates in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of (1).