Title of Invention

"MIXER TUBE FOR LOW VISCOSITY FLUIDS"

Abstract The mixer tube (1) for low viscosity fluids contains plate-shaped elements (2) which at one or at several points of the tube partially cover off its cross section. The constrictions (3) left free through the elements each comprise at least one gap-shaped region (31), with a longitudinal extent of this gap (31) which extends from tube wall (10) to tube wall through the tube axis (c) or from the tube wall through the tube axis (c) to a second partial region (32). The gap subtends an angle (f) with the tube axis in the range between about 20 and 60°, preferably between 35 and 45°. A mixing path (4) is provided after the constriction in the direction of flow. The fluid to be mixed can contain solid substances in suspension.
Full Text The invention relates to a mixer tube for low viscosity fluids, in particular for fluids with solid substances held in suspension, in accordance with the preamble of patent claim 1.
A static mixer apparatus is known from CH-PS 669 336 (= P.6005) by means of which fluids containing solid particles can be mixed without congestion occurring. This apparatus comprises mixer elements in a tube, each of which consists of two outer flanges and at least one inner flange. The flanges are gaplessly connected to the housing at their one
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ends or sides, whereas their other ends terminate at a distance from the tube wall. Adjacent flanges cross one another, with an intermediate space remaining free at each crossing point. The mixing takes place substantially within the mixer elements thrqugh a cross-wise deflection of individual partial flows.
The object of the invention is to provide a mixer tube with static inserts which ca^ be manufactured more economically in comparison with the ,known mixer apparatus. This object is satisfied by the mixer tube defined in claim 1 in which the mixing takes place as a result of the constrictions or narrow passages named in the claim and of the mixing paths adjoining the constrictions. A mixer apparatus of this kind can also be used for low viscosity fluids which contain no solid substances.
The mixer tube in accordance with the invention for low viscosity fluids contains plate-shaped elements which at one or at individual positions on the tube partially cover off its cross-section. The constrictions left free by the elements each encompass at least one gap-shaped region, with a longitudinal extent of this gap which extends from tube wall to tube wall through the tube axis or from the tube wall through the tube axis to a second partial region. The gap subtends an angle with the tube axis in the range between about 20 and 60°, preferably between 35 and 45°. A mixing path is provided after the constriction in the direction of flow.
The constriction or the constrictions of the mixer apparatus in accordance with the invention are formed and arranged in such a manner that two oppositely directed eddies form in the flowing fluid when it passes through an constriction. Partial mixing results in the eddies during the flow through the mixing path. In comparison with the known mixer apparatus fewer mixer elements and only two webs per mixer element are required in order to attain a good mixing effect. A longer tube is, however, required. Furthermore, the mixer apparatus in accordance with the invention causes a lower pressure loss.
The dependent claims 2 to 11 relate to advantageous embodiments of the mixer tube in accordance with the invention. Claim 12 relates to the use of the mixer tube.
The invention will be explained in the following with reference to the drawings. Shown are:
Fig. 1 a first exemplary embodiment of the insert of a
mixer tube in accordance with the invention with a circular cross-section,
Fig. 2 two adjacent inserts of the type in accordance with Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 a plurality of inserts cut out of a metal sheet,
Fig. 4 a second embodiment,
Fig. 5 a segment of the insert of Fig. 4,
Fig. 6 a third embodiment, namely a tube with a rectangular cross-section,
Fig. 7 a variant of the example of Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 a fifth embodiment.
Figures 1 and 2 represent a mixer tube 1 in accordance with the invention for low viscosity fluids. The tube wall 10 is only indicated in chain dotted lines. The circular tube has a diameter D. The mixer tube 1 contains plate-shaped elements 2 as inserts which partially cover off the cross section of the tube 1 at individual locations of the tube 1 and thus produce constrictions or narrow passages 3. The elements 2 are arranged in elliptical surfaces with the main axes d and e.
The constriction 3 left free in the elements 2 comprises two partial regions 31 and 32: a wide gap 31 which extends from the tube wall 10 through the tube axis c to the second partial region 32 along the axis e, and a through-flow opening 32 with an elongate, here crescent-like shape which borders on the tube wall 10 and is arranged transverse to a first partial region 31. The shape of the second partial region 32 can also be lens shaped for example.
The axis e (or the gap 31) subtends an angle f to the tube axis c which lies in the range between around 20 and 60°, preferably between 35 and 45°. The second partial region 32 is arranged downstream after the gap 31. After the constriction 3 there follows a mixing path 4.
In the normal projection onto a tube cross-section the open area of the constriction 3 amounts to about 50 - 70% of the tube cross-section area, with about 60 - 70% of the open area being associated with the gap. Under these conditions the material requirements are low and the flow of the fluid to be mixed suffers only low pressure losses.
The plate-shaped elements 2 of a constriction 3 form an arrangement with two segments 21 and 22. The edges of these segments comprise substantially the following parts in each case: an edge segment a with the shape of an elliptical arch which borders on the tube wall 10; a straight edge segment s which forms a border of the gap 31; and an edge segment b which borders on the second partial region 32 of the constriction 3. Between the tube wall 10 and the arch-shaped edge a there can be a small gap which can be bridged over at individual locations by a connection means, for example by a welding material. The elliptical edge can be approximated for example by straight elements. In place of the straight edge piece s, a curved one can also be present.
Relatively good mixing effects are obtained even when the segments 21 and 22 are highly shortened and the open area of the constriction amounts to 75%. For such segments 21, 22 the mixing effect is less satisfactory; on the other hand, the pressure drop is lower. This is true in general: larger open areas mean a low pressure drop and vice versa. In the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 the two segments 21 and 22 are connected to one another via a narrow bridge 23 which lies on the boundary between the two partial regions 31 and 32 of the constriction 3. With this bridge 23 there results an advantageous stabilisation with respect to the construction which permits a smaller plate thickness to be chosen for the plate-shaped elements 2 than if the bridge 23 were not present.
The flowing fluid is indicated in Fig. l by arrows 5, 51. The constriction 3 induces two eddies of opposite sense in the flow which are indicated by the arrows 6, 6' in the projection onto a cross-section surface.
The gap 31 is substantially trapezoidal (corner points A, B, B1 and A'); it diverges in the direction towards the second partial region 32 of the constriction 3. With this gap shape an ideal eddy pair 6, 6' arises. In order that the two eddies are of equal strength, the constriction 3 is executed to be mirror symmetric; the plane of symmetry lies on the tube axis c.
The plate shaped elements 2 associated with the constriction 3 are arranged in a plane in the exemplary embodiment of Figures l and 2. They can be manufactured together with the connection bridge 23 from a piece of sheet metal. Fig. 3 shows how these elements 2 can be cut out of a strip of sheet metal in a material saving manner.
The plate shaped elements 2 can be curved or bent instead of planar.
At least two constrictions 3 are provided in the mixer tube 1, where in each case for a first constriction 3 an adjacent downstream constriction 3' is provided outside the mixing path 4 at a distance m of about 3 to 5 tube diameters D. The insert-free space between adjoining constrictions 3, 3' thus has a length of about 2 to 4 tube diameters D. The gaps 31 of adjacent constrictions 3, 3' are arranged transverse to one another.
Figures 4 to 8 represent further embodiments of possible constrictions 3. In Fig. 4 the two segments 21 and 22, which are similarly shaped, are arranged at an angle to one another. The shape of the segment 21 or 22 respectively, can be seen in Fig. 5. The segments 21 and 22 can naturally also be connected by a bridge 23 as shown in chain dotted lines, for example.
Figures 6 and 7 show constrictions 3 for mixer tubes 1 in accordance with the invention whose cross-sections are square or rectangular. Fig. 6 shows in addition that a bridge 23 can be arranged at a location other than at the boundary between the two partial regions of the constriction 3. The bridge 23 can for example be a rod with a circular cross-section.
The fifth exemplary embodiment of Fig. 8 shows a constriction 3 which consists of only one gap-shaped region 31. The region 31 can be trapezoidal (with two curved sides AA1, BB1) and can diverge in or opposite to the direction of flow.
The mixer tube 1 in accordance with the invention can be used for mixing a fluid with solid substances contained in suspension. This use is especially advantageous when the solid substances are fibre shaped.



We Claims
1. Mixer tube (1) for low viscosity fluids, in particular
for fluids with solid substances held in suspension,
which mixer tube contains plate-like elements (2)
which at one or at several points of the tube
partially cover off its cross section,
characterised in that constrictions (3) left free by
the elements each comprise at least a gap-shaped
region (31) , with a longitudinal extent of this gap
(31) which extends from tube wall (10) to tube wall
through the tube axis (c) or from the tube wall
through the tube axis (c) to a second partial region
(32) , with the gap subtending an angle (f ) to the tube
axis in the range between about 20 and 60°, preferably
between 35 and 45°; and in that furthermore a mixing
path (4) is provided after the constriction in the
direction of flow.
2. Mixer tube in accordance with claim 1 characterised in
that the constriction (3) comprises two partial
regions, namely the gap (31) which extends through the
tube axis (c) to the second partial region (32) , and
the second partial region, which forms a through-flow
opening bordering on the tube wall (10) of an
elongate, for example half moon shaped or lens shaped
form, with this through-flow opening being arranged
perpendicular to the first partial region; and in that
the mixing path (4) has a length (m) in the range from
1 to 10 tube diameters (D).
3. Mixer tube in accordance with claim 2 characterised in that the plate-shaped elements (2) each associated with a constriction point (3) form an arrangement with two segments (21, 22) , with the edges of these segments each substantially comprising the following parts: an edge segment (a), in particular in the form of an elliptical arch which lies close to or at a small separation from the tube wall (10), an edge segment (s) which forms a boundary to the gap (31), and an edge segment (b) which borders on the second partial region (32) of the constriction.
4. Mixer tube in accordance with claim 3 characterised in
that the two segments (21, 22) are connected to one
another by at least one narrow bridge (23) , with the
or a bridge in particular lying on the boundary
between the two partial regions (31, 32) of the
constriction (3).
5. Mixer tube in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 4
characterised in that the gap (31) is substantially
trapezoidal and diverges in the direction of flow.
6. Mixer tube in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 5
characterised in that the constriction (3) is executed
to be mirror symmetric, with the plane of symmetry
lying on the tube axis (c).
7. Mixer tube in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 6
characterised in that the plate-shaped elements (2)
associated with the constriction (3) are arranged in a
plane.
8. Mixer tube in accordance with claims 7 and 4
characterised in that the plate-shaped elements (3)
arranged in a plane are produced together with the
connecting bridge (23) from a single piece of sheet

Documents:

274-del-1997-abstract.pdf

274-del-1997-claims.pdf

274-del-1997-correspondence-others.pdf

274-del-1997-correspondence-po.pdf

274-del-1997-description (complete).pdf

274-del-1997-drawings.pdf

274-del-1997-form-1.pdf

274-del-1997-form-13.pdf

274-del-1997-form-19.pdf

274-del-1997-form-2.pdf

274-del-1997-form-3.pdf

274-del-1997-form-4.pdf

274-del-1997-gpa.pdf

274-del-1997-petition-137.pdf

abstract.jpg


Patent Number 213040
Indian Patent Application Number 274/DEL/1997
PG Journal Number 01/2008
Publication Date 04-Jan-2008
Grant Date 19-Dec-2007
Date of Filing 31-Jan-1997
Name of Patentee SULZER CHEMTECH AG.
Applicant Address HEGIFELDSTRASSE 10, CH-8404 WINTERTHUR, SWITZERLAND.
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 MARKUS FLEISCHLI SCHLOSSACKERSTRASSE 7, CH-8404 WINTERTHUR, SWITZERLAND.
2 GOTTLIEB SCHNEIDER STEIGSTRASSE 6, CH-8472 SEUZACH, SWITZERLAND.
3 MARC BRUNO WEHRLI GUTSTRASSE 34, CH-8400 WINTERTHUR, SWITZERLAND.
PCT International Classification Number B01F 5/06
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 NA