US2667338A

US2667338A - Hemfort

Info

Publication number: US2667338A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1954-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 1971-01-26

Description

H. HEMFORT Jan. 26, 1954 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CENTRIFUGALLY MIXING LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March l5, 1950 fkflll.' :fr 'Il Y ull/11,111

INVENTOR HE/NR/CH HEM/:ORT

YDMQz/ l ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 H. HEMFORT APPARATUS ANDMETHOD FOR CENTRIF'UGALLY MIXING LIQUIDS Filed March l5, 1950 HE/NR/CH MSM/C0527' BY er the two liquids are fed into the centrifuge simultaneously the lighter liquid will rst come into contact with the outer opening of the stripping disc I inasmuch as it assumes the innermost position being banked on top of the centrifugally outwardly moving heavier liquid. There will be, therefore, then first specifically lighter liquid stripped by the stripping disc 1 and discharged through conduits 3| and S. If the amount of liquid feed is so adjusted that one of the two liquids is fed in amount less than lthe total liquid stripped by the stripping disc and discharged through conduit 9, the interphase between the specifically lighter and specifically heavier liquid will soon reach the outer stripping opening of conduit 8 of the stripping disc 'I and thereafter both liquids will be gripped by the stripping disc being mixed therein and discharged through conduits S I and 9 in the form of an intimate mixture. The stripping disc acts essentially as a reverse centrifugal pump. It may be for instance seen by reference to Fig. 4 the specifically lighter and specifically heavier liquids are forcedthrough their` centrifugal rotation into the opening of the stripping channel 8a which spirals inwardly towards the center of the stripping disc. The continuing centrifugal pressure then forces the liquids which have become intimately mixed in the stripping channels 8aupwardly through the annular duct Si to be discharged as an intimate mixture of the liquids.

The operationis similar if the one or theV other of the two liquids should be `first fed into the centrifuge before the other is admitted. Assuming, for instance, that specifically heavier liquid is admitted as such, or in mixture with specifically lighter liquid in a manner where the specifically heavier liquid preponderates to an extent that the stripping disc will first dip into the specifically heavier liquid, the latter will be discharged until again the interspace between the specifically lighter and specifically heavier liquid is reached. In the particularY embodiment of Fig. l, the drum interior portions 3d and 35 separated by the stripping disc 'I constitute communicating chambers and the two liquids will assume positions of balance in each. Valve II) is so adjusted that the rate of discharge through conduit 9 is larger than'the rate of feed of one of its components. Valve l) furthermore is so adjusted to the discharge through conduit 9 that the levels of the two liquids remain such that the liquid level of the liquid within the upper portion of the centrifugal interior 3'3 is maintained between the outer periphery of the stripping disc I and the innerperiphery of the collar member I3. If the discharge is restricted too much, the liquid within the upper portion 35 of the drum interior 36 will discharge through conduit 32 over overflow lip 28 into the interior II of the hood 23. On the other hand, if the valve is opened too wide so that the liquid mixture discharge is out of proportion to the feed rates of the liquids, the liquid levels Within the centrifuge interior 35 may recedeto a point where air is sucked in to the stripping disc. I Y

Though Fig. 1 illustrates the feeding cf the specifically heavier liquid to above the stripping Y disc and of the specically lighter liquid to below the stripping disc, it is possible to reverse the feeds of these liquids and have the specifically lighter liquid pass into the centrifuge interior above the stripping disc and the specifically heavier liquid into the centrifugeinterior to below the stripping disc. Alternatively, an arrangement asrvexempli-` 4 fied in Fig. 2 may be used. As there shown, the specifically heavier liquid is admitted through the central conduit I6. Spindle I4 of the centrifuge is of the hollow type and defines the central conduit I5 for the admission of the specifically lighter liquid. Again the two liquids seek individual liquid levels which in their differential in the upper and lower portions 35a and 34a are controlled by the diiferentials in their specific gravity. Again, the interphase of the two liquids reaches the stripping circumference of the stripping disc I8. In this case, there is thus the specifically heavier and the specifically lighter liquid each introduced to the space below the stripping disc. In this case, however, the liquid level of the specifically heavier liquid in the upper portion 35a of the drum interior is controlled not only by the amount of specifically lighter liquid within the space 34a but also by the specifically heavier liquid being centrifugally moved through the specically lighter liquid. The particular construction of Fig. 2 has the advantage that it is possible to make the inner diameter of the collar member il smaller than that of the corresponding collar member I3 of Fig.r l. This in turn permits a smaller outer diameter of the stripping disc I8. There is thus in this construction less power required for the operation ofthemixing device. Instead of introducing the specifically heavier liquid through conduit I5, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the specifically lighter liquid may be introduced through this conduit while passing the specifically heavier liquid Vthrough conduit I5. Alternatively, both liquids may be introduced through the conduit I5 of the hollow spindle it. instead of defining conduit I5 as ypart of rotatable spindle I so that the conduit walls rotate with the spindle, it is possibleto define conduit iE by way of a stationary tube or conduit within the rotating hollow spindle Iii.

Fig. 3 demonstrates a construction similar to Fig. 2 except that both liquids are introduced by way of the central conduit I6 being each separately fed into the same by the T-connection Iii.

The method and device in accordance with the invention have many valuable practical applications in the mixing of liquids. Olne of the foremost applications is that in connection with the mixing of liquids for extraction purposes in which one of the liquids is a solute while the other is the extracting solvent possessing a preferential' solubility for the material dissolved in the solute. 'Iheir application may further include the emulsification of certain liquids particularly in the `presence of emulsifying agents.

liquids into said drum below said disc, second conduit means for admitting the other of said liquids into said drum, third conduit means in communication with the stripping channel of said disc for discharging a mixture of liquids, and means defining an annular overflow channel from the upper inner end of said drum.

2. Device in accordance with claim 1 in which said third conduit is essentially defined between the outer surface of said shaft and an'essentially 5 tubular member cocentric with said shaft in spaced relation thereto.

3. Device in accordance with claim 1 in which said second conduit exits into said drum above said disc.

4. Device in accordance with claim 1 in which said third conduit means are provided with valving means for variably adjusting mixture now therethrough, in which said third conduit is essentially defined between the outer surface of said shaft and an essentially tubular member cocentric with said shaft in spaced relation thereto, in which said annular overflow channel is defined between an inner and outer cylindrical member cocentric with said shaft, and in which said second conduit is defined between the outer surface of said tubular member and the inner surface of said inner cylindrical member.

5. Device in accordance with claim 1 in which said second conduit exits into said drum below said disc.

6. Device in accordance with claim 5 in which said second conduit is defined within the centrifuge spindle.

7. Device in accordance with claim 6 in which said third conduit means are provided with valving means for variably adjusting mixture iiow therethrough, in which said third conduit is essentially dened between the outer surface of said shaft and an essentially tubular member cocentric with said shaft in spaced relation thereto, and in which said annular overow channel is defined between the inner surface of a tubular extension of the drum cover cocentric with said shaft and a portion of the outer surface of said tubular member.

8. Method for the intimate mixing of liquids which comprises establishing a volume conned zone, continuously feeding two specifically differing liquids into said zone, continuously subjecting said liquids in said zone to centrifugal action to establish an interphase therebetween, continuously stripping and forcing for discharge from said zone a portion of each said liquids from said interphase along a stationary centrally spiralling confined path while maintaining 6 the feeding of one of said liquids in amount less than the total discharging liquid.

9. Device for the intimate mixing of liquids which comprises a rotatable centrifugal drum, a stationary stripping disc of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of said drum positioned within said drum substantially co-axial with the drum axis of rotation with its outer perimeter in spaced relationship to the inner wall of said drum dening an annular space therebetween for a body of liquid of appreciable depth, conduit means for feeding two specifically differing liquids into said drum, overflow means from the upper inner end of said drum, and liquid discharge means in communication with the stripping channel of said disc for removing a mixture of said liquids.

10. Device according to claim 9 in which there are additionally provided valving means on said discharging means for variably adjusting mixture flow through said discharging means.

11. Device according to claim 9 in which said conduit means comprises a rst conduit for feeding one of said liquids into said drum and a second conduit for feeding the other of said liquids into said drum.

12. Device according to claim 11 in which said first conduit exits below said disc and said second conduit above said disc.

13. Device according to claim 11 in which said conduit means exit into the drum space below said disc and including valving means on said discharging means for variably adjusting mixture ow through said discharging means.

HEINRICH HEMFORT.

References Cited in the fue of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 814,720 Monroe Mar. 30, 1906 1,624,037 Butler Apr. 12, 1927 1,771,321 Snow July 22, 1930 2,171,136 Bergner Aug. 29, 1939 2,273,835 Cornell Feb. 24, 1942 2,318,293 Cornell May 4, 1943 2,341,536 Fash Feb. 15, 1944