WO2008142234A1

WO2008142234A1 - Instrumented modular mixer for mixing at least two viscous materials

Info

Publication number: WO2008142234A1
Application number: PCT/FR2008/000419
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Terrisse; René Muller; Michel Bouquey
Original assignee: Universite Louis Pasteur, U.L.P.
Priority date: 2007-04-05
Filing date: 2008-03-27
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Also published as: FR2914566A1; FR2914566B1

Abstract

Modular mixer (1) made up of a feed module (2), for introducing materials to be mixed into the mixer, and one or more mixing modules (3) for homogenizing the materials by forcing them from one compartment (11, 12) of a mixing chamber (26) to another compartment through a mixing grid (10) by means of two collinear pistons (7) sliding in this chamber. The various modules, made up of similar elements, are connected up according to the requirements of the user by junction units (4) for transferring material from one module to another, for feeding material, for discharging material or for in-line removal during transfer of material between two modules. These junction units are instrumented so as to carry out various measurements for monitoring and characterizing the mixture. This invention is of interest to laboratories, research centres and small units for the production of products resulting from one or more mixtures of viscous products.

Description

Modular and instrumented mixing device for mixing at least two viscous materials

The present invention relates to a mixing device for mixing at least two materials and allowing sampling and any kind of online characterization in real time. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the homogeneous mixture of at least one first viscous material with at least one second viscous material that may have a viscosity very different from the first. The object of the invention is to provide a fast, safe, inexpensive device suitable for mixing potentially highly viscous materials, protected from light and air, allowing an individual temperature control for each material before mixing . In addition, the mixing device of the invention must be able to operate under pressure and almost adiabatically, that is to say so that no heat exchange takes place between the mixed materials and the external medium during a cycle of operation. These aforementioned factors are mainly important in the case of the mixture of materials for example pharmaceutical or biological, extremely sensitive to temperature changes, in contact with air or exposure to light. Advantageously, such a mixing device must allow entry and exit of easy material and adapted to different shapes, such as for example powders, granules, very viscous liquids, etc. In order to be able for example to ensure continuous monitoring of the quality of the mixture, the mixing device must also allow sampling and physical analysis, mechanical and analytical quick, easy, in situ, with a known residence time of the mixture and in real time.

In addition, it must be suitable for mixtures of materials forming highly volatile compounds at working temperatures.

Advantageously, this mixing device must remain clean after use and the cleaning of any traces of residual material must be easy, effective and fast.

Preferably, the mixing device must be flexible, for example composed of standard modules connected together, and must be used as a continuous reactor, semi-continuous or as a batch reactor. To solve this technical problem, various devices have been proposed. For example, screw mixers, stirring mixers, ultrasonic mixers and vibrating mixers.

For example, US Pat. No. 3,751,012 to The OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY discloses, for example, a mixing device that combines a worm and an electromechanical ultrasonic transducer. This device, in addition to not solving most of the aforementioned problems, does not allow a homogeneous mixture in the case of highly viscous materials. Indeed, despite the use of ultrasound, the worm only allows a laminar flow of the mixture. In addition, such a screw is a rotating member difficult to maintain clean and clean, generally requiring disassembly and a complete cleaning between each use.

In general, the various types of mixers mentioned above are all unable to mix very viscous materials homogeneously. Other types of devices have therefore been proposed, based on the use of one or more mixing chambers in which a piston forces the material to be mixed through one or more openings providing a distribution of the mixture. Indeed, this mixing principle is known in the field of pharmacy where substances can be mixed using two syringes connected end to end and alternately passing these substances from one syringe to another.

No. 2,813,300 in the name of JOHN M. HAUSMAN and describes a mixing device comprising a double cylinder forcing with a piston the material to be mixed back and forth through openings connecting the two chambers double cylinder. U.S. Patent ^β 2948920 in the name of the same applicant is an improvement of the previous device. This mixing device comprises a pair of aligned cylinders, jacks and a perforated mixing plate communicating the open ends of the cylinders. By forcing the material to be mixed back and forth through the openings of the mixing plate connecting the two cylinders, the latter undergoes a distribution increasing the homogeneity of the mixture.

These devices are however of an extremely summary design. For example, they have no real input device or material outlet. Thus, the supply and the evacuation are done by disassembly of at least a part of the device, which is long, impractical and puts the material in contact with the air, the light and the atmospheric pressure, while nothing is provided for example for a supply of powders, granules, liquids or gases. In addition, these devices have no temperature control means. In addition, nothing is planned for sampling and physical, mechanical and analytical analyzes of the mixture. Of even these devices are not suitable for the mixture of volatile matter forming materials. Finally, these devices are not scalable and can not be used as reactors.

To solve these numerous technical problems, the mixing device according to the invention consists of a supply module and at least one mixing module, these two modules being connected by a junction unit.

The feed module comprises two collinear piston chambers which communicate through a feed functional unit located in the middle of the feed chamber formed by the volume between the heads of the two collinear pistons and by which Materials may be introduced and then transferred to a joining unit. The feed module is intended to introduce the materials to be mixed into the mixing device, after possible preparation and conditioning of these in a desired form, at controlled temperature and pressure conditions. This module makes it possible to supply various materials to the mixing device in a fast, simple and completely controllable manner, protected from air and light, while controlling the various physical and chemical parameters of these materials.

The mixing module comprises two collinear piston chambers which communicate through a mixing functional unit located in the middle of the mixing chamber formed by the volume between the heads of the two collinear pistons and through which materials can be introduced and then transferred to a joining unit after mixing. The mixing functional unit is temperature controlled and comprises a mixing means, for example in the form of a mixing die, allowing the mixing and homogenization of the materials introduced into the mixing chamber by forced alternating passage of the mixing chamber. materials from one side to the other of the mixing die using collinear pistons. The mixing functional unit also includes means for transferring the mixture outwardly to a joining unit or to any other device. The mixing die preferably comprises crossed channels, which can improve the O-blend factor of the invention.

The junction unit transfers the material from the feed module to the mixing module. This unit comprises a material inlet connected to the feed chamber of the feed module, and a material outlet connected to the mixing chamber of the mixing module. The junction unit may be instrumented or tooled with, for example, measuring instruments, an extrusion die, or a molding tool, and may also include other means. input and output of material, for example for the introduction of additives or components, or for sampling. The junction unit therefore allows rapid physical, mechanical and analytical analyzes, easy, in situ, with a known residence time and real time mixing.

Advantageously, a mixing device according to the invention may comprise several successive mixer modules instead of one, the latter being connected in series to each other via a junction unit. This allows a total modularity of the device, the user can for example assemble any number of modules and instrument the junction modules as it seems. Thus, the mixing device is particularly suitable as laboratory formulation tools.

The modularity of the mixing device according to the invention is remarkable in that a supply module and the mixing modules consist of substantially identical means. This makes it possible in particular to produce inexpensive mixer devices with standard interchangeable parts.

The various modules and the junction units composing a mixing device according to the invention can be automated, which makes it possible to control the device automatically. In the case where the feed module is fed with material continuously, the mixing device according to the invention can then O advantageously operate continuously in a fully automated manner.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

. Figure 1 is a simplified diagram in vertical section of a mixing device according to the invention;

. Figure 2 is an enlargement of the upper part of the simplified diagram of Figure 1; . Figure 3 is a perspective view of a mixing device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 0. Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a mixing device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; . Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a mixing device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional vertical view of a mixing device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

. FIG. 7 is a detail view in horizontal section of the central part of a mixing device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; . Figure 8 is a detail view in longitudinal vertical section of the central portion of a mixing device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; . Figure 9 is a perspective view of a mixing die according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; . Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view of a mixing die according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

. Figures 11 to 18 are schematic diagrams showing the steps of operation of a power supply module according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

. Figures 19 to 27 are schematic diagrams showing the operating steps of a mixing module according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; . Figure 28 is a simplified diagram in vertical section of two mixing modules according to the invention operating in continuous mode; . Figure 29 is a simplified diagram in vertical section showing the mixture of two substances A and B within the same mixing module; and. Figures 30 and 31 are simplified diagrams in vertical section showing the mixture of two substances A and B in two successive mixing modules.

The mixing device according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 31. The equivalent elements represented in the different figures will bear the same numerical references. FIGS. 4 and 8 show a module according to a preferred embodiment where the feed and mixing modules are identical, for economic reasons of manufacture. It can be indistinctly a power module or a mixing module.

As shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mixing device 1 according to the present invention consists of a feed module 2 providing the introduction of the materials to be mixed into the device and of at least one module mixture 3 producing the mixture of the above materials and any other material introduced into each mixing module 3. These different modules

2, 3 are intended to be connected in series and interconnected by means of junction units 4 making the transfer of material from one module to another.

It is important to note that in Figures 1 and 2, for reasons of clarity, the modules 2, 3, 4 have been shown mounted vertically one above the other. However, the modules composing a mixing device 1 according to the present invention are preferably mounted horizontally next to each other, as shown in the other figures. In addition, in Figures 1 and 2, the essential elements of the invention are shown in solid lines, while the optional elements are shown in broken lines. Thus, in particular, several mixing modules 3 that can be added in series to the device via junction units 4 have been represented.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a series of modules comprising the mixing device 1 according to the invention preferentially start with a supply module 2.

By upstream mixing module 3, we designate any mixing module 3 located near the side of the feed module 2, while by mixing module 3 downstream, we will designate any mixing module 3 located substantially away from the module. 2. Similarly, in the remainder of this description, the terms top and bottom, lower and upper, right and left, etc., will be defined according to the orientation adopted by the mixing device 1. shown in the different figures. It is obvious that this orientation will not necessarily be kept in use. Advantageously, the power supply module 2 and the mixing modules 3 are substantially identical by their constituent means. It is for this reason that FIG. 4 represents both a feed module 2 and a mixing module 3. These modules 2, 3 each comprise two collinear piston chambers 5 which communicate via a functional unit 6, for example in block form, for communicating the two piston chambers. These two chambers 5 are preferably cylindrical but not necessarily.

A piston 7 slides in each of these two chambers 5 and an operating chamber 8 is formed between the head 9 of the two pistons 7. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the functional chamber 8 thus formed is confined in the unit. functional 6.

A functional element 10, in the form of a through separation, divides the functional chamber 8 located between the two piston heads 9 of each module 2, 3 into two functional compartments 11, 12 whose volume varies with the displacement of the heads 9 pistons 7. These pistons 7 are preferably hardened treated steel. They comprise a coupling head and a distal portion that can seal the chambers 5 piston, for example by means of a self-sealing compressible ring 13 infusible material at working temperatures: aluminum, lead, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), etc. Each piston 7 is actuated by an individual actuator 14, preferably in the form of a cylinder or any other similar device 5, for example pneumatic, hydraulic, electric screw or linear motor, or other type. These actuators 14 act on the pistons 7 to move them longitudinally in their chamber 5 individually, alternately or synchronized from a central control.

According to the current embodiments of the invention, the pistons 7 1 O have a diameter of between 8 and 32 millimeters and have a stroke of between 1 and 10 diameters. This dimensioning is suitable for common applications, but the invention remains conceivable with other dimensions. Thus, the mixing device 1 of the invention can be miniaturized, like microreactors used in chemistry or biochemistry. Similarly, although this does not seem advantageous

Financially, the mixing device 1 of the invention can technically be realized on a much larger scale without this posing a real problem.

The wall of each of the two compartments 11, 12 of the functional chamber 8 situated between the heads 9 of the pistons 7 is preferably individually controlled in temperature by means of heating, cooling, insulating or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the walls of the compartments can be heated up to 300 ^° C. by means of electric heating cartridges housed in cavities provided in these walls.

Each feed module 2 or mixture 3 preferably comprises at least one material inlet 15 and a material outlet 16 for respectively penetrating material into the functional chamber 8 located between the heads 9 of the pistons 7 and the to bring out.

In the case of a supply module 2, this functional chamber 8 is a feed chamber 17 and the functional unit 6, for example in the form of a block and putting in communication the two collinear piston chambers 5 is a functional power unit 18.

The supply module 2 has at least one material inlet 15, preferably located at the supply functional unit 18. The supply module 2 also has at least one material outlet 16, preferably located at the level of the functional power unit 18, and connected to a material inlet 5 of the junction unit 4 downstream and will be detailed later.

In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. at 8, the supply functional unit 18 is in the form of a power supply unit having a cavity in which is housed a supply element 19 putting the two piston chambers in communication.

This supply element 19 divides the supply chamber 17 located between the two piston heads 9 of the supply module 2 into two supply compartments 20, 21 whose volume varies with the displacement of the heads 9 of the pistons 7.

In a preferred embodiment, the supply element 19 has a first through channel 22, for example substantially straight, putting in communication the two supply compartments 20, 21. It also has a second channel 23, or channel input, preferably bent or inclined, communicating one 21 of the two feed compartments 20, 21 of the feed chamber 17 of the module 2 with a material outlet of a transfer device 25 located downstream of the module Finally, the supply element 19 also has a third channel 24, preferably bent or inclined, putting in communication the other 20 of the two supply compartments 20, 21 of the feed chamber 17 of the module 2 with a material inlet of the junction unit 4. This transfer device may for example be a junction unit 4 or be in the form of a hopper provided for powders, glands and the like. Ran or similar solids, or an inlet, for example adapted to receive an injection device provided for liquids, gases or pasty products such as an optionally heated syringe introduction, a pump piston or membrane, any other similar device or any combination of several of these means.

Although in this preferred embodiment each of these three channels 22, 23, 24 is unique, it is perfectly possible to provide several. Similarly, in the previous preferred embodiment, the second and third channels 23, 24 each open on a different feed compartment 20, 21, but they can also open on the same feed compartment 20 , 21.

It is important to note that the different modules may also include one or more other transfer devices 25 as previously and located in other locations in communication with the functional chambers 8 to directly feed the latter into a solid form material , liquid or gaseous.

Although substantially similar in their constituent means, the different piston chambers of the feed module 2 may have a diameter greater than that of the various piston chambers 5 or of the mixing module (s) 3, as shown on Figures 1 and 2. Indeed, both Feed compartments 20, 21 of the feed module 2 may for example be supplied with material in the form of granules. Once this material is melted by heating the walls of the supply functional unit 18, the volume it occupies in the feed chamber 17 will be smaller. The air initially located between the granules may be discharged from the feed chamber 17 by a purge means. Advantageously, the pistons 7 slide unsealed in the two compartments 20, 21 of the feed chamber 17, so that the air is discharged between the inner wall of the piston chambers 5 and the outer surface of the head 9 pistons 7 during the displacement of the latter. It can also be envisaged that the supply functional unit 18 comprises a purge, for example in the form of a vent.

In the case of a mixing module 3, the functional chamber 8 formed between the head 9 of the two collinear pistons 7 is a mixing chamber 26, and the functional unit 6, for example in the form of a block and setting in communication the two collinear piston chambers is a mixing functional unit 27.

This mixing functional unit 27 is preferably a parallelepipedal geometry element made of tooling steel, possibly stainless steel screwed onto a frame.

In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figures 3 to 8, the mixing functional unit 27 has a cavity in which is housed a mixing functional element 28 putting in communication the two piston chambers. This cavity is preferably nitrided, ground or treated so as to ensure a low surface roughness and a high hardness. In the preferred form of a mixing block, the mixing functional unit 27 is also pierced in the direction perpendicular to the preceding cavity by two cavities, namely a material inlet 29 provided to be connected to a material outlet. a junction unit 4 located upstream of the mixing module 3 and a material outlet 30 provided to be connected to a material inlet of another junction unit 4 located downstream of the mixing module 3. The functional element of FIG. mixing 28 divides the mixing chamber 26 located between the two piston heads 9 of the mixing module 3 into two mixing compartments 31, 32 whose volume varies with the displacement of the heads 9 of the pistons 7.

The mixing functional element 28 is preferably a separation / recombination unit of the streams generating convergent / divergent elongational flows. In a preferred embodiment, this mixing element 28 is a metal cylinder, for example hardened steel, comprising one or more channels 33 passing through to form a mixing grid whose two faces are each respectively intended to be oriented towards one of two mixing compartments 31, 32. The mixing element 28 is provided to allow a cross flow and divided materials located in the two mixing compartments 31, 32 so as to ensure mixing by spatial redistribution. The channel or channels 33 through may have varying diameters and adapted to their function. These channels 33 may be parallel or inclined with respect to the axis of the mixing element 28.

In a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, the mixing element 28 has a plurality of inclined channels 33 which intersect but do not communicate with each other within the mixing element 28. On each of the its two faces 34, 35 in communication with the mixing compartments 31, 32, this mixing element 28 preferably has channel openings 36 arranged substantially centrally and other openings 37 arranged substantially peripherally. In the case of inclined channels 33, an input, respectively an output, of central channel corresponds to an output, respectively an input, of peripheral channel as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the mixing element 28 also has two flats or bores 38, 39 inclined or bent open around its periphery 40, a first 38 connecting one of the mixing compartments 32 with the junction unit 4 located upstream of the mixing module 3, and a second 39 connecting the other mixing chamber 31 with the junction unit 4 located downstream of the mixing module 3. The first 38 of these two flats or holes 38, 39 thus serves as a material inlet 29 in the mixing chamber 26, while the second 39 serves as a material outlet 30 out of the mixing chamber 26 of the module.

In the case where the mixing functional unit 27 is in the preferred form of a mixing block, the mixing element 28 is preferentially blocked in axial and angular position in the mixing block 27 by means of a peripheral groove consistent in this block. Advantageously, a specific tool allows the introduction of this element 28 in the mixing block 27.

The heads 9 of the pistons 7 of the feed modules 2 and mixing 3 may have any shape while the functional elements 10, 19, 28 then have faces of adapted shape corresponding to that of the heads 9 of the pistons 7. Thus the contact between the heads 9 of the pistons 7 and the functional elements 10, 19, 28 is perfectly adjusted and the material pushed by the heads 9 of the pistons 7 passes entirely through the functional elements 10, 19, 28. This advantageously makes it possible to keep the mixing device 1 of the invention clean.

Preferably, the heads 9 of the pistons 7 have a conical shape, while the surfaces of the functional elements 10, 19, 28 intended to be in contact with these piston heads 9 have a complementary conical concave shape. More commonly, the heads 9 of the pistons 7 may have a flat shape, or any other shape.

In the case where traces of residual material remain in the mixing device 1 of the invention, it is possible to clean the latter by passing a cleaning material, for example a neutral material such as wax, through the various modules 2, 3 of the device 1. This material then causes any residual material and expels out of the last downstream module. The mixing device 1 of the invention is then perfectly clean and ready for a new use.

The junction units 4 are units mainly allowing a transfer of material between a supply module 2 and a mixing module 3, or between two successive mixing modules 3. They are preferentially in the form of units of standardized geometry that can provide additional functions.

Each junction unit 4 may be in the form of a mechanical block pierced by a single hole connecting the functional units 6 of two modules. A junction unit 4 may also comprise a three-way valve perpendicular to the bore or flat connecting the two functional units 2, or any similar device allowing a material outlet or a line sampling. It may also include a non-return valve, for example in the form of a ball or disc. In addition, the junction units 4 can be instrumented. Thus, for example, they may comprise a measuring element, such as a temperature probe, an optical analyzer, for example of the infrared type, a pressure sensor, or any other analytical measuring instrument, physical or mechanical 41. For example, the instruments 41 make it possible to measure the rheological characteristics of the material passing through the junction units 4. The latter may also include any means 42 making it possible to take a sample during a transfer of material. between two modules.

These junction units 4 may also allow a transfer of material to or from outside respectively from or to a feed module 2 or mixture 3. Thus, the joining unit 4 serving for the entry of material into the power module 2 may be as previously described. The joining unit 4 used for the material outlet in the last mixing module 3 may advantageously have a die 43, which allows it to act as an extruder, an injector connected to a mold block, or any other means to directly form samples at the output of the mixing device 1 of the invention.

The mold block is preferably mounted on a section and consists of two parts, one fixed and secured to the junction unit and the frame, the other being removable and bearing a footprint. The clamping of the two elements of the mold is done for example by a jaw or a collar. Both mold parts receive imprint inserts. The cooling and / or heating of the mold block can be ensured respectively by heating cartridges and ventilation.

As mentioned above, the junction units 4 may for example be instrumented so as to be able to perform rheological measurements, that is to say to study in real time the properties of plasticity, elasticity, viscosity and fluidity. material passing through the instrumented junction unit. These measurements are carried out by means of a rheological block connected to the joining unit 4. This rheological block preferably comprises a pressure and temperature sensor, a set of heating cartridges, an interchangeable die whose diameters are for example between 0.5 and 5 millimeters and whose lengths are for example between 20 and 50 millimeters.

The mixing device 1 of the invention can advantageously be controlled by a control and acquisition unit. This unit controls, for example, the temperature regulation, the possible three-way valves, the displacement of the cylinders and the eventual synchronization of the actuators 14. The control and acquisition unit can also control the different instruments 41, 42, 43 fitted. on the junction units, and for example control the injection phase and pressurization of the mold block, as well as the measuring cycle of the rheological block. It can also control the acquisition, storage, processing, display and printing in real time of the data collected by the various measuring instruments 41. According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit and the Acquisition includes a controller and a supervisor.

Advantageously, the actuators 14 of the pistons 7 are capable of generating a maximum pressure of 500 bars on the material to be mixed. The stroke of the cylinders is such that we can disengage the pistons 7 and that the stroke / diameter ratio of these pistons 7 is between 1 and 20. The actuators 14 are preferably connected to the pistons 7 by quick couplings tolerating a slight misalignment axial and angular. These couplings can be equipped with load cells or other types of sensors to measure the force exerted on the material. Finally, the actuators 14 may be instrumented with analog or digital position and speed sensors. The actuators 14 and the supply and mixing modules 2 and 3 are preferably fixed on a frame element, for example at the feedblocks 18 and mixing 27 by a set of screws 44 ensuring axial positioning and parallelism accurate and minimizing the heat transfer from the piston chambers 5 to the frame. This frame element is preferably an extruded aluminum profile of sufficient rigidity. It has vertical holes allowing the passage of electrical conductors 45 and pneumatic necessary. During the assembly of several modules 2, 3, these profiles are assembled together by compression. The clamping is done by two to four tie rods passing through the entire mixing device 1. In a preferred embodiment, the frame comprises a base plate carrying a pneumatic and electrical distribution bus intended for feeding the various technical means of the device. device 1 of the invention. It can be in the form of a frame formed of mechanically welded steel profiles to ensure high torsional stiffness for all mounted modules. In a preferred embodiment, the pistons 7 are each displaced by an individual electric linear motor 46. ₁ as the current consumption of each motor 46 is proportional to the viscosity of the product, it is possible to merely examine the increase of the mixing factor by recording this consumption. When this consumption of current over time forms an asymptote, this results in the fact that the mixture is homogeneous.

In a second part, we will now focus on the operation of a mixing device 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In FIGS. 11 to 18, the operating steps of a power supply module 2 are shown schematically. In these figures, the junction unit 4 is symbolized by a three-way valve in the initially closed position.

Step 1 :

The right piston 7 is first moved away to allow a substance A to enter the right feed compartment 21 through the upper bent channel 23 of the feed member 19 (FIG. 11). This substance is for example provided by a transfer device (not shown) as previously described and located upstream of the feed module 2. The substance A can then be maintained at a precise temperature by the heating means located in the walls of the feed compartment Where she is. If the substance A is a polymer in the form of granules, this makes it possible, for example, to melt it.

2nd step :

The two pistons 7 are then moved to the left synchronously so as to pass the substance A from the right feed compartment 21 to the left feed compartment 20 through the central rectilinear channel 22 of the feed element. supply 19 (FIG. 12). In the case where the substance A is not a gas, the displacement of the pistons 7 can be done by pushing only the right piston, the substance A then pushing the left piston if it is not locked in position. If the substance A is a molten polymer, the gas possibly present in the right chamber can be purged, for example during the displacement of the piston from the right to the left. As before, the substance A can be maintained at a precise temperature by the heating means located in the walls of the supply compartment 20 where it is now.

Step 3:

The left piston is locked in position and the right piston is moved away to allow a substance B to enter the right feed compartment 21 through the upper elbow channel 23 of the feed member 19 (Fig. 13). As for substance A previously, substance B can be maintained at a precise temperature, and possibly melted and degassed. The two feed compartments 20, 21 each then contain a different substance A or B, each of these substances being under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure.

Step 4:

The transfer device 25 (not shown here) located upstream of the power supply module 2 is closed and the junction unit 4 located downstream of the power supply module 2 is open (FIG. 14).

Step 5:

The right piston is locked in position and the left piston is pushed out of the left supply compartment 20 through the lower bent channel 24 of the supply element 19 (FIG. 15) and towards the joining unit 4. The substance A can then feed any module 3 or device located downstream of the junction unit 4. In this step, the substances A and B do not mix through the horizontal rectilinear channel 22 of the supply element

19 because they are generally incompressible.

Step 6:

The left piston and the right piston are moved synchronously to the left (as in step 2) so as to pass the substance B from the right feed compartment 21 to the left compartment

20 through the horizontal rectilinear channel 22 of the feed member 19 (Figure 16).

Step 7: The right plunger is locked in position and the left plunger is pushed to release substance B out of the left supply compartment 20 through the lower crank channel 24 of the supply member 19 ( 17) and to the junction unit 4. The substance B can then feed any module 3 or device located downstream of the junction unit 4.

Step 8:

The transfer device 25 is open and the joining unit 4 is closed

(Figure 18). The power supply module 2 is then ready to repeat steps 1 to 8

(Figure 11).

In Figures 19 to 27, the operating steps of a mixing module 3 are shown schematically. In these figures, the junction unit 4 downstream is symbolized by a three-way valve in the initially closed position.

Step 1 :

The right piston is first moved away to allow a substance A to enter the right mixing chamber 32 through the upper elbow channel 38 of the mixing element 28 (Fig. 19). This substance comes from a mixing module 3, a feed module 2 or from the outside and it is provided by a joining unit 4 (not shown here) located upstream of the mixing module 3. The substance A can then be maintained at a precise temperature by the heating means located in the walls of the mixing compartment 32 where it is located.

Step 2: The two pistons are then moved to the left synchronously so as to pass the substance A from the right mixing compartment 32 to the left mixing compartment 31 through the channel (s) 33 passing through the element. mixture 28 (FIG. 20). As previously, the substance A can be maintained at a precise temperature by the heating means located in the walls of the mixing compartment 31 where it is now.

Step 3:

The left piston is locked in position and the right piston is moved away to allow a substance B to enter the right mixing chamber 32 through the upper elbow channel 38 of the mixing element 28 (Fig. 21). As for substance A previously, substance B can be maintained at a precise temperature. The two mixing compartments 31, 32 each then contain a different substance A or B _1, each of these substances being under controlled conditions of temperature and pressure.

Step 4:

The two pistons are moved to the left synchronously so as to pass the substance B from the right mixing chamber 32 to the left mixing chamber 31 where substance A is located through the channel (s) 33 passing through the mixing element 28 (FIG. 22). This step allows one to obtain a mixture A + B of substances A and B.

Step 5: The two pistons are moved to the right in a synchronized manner so as to pass the mixture of substances A and B from the left mixing chamber 31 to the right mixing chamber 32 through the channel (s) 33 passing through. mixing element 28 (FIG. 23). This step allows additional homogenization of the mixture A + B. Step 6:

The two pistons are moved to the left synchronously so as to pass the mixture of substances A and B from the right mixing chamber 32 to the left mixing chamber 31 through the channel (s) 33 passing through the element. mixture 28 (FIG. 24). This step still allows additional homogenization of the mixture A + B.

Steps 5 and 6 are optional and can be repeated as many times as necessary. Since the effect of each mixture is exponential with regard to the homogeneity of the mixture, from 10 to 100 passages of substances A and B through the mixing element 28 generally make it possible to obtain a sufficiently homogeneous mixture A + B for viscous materials.

Step 7: The junction unit 4 (not shown here) located upstream of the mixing module 3 is closed and the junction unit 4 located downstream of the mixing module 3 is open (FIG. 25).

Step 8: The right plunger is locked in position and the left plunger is urged to move the mixture A + B out of the left mixing chamber 31 through the lower crank channel 39 of the mixing element 28 (FIG. 26) and to the junction unit 4. The mixture A + B can then feed any module or device located downstream of the junction unit 4.

Step 9:

The junction unit 4 (not shown here) located upstream of the mixing module 3 is open and the junction unit 4 located downstream of the mixing module 3 is closed (FIG. 27). The mixing module 3 is then ready to repeat steps 1 to 9 (FIG. 19).

In operation, the cycle frequency of the pistons of the mixing modules is generally between 0.1 and 10 Hertz in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 28, the displacement of the pistons in the different modules can be synchronized in order to operate the mixing device 1 of the invention in a continuous mode.

In case some of the substances mixed in the device Mixer 1 of the invention react together, this device can act as a reactor. For example, it can be used to mix the reactive precursors, or even complementary, of a chemical composition. Depending on whether the modules operate synchronously or not, the mixing device 1 of the invention can thus function as a continuous, semi-continuous reactor or as a batch reactor.

As seen above, the mixture of two substances A and B can be done within one and the same mixing module 3, by passing substances A and B from one mixing compartment 31 to another 32 through an element of mixture 28 (Figure 29). But the mixture of two substances A and B can also be done in two different mixing modules 3, by passing substances A and B from a mixing compartment 31 of a first mixing module 3, to a compartment of mixing 32 of another mixing module 3 as shown in Figures 30 and 31. To do this, simply block the pistons in position in the mixing compartments where it is not desired that the substances A and B move, whether these mixing compartments are empty (Figure 30) or that they contain another substance C (Figure 31), because of the incompressibility of liquids.

In FIGS. 28 to 31, the joining unit 4 has been symbolized by a simple rectilinear passage.

Although we have always represented the transfer of a material from a module to another module downstream, it is also possible to do the opposite, namely to "go up" a material from a module to another module located upstream. Similarly, while we have represented the mixture of only two substances, it is perfectly possible to use the mixing device 1 to mix three or more substances. The introduction of additional substances can thus be done by the feed module 2, by a junction unit 4, or directly at one of the functional compartments 11, 12 by means of a transfer device 25. This is particularly advantageous, for example for the introduction of additives when the mixing device 1 of the invention is used as a reactor.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment described above and shown in the various figures, the skilled person can make many changes and imagine other variants without leaving the scope or of the scope of the invention.

Claims

Mixing device (1) characterized in that it comprises a feed module (2) providing the introduction of the materials to be mixed into the device (1) and at least one mixing module (3) mixing the previous materials and any other material introduced into each mixing module (3), these different modules (2, 3) being interconnected by means of junction units (4) performing the transfer of material of a module to another, in that the feed module (2) and the at least one mixing module (3) each comprise two collinear piston chambers (5) which communicate via a functional unit (6). , 18, 27) and in which a piston (7) slides, each piston (7) being actuated by an individual actuator (14), in that a functional element (10, 28) divides the functional chamber (8) situated between the two piston heads (9) of each module in two functional compartments (11, 12, 20, 21, 31, 32) whose volume varies with the displacement of the heads (9) of the pistons (7), in that each feed module (2) or mixing (3) preferably comprises at least one material inlet (15) and one material outlet (16) respectively allowing material to enter the functional chamber (8) located between the heads (9) of the pistons (7) and to bring it out and in that each functional element (10, 28) of a feed (2) or mixing module (3) has at least one first channel (22, 33) passing through which communicates the two compartments (11, 12, 20, 21, 31, 32), a second channel (23, 38), preferably bent or inclined, putting into communication one of the two functional compartments (12, 21, 32) of the module (2 or 3) with a material output d a transfer device (25) located downstream of this module (2) or with a junction unit (4) located upstream of this module (3) and a third channel (24, 39) communicating the other of the two functional compartments (11, 20, 31) of the module (2 or 3) with a junction unit (4) located downstream of this module (2 or 3).

2. mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall of each of the two compartments (11, 12, 20, 21, 31, 32) of the functional chamber (8) between the heads (9) pistons (7) are individually temperature controlled by heating, cooling, heat-insulating or the like means.

3. mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transfer device (25) is a hopper provided for powders, granules or similar solids.

Mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in the transfer device (25) is an intake port adapted to receive an injection device provided for liquids, gases or pasty products.

Mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pistons (7) slide tightly in the mixing chambers.

5 (26).

6. mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element (10, 28) of a mixing module (3) is a metal cylinder having one or more through channels (33) forming a grid mixture of which the two faces (34, 35) are each respectively provided to be 0 oriented towards one of the two compartments (31, 32) of the mixing module (3).

7. mixing device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the channels (33) through are parallel or inclined relative to the axis of the functional element (10, 28) of the mixing module (3).

8. mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional element (10, 28) of a mixing module (3) has two flats or bores (38, 39) inclined or bent open on its periphery (40), a first (38) connecting one of the compartments (31) of the mixing module (3) with the joining unit (4) located upstream of the mixing module (3), and a second (39) connecting the other compartment (32) of the mixing module (3) with the junction unit (4) located downstream of the o mixing module (3).

Mixing device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a joining unit (4) is in the form of a block with a single hole connecting the functional units (6, 18, 27). two modules (2, 3).

10. Mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a joining unit (4) comprises a three-way valve or any similar device allowing a material outlet or an online sampling during a transfer. of material between two modules (2, 3).

11. Mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a joining unit (4) comprises a non-return valve. 0

12. mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a junction unit (4) comprises an analytical measuring instrument, physical or mechanical (41).

13. mixing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a junction unit (4) comprises a die (43) or any other means5 to directly form samples at the output of the mixing device (1) .

Mixing device (1) according to claim 2 or 10, characterized in that it comprises a control and acquisition unit for controlling the temperature control, the three-way valves, the displacement of the cylinders (7) and the synchronization of the actuators (14).

15. Mixing device (1) according to the preceding claim and claim 12, characterized in that the control unit and acquisition controls the acquisition, storage, processing, display and printing in real time. data collected by the different measuring instruments (41).