Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to mixing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus used for mixing multi-phase fluid. Additionally, the present invention relates to rotating nozzles contained within the fluid for mixing the multi-phase fluid by a rotation of the nozzle within the reactor.
There are a variety of reactors that are designed for the mixing of fluids. Often, these mixing reactors include various types of impellers, fan blades, turbines, and other mechanisms that can be rotated so that the fluid can be effectively mixed within the reactor. In many circumstances, these mixing reactors can contain multiple phases of fluids. For example, the mixing reactor can contain gas, oil and water as the multiple fluid phases. In order to effectively mix these phases, it is necessary to apply a turbulent force to the liquid within the reactor so as to create an intimate mixture within the reactor.
Every reactor has different design considerations. Some reactors are relatively large and the volume of fluids that must be mixed can vary in density and volume. Standard mixing apparatus associated with such reactors can be ineffective in mixing the fluids if the fluids have different components than that for which the reactor was designed. Often, an ineffective mixing will occur through the use of existing equipment. It is desirable to have a mixing reactor whereby the mixing component can be varied and altered so as to accommodate the various densities, types, desired mixtures and volumes of fluid within the reactor.
In the past, various patents have issued relating to such mixing apparatus and nozzles rotatable mounted in fluids. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,309, issued on Apr. 12, 2005 to S. K. Rhyne, describes an apparatus for generating electricity that utilizes at least one jet-type engine fueled with a fissile material. The nuclear-fuel jet engine is affixed to a connecting member that projects from a central rotatable shaft. The engine is positioned so that thrust generated by the jet engine causes the engine and the connecting member to travel in a radial direction around the longitudinal axis of the central shaft so as to rotate the central shaft. As the central shaft rotates, the rotational motion of the central shaft is transmitted to an energy conversion apparatus. The engines are mounted so as to face an opposite directions on opposite sides of the rotatable shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,187,746 issued on Jan. 23, 1940 to L. Lefvre, describes a belt-driven rotational member with opposed reaction surfaces that are used to mix a fluid. Each of the reactor surfaces includes an opening through which the fluid will pass.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,460, issued on Mar. 25, 1986 to W. S. Wirsching, teaches a device that is used in the production of energy and which utilizes jet engines mounted on opposite ends of a shaft so as to drive the shaft through a fluid for the purposes of generating electricity. Each of the jet engines has an inlet and an outlet that face in opposite directions on opposite sides of the shaft. The fluid will flow through the interior of the jet engines as the jet engines rotate about the central axis.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,080,197, 5,431,860 and 3,092,678 describe various opposed-faced mixtures that use a central rotating shaft. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,197, issued on Mar. 21, 1978 to Meissner et al., describes a process for the production of lead from lead sulfide. Droplets of lead and slag from the pool are maintained throughout the headspace by droplet generating nozzles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,860, issued on Jul. 11, 1985 to Kozma et al., teaches a mixing apparatus that is capable of dispersing gas and a broth in which a number of propeller mixers are provided on a vertically extending shaft. U.S. Pat. No. 3,092,678, issued on Jun. 4, 1963 to E. Braun, teaches an apparatus for gasifying liquids which includes a propeller element rotatably mounted on a central shaft.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixing apparatus that facilitates longitudinal/normal fluid flows.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mixing apparatus that channels the fluid through the nozzle passageway at the same rate that the nozzle moves through the fluid.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mixing apparatus that can be designed to simulate multi-phase fluid flow dynamics and to suit any type of reactor or design specifications.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mixing apparatus that is adaptable to a wide array of fluid densities, types, volumes and viscosities with no actual limitations on wall shear stress levels produced.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a mixing apparatus that is relatively easy to use, relatively inexpensive and relatively easy to manufacture.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the reading of the attached specification and appended claims.
The present invention is a mixing apparatus that comprises a chamber, a shaft extending into the chamber, a motor drivingly interconnected to the shaft so as to rotate the shaft in the chamber, a nozzle support affixed to the shaft and extending outwardly therefrom within the chamber, and a first nozzle having an interior passageway with an inlet and an outlet. The first nozzle is affixed to the nozzle support such that the first nozzle moves in the chamber as the motor drivingly rotates the shaft.
In the present invention, the chamber has a multi-phase fluid therein. The nozzle moves through this multi-phase fluid such that the fluid is channeled through the interior passageway at a same rate that the nozzle moves through the multi-phase fluid.
A second nozzle also is provided having an interior passageway. This interior passageway of the second nozzle has an inlet and an outlet. The second nozzle is affixed to the nozzle support such that the second nozzle moves in the chamber as the motor drivingly rotates the shaft. The second nozzle is positioned diametrically opposite the first nozzle relative to the shaft. The shaft extends vertically into the chamber. The nozzle support extends transversely to the shaft. The first and second nozzles are positioned in a common horizontal plane within the chamber. The inlet of the first nozzle faces in an opposite direction to that of the inlet of the second nozzle.
Each of the nozzles of the present invention has an identical configuration. In particular, the nozzle includes a tubular body with a frustoconical section extending so as to widen toward the outlet. The inlet opens to one end of the nozzle and the outlet opens adjacent an opposite end of the nozzle. The opposite end of the nozzle has a metal coupon affixed thereto. The metal coupon is a square planar piece. The metal coupon has corners affixed to the opposite end of the first nozzle. The metal coupon has a edges between the corners defining outlet spaces with the opposite end of the nozzle. The nozzle also includes a locking ring affixed to the opposite end thereof. The metal coupon is secured to this locking ring.
The nozzle also has an inlet longitudinal metal coupon extending around the interior passageway at a location inwardly of the inlet to the interior passageway. The inlet of the interior passageway is tapered so as to narrow toward the interior passageway and “funnel” fluids toward the interior passageway. A spacer is affixed around the nozzle such that the inlet longitudinal metal coupon has an end abutting the spacer.
The nozzle support has a first clamp at one end thereof and a second clamp at an opposite end thereof. The first clamp receives the first nozzle therein. The second clamp receives the second nozzle therein.
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The inlet 52 includes a tapered interior 76. The tapered interior 76 widens at the inlet 52 and will narrow toward the interior passageway 50. As such, this tapered section 76 will tend to “funnel” the fluids toward the interior passageway 50.
The locking ring 70 has a generally split O-shaped configuration. As such, the ring 70 can be suitably flexible so as to be inserted within the periphery 86 at the end 58 of body 54. The split nature of the ring 70 will cause the ring 70 resiliently spread outwardly when inserted within end 58 of the body 54. The metal coupon 66 can be secured within the interior edge 130 of the locking ring 70 prior to insertion within the body 54.
In the present invention, the nozzle device is attached to the rotating shaft within pressure reactor systems. As the rotating shaft within the pressure reactor rotates, so does the affixed nozzle components about a fixed axis. The nozzle devices are designed to channel the fluid through the nozzle interior passageway at the same rate that the nozzles are cutting/moving through the fluid. In order to determine the actual fluid velocity through the nozzle interior passageway it should be calculated that Velocity=(Rotational Speed)×(Radial Distance from the Axis of Rotation). Standard equations can be utilized for determining fluid flow through the pipeline and/or shear stress components. The wall shear effects produced at the nozzle interior passageway due to completely hydraulic-entrained fluid velocity/movement through the nozzle interior passageway (with nozzle movements static) produces the same wall shear effect/impact of the interior passageway wall as if the nozzle was designed to slice through the fluid at the same velocity. The nozzles associated with the present invention can be designed to suite any size of reactor or system design specifications.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
119193 | Smith et al. | Sep 1871 | A |
122075 | Still | Dec 1871 | A |
169835 | PAyne | Nov 1875 | A |
1779181 | McDonald | Oct 1930 | A |
1846027 | Eaton et al. | Feb 1932 | A |
5037209 | Wyss | Aug 1991 | A |
5156778 | Small | Oct 1992 | A |
20040022122 | Kozyuk | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20070217287 | Morris et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20070217286 A1 | Sep 2007 | US |