JPH0628714B2 - Stacking non-motion type mixing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Industrial Application> The present invention relates to a material mixing apparatus having various members conventionally known as a static mixer that mixes respective components of a fluid flow. The judicious placement of various static mixing members in accordance with the present invention provides enhanced mixing over comparable devices of the prior art.

<Prior Art> As the name implies, static mixers use no moving parts, so static mixers are economically superior to dynamic mixers when operated efficiently. Stationary devices are generally cheaper to form and less expensive to maintain, and can extend the useful life of the blender product by the user.

Prior art static mixers generally require expensive machining, moulding, casting or other mixer member fabrication, with some type of permanent attachment between each member and the tube section and / or members inside the tube. Was being conducted. The resulting cost and manufacturing difficulties made the final product relatively expensive. Furthermore,
Many prior art mixers have not been able to thoroughly mix the materials, especially those flowing through the wall of the tube. This phenomenon called "wall coating" is related to the radial fluid distribution of the fluid forming the laminar flow in the pipe and is due to the small flow velocity along the wall surface equal to zero. .

A major advance in static mixer technology is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,288 of the present inventor's prior application. The invention of this prior patent relates to a static material mixing device that is self-nesting, abutting and axially superposed on each other and mounted within the tube. The axial overlap area between each member provides a mixing element that creates a complex flow vector in the material.

When a stream is introduced into a device incorporating n mixing elements as disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,923,288, the stream is split into 2 ⁿ . The reason is that each mixing member divides the fluid flow into 2 × 2.

An apparatus capable of further increasing the mixing efficiency of the mixing member disclosed in the above-mentioned reference than 2 ⁿ division is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,614,440 of the present inventor. ing. The prior patented invention relates broadly to a static material mixing device for mixing fluid streams in the form of a tube consisting of individual biscuit-shaped compartments. The compartments are aligned along a common longitudinal axis, each biscuit-shaped compartment having a plurality of through openings in which are located mixing members that cause a rotational angular velocity of the fluid flow. Substantially all of the mixing members are supposed to produce the same locus of rotation, but adjacent biscuit-shaped compartments are deliberately staggered, with care being taken to enhance the mixing operation.

FIG. 1 shows a U.S. Pat. No. 4,61.
4 illustrates a representative biscuit-shaped compartment in accordance with the teachings of No. 4,440. The biscuit-shaped member 10 shown in plan view has a central opening 5 and a peripheral opening 6. A biscuit with a central opening 5 and hexagonally arranged holes is a typical biscuit-type compartment disclosed in the inventor's earlier patent.

Practically any mixing member may be placed inside the openings 5 and 6 as long as it is a member that produces a rotational angular velocity in the passing fluid. A representative member that can be used is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,288, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Members of this type are indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4 by the reference numeral 13 and they generate, ie impart, the same rotational trajectory to the fluid passing through the biscuit opening.

The rotation trajectories of the fluids to be mixed are shown by arrows 31 and 32 in FIG.
Indicate. U.S. Patent No. 4,61.
No. 4,440 teaches that members 10, 11 of FIG.
A large number of such biscuit-shaped members are arranged in the longitudinal direction, and the openings of the adjacent biscuit-shaped members are staggered. A typical example of the staggering is shown in a plan view in FIG. 2, and the geometric center of the opening 6 coincides with the peripheral portion of the opening 6A of the adjacent biscuit-shaped member 11. As a result of such staggering, the positional deviation of the adjacent biscuit type members is about 30 degrees. When the adjacent biscuit type members are not staggered, the fluid flowing into the upstream cell or the upstream opening such as the opening 6 in FIG. Are mixed to some extent, but no intercell mixing occurs. By staggering the biscuit members as shown in FIG. 2, for example, each cell of the biscuit member 11 receives material from two cells of the biscuit member 10, resulting in enhanced mixing. When the spiral mixing member 13 has the same locus, each section having the spiral hole portion divides and rejoins the fluid flow into 12, and as a result of the staggering, the product is divided many times. They will join again.

Furthermore, it has been found to be preferable to block the opening of each biscuit section as a means of enhancing mixing. Ideally, the blocked openings should be in one rising biscuit section rather than in adjacent biscuit sections, most preferably at the geometric center of the biscuit section. Position the opening. An embodiment thereof is shown in FIG. 4, in which the biscuit-shaped compartments 10, 11 and 12 are shown in an exploded perspective view, with the fluid flow 17 emerging from the central bore 5 of the biscuit-shaped compartment 10. If the central hole 5A of the biscuit-shaped compartment 11 is not closed, the fluid will flow into all of the central openings 5, 5A and 5B arranged longitudinally along the flow path 17,
No mixing occurs between adjacent holes. By blocking (closing) the central hole 5A, the central opening 5
The fluid flow that has flowed through is introduced into the openings 6A and 7A of the biscuit type compartment 11 and passes through the flow paths 17A, 17B, etc. before hitting the biscuit type compartment 12. In the biscuit-shaped compartment 12, the central holes 5B are unclosed and receive fluid as well as the adjoining mixing openings, so that the fluid streams 17A and 17B are further divided.

When blocking one or more central openings in the system, the biscuit members should be separated from each other so that fluid is not blocked downstream from the biscuit members having blocked openings. Is preferably allowed to flow into. FIG. 3 is a view showing a typical example of the device disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,614,440 relating to the prior application of the present inventor.
11 are nested within tube 20 and are notched so that they are in a nested or interlocking relationship with each other. Further, there is an internal spacing 18 to provide proper flow treatment within and around the biscuit-shaped member having a centrally blocked opening, further reducing the pressure drop along the entire tube.

Stacked, non-moving mixers consisting of various biscuit-type compartments 10, 11, etc. provide a much better mixer than previously devised. For example, when a single stream is caused to flow through the apparatus of n mixing members disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,288, the inflow is divided into 2 ⁿ . However, US Pat. No. 4,61
When practicing the invention shown in 4,440, a 2 inch mixer acts as a ²²ⁿ mixer. Eight biscuit-type tubes with six peripheral holes provide 6 × 2 ⁿ or 6
It does not become × 2 ⁸ = 6 × 256, but 6 × 2 ^{2n, that} is, 6 × 2
¹⁶ = 6 × 65536. Therefore, the improvement rate obtained by implementing the above-mentioned invention is 65536/256 = 25.
It will be 6 times.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In accordance with the gist of the present invention, if a certain modification is added to the stacking non-motion type mixer described in U.S. Pat. It has been found that a mixer is obtained that can be applied when introduced into a viscous extrusion melt system or other high viscosity fluid stream. Adding a low viscosity liquid, such as a liquid colorant or lubricant, to a polymer stream is such that in most static mixing techniques small amounts of low viscosity additives pass through the mixer without being properly mixed. Because of this, it is extremely difficult.

In order to solve this problem, attempts have been made to introduce low-viscosity additives by means of perforated sprinklers or slotted sprinkling pipes. This solution is also inadequate just because the highly viscous material dominates the flow pattern, and this type of device has a constant flow rate to evenly distribute the additive from the holes or slots. I have to drive. always,
Asymmetrical clogging of the additive introduction holes or slots occurs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide US Pat. No. 4,614,44.
An improvement to the mixing device disclosed in No. 0 is to provide a mixing device that is particularly suitable for mixing small amounts of low viscosity materials into a high viscosity flowing fluid stream. The above and other objects of the present invention will be easily understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

<Means for Solving the Problems> According to the present invention, there is provided a static material mixing device arranged inside a cylindrical tube for mixing a fluid flow inside the tube, the device being aligned along a longitudinal axis. Individual biscuit-shaped compartments, each biscuit-shaped compartment having a plurality of openings therein for producing an inclined rotational flow of the fluid flow therethrough. A mixing element is disposed such that substantially all of the mixing element produces an identical rotational trajectory in the fluid flow, at least some of the openings biting into the openings of adjacent biscuit-shaped compartments. In a staggered mixing device, a conical plug is arranged substantially along the longitudinal axis, the bottom of said conical plug being located at the most upstream of a plurality of biscuit-shaped compartments. Biscuit mold Of the biscuit-shaped compartments located on the upstream side of the compartment of the biscuit-shaped compartments, the conical plug being located along the longitudinal axis of the biscuit-shaped compartments located furthest upstream of the plurality of biscuit-shaped compartments. The opening of the conical plug is blocked, the apex of the conical plug is located upstream of the bottom and a fluid inlet is provided, and the fluid inlet is located near the apex of the conical plug. Is provided at a location that discharges into the fluid stream.

Also according to the invention, it is arranged inside a cylindrical tube,
A static material mixing device for mixing a fluid flow within the tube, comprising individual biscuit-shaped compartments aligned along a longitudinal axis, each biscuit-shaped compartment being a biscuit-shaped compartment. At least some of the centrally located openings of the biscuit-shaped compartment having an opening located at the geometric center of the compartment of the compartment and two or more openings adjacent to the centered opening. A portion of the mixing element is blocked, and a mixing element is disposed in the unblocked opening of each biscuit-shaped section to produce an inclined rotational flow of the fluid flow therethrough, the mixing element being substantially A mixing device in which all of them generate the same rotational trajectory in the fluid flow, and the openings adjacent to the central position openings are arranged by staggering the openings of the adjacent biscuit-shaped compartments. In, a conical plug is disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis, and the bottom of the conical plug is located at the most upstream side of the plurality of biscuit-shaped compartments on the upstream side of the biscuit-shaped compartment. Of the conical plug is located at the central position of the opening, the apex of the conical plug is located upstream of the bottom, and a fluid inlet is provided, and the fluid inlet is near the apex of the conical plug. Provided is a device characterized in that it is arranged in a position to eject a fluid into a fluid stream.

<Embodiment> The gist of the present invention is to treat the components to be mixed at the apexes of one or more conical projections of the biscuit-shaped mixing member shown in FIGS. It is based on the finding that if it is supplied to the center of the, mixing will be surprisingly effective. Even difficult mixing systems, such as introducing small amounts of low viscosity components into a high viscosity stream, can be effectively mixed by practicing the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in which a biscuit member 33 is located inside the tube 20 and faces the main fluid stream moving in the direction of arrow 34. Although only one biscuit-type member 33 is shown in the figure, a stack of a plurality of biscuit-type members is actually used as shown in FIG.

It is also an improvement that, unlike the prior art embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front surface 51 and the rear surface 52 are each beveled. This prevents "dead spots" from appearing on the surface of the biscuit-shaped member, which act as fluid shelves that capture the fluid components that pass through the biscuit-shaped member and become part of the mixture.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the fluid inlet 29 supplies fluid to the apices of the biscuit-shaped member 33 and the conical plug 21 arranged substantially along the length of the cylindrical tube 20. The bottom of the conical plug is located on the upstream surface of the biscuit-shaped member 33 and has an opening present along the longitudinal axis of the biscuit-shaped member which is the most upstream biscuit-shaped member of the stack of multiple biscuit-shaped members. Blocked. As shown in FIG. 5, the apex of the conical plug is the first contact point for the fluid discharged from the fluid inlet 29.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the fluid is supplied from the fluid inlet 29 via the supply leg 27 which penetrates the cylindrical tube 20 and extends radially inside the tube. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, there is a second leg 28 that is substantially along the longitudinal axis of the tube 20 such that the fluid discharged from the fluid inlet 29 by the second leg is the main stream 34.
Directed in the direction of.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the fluid inlet 37 is an integral part of the conical plug 21a. In the case of the present embodiment, the fluid discharged from the inlet 37 penetrates the cylindrical tube 20 and the upstream biscuit type member 33.
Is supplied from a first supply leg portion 35 that extends in the radial direction inside, and extends from the first supply leg portion 35 and extends along the longitudinal axis of the biscuit-shaped member to allow the fluid to flow near the apex of the conical plug 21a. It is ejected through the ejecting second leg 36.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the fluid discharged from the supply point 37 is evenly spread on the surface of the conical member to cause a waterfall, and at the same time, a substantially equal amount of fluid is distributed to the plurality of radial orifices 6. Supply.

The tube 20 has a plurality of biscuit-shaped compartments 33 and supply legs 2.
7, 35 and the like are installed in advance to be an already stored unit. This unit is incorporated into an existing tube that carries a hot melt polymer stream by means of a flange 24.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of biscuit type members are provided with an extension portion 38 having a cavity 41, and the cavity 41 accommodates a heating or cooling member. The heat transfer surface is used to apply energy to or remove energy from the fluid flow flowing in the direction of arrow 34. In this embodiment, a plurality of biscuit type members 3
It is most preferable because it is supported by No. 3 and operates much more effectively than the conventional heating / cooling member arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the tube 20. According to this embodiment,
The main flow flowing in the direction of the arrow 34 and the fluid discharged from the fluid inlet means 26 are the biscuit type member 33 and the member 3.
Before reaching the mixing hole 6 of No. 3, it flows in and out of the orifice 39.

In practice, various heating / cooling means can be arranged inside the cavity 41 within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.
For example, a coil-shaped resistance heater (not shown) may be placed inside the cavity 41 and controlled by a combination of an adjustable resistor and a thermocouple to appropriately transfer heat to the fluid flow.

Although it is shown as a separate member attached to the biscuit-shaped member 33 along the longitudinal axis of the conical plugs 21, 21a, etc. in the figure, the biscuit-shaped member 33 is machined to form a conical member as a unitary structure member. 21 can also be formed. An essential requirement for practicing the invention is that a conical ridge projects from the upstream surface of the most upstream biscuit member, the conical member being disposed with its apex facing upstream to mix with the main fluid flow. That is, it forms a surface for receiving the fluid. Such a geometry provides a surface that allows an equal amount of fluid to enter the interior of each mixing orifice 6 and strikes another staggered biscuit member as shown in FIG. Results in 12 radial pulsations that do not coincide with the flow axis at all. With such a geometrical arrangement, the various fluids passing through the inside of the tube 20 can be mixed surprisingly efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional biscuit-type mixing section. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing staggered stacking of conventional biscuit-type mixing sections. FIG. 3 is a side view of a static material mixing device in which a plurality of conventional biscuit-type mixing compartments are stacked in a cutaway view. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a mixing device using a conventional biscuit-type mixing section. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention. 20 ... Tube, 21 ... Conical plug, 29 ... Fluid inlet, 33 ... Biscuit-shaped member (compartment).

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A static material mixing device disposed inside a cylindrical tube for mixing a fluid flow therein, comprising individual biscuit-shaped compartments aligned along a longitudinal axis. Each of the biscuit-shaped compartments has a plurality of openings, and inside the openings, a mixing element for generating an inclined rotational flow in a fluid flow passing therethrough is arranged. In a mixing device in which substantially all of the fluid flow causes the same trajectory of rotation in the fluid flow, and at least some of the openings are arranged to be offset from the openings of adjacent biscuit-shaped compartments, A conical plug is disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis, and the bottom of the conical plug is located at the most upstream side of the plurality of biscuit-shaped compartments. Located on The conical plug blocks any opening along the longitudinal axis of the most upstream biscuit-shaped compartment of the plurality of biscuit-shaped compartments. The apex of the plug is located upstream of the bottom and is provided with a fluid inlet, and the fluid inlet is arranged at a position for discharging the fluid into the fluid flow in the vicinity of the apex of the conical plug. Characterized device. 2. A static material mixing device disposed within a cylindrical tube for mixing a fluid flow therein, comprising individual biscuit-shaped compartments aligned along a longitudinal axis. Each of the biscuit-shaped compartments has an opening located at the geometric center of the biscuit-shaped compartment and two or more openings adjacent to the centrally located opening. , At least some of the central openings of the biscuit-shaped compartments are blocked, and the unblocked openings of each biscuit-shaped compartment produce an inclined rotational flow in the fluid flow therethrough. A mixing element is disposed such that substantially all of the mixing element causes the fluid stream to have the same rotational trajectory, and the opening adjacent the central location opening is an adjacent biscuit-shaped compartment. In a mixing device with staggered openings, a conical plug is disposed substantially along the longitudinal axis, the bottom of the conical plug being the most of a plurality of biscuit-shaped compartments. It is located at a central position opening on the upstream side of a biscuit-shaped partition located upstream, the apex of the conical plug is located upstream of the bottom, and a fluid inlet is provided. The device, wherein the fluid inlet is disposed at a position to discharge the fluid into the fluid flow substantially near the apex of the conical plug.