Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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NOZZLE DEVICE WITH FLOW RESTRICTORS USED FOR MULTIPHASE FLUID
FLOW SIMULATION IN RICH TEMPERATURE AND PRfESSUR1T.ED MPW4G
REACTORS
FIELD OF THE W=ON
Ix[ON
(0001] 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 muting nozzles contained within the fluid for mixing the multi-phase fluid
by a rotation of the
nozzle within the reactor. The present invention also relates to flow
restrictors positioned on the
interior waft of the reactor in as to counteract and stabilise angular fluid
motion.
RACKGROLJNDOR'h MTION
[0002] Thar area variety ofreac c that are designed forthe mixingof fluids.
Often, those mixing
reactota 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
ohcumstanee, these
mixing reactors can contain multiple phases of fluids. For example, the mixing
reactor can contain
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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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] In the past, various patents have issued relating to such mixing
apparatus and nozzles
rotatable mounted in fluids. For example, U.S. Patent No. 6,887,309, issued on
April 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.
[0005] U.S. Patent No. 2,187,746 issued on January 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.
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[0006] U.S. Patent No. 4,577,460, issued on March 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.
[0007] U,S, Patent 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. Patent No.
4,080,197, issued on March
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. Patent No. 5,431,860, issued on July 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. Patent No. 3,092,678,
issued on June 4, 1963 to
E. Braun, teaches an apparatus for gasifying liquids which includes a
propeller element rotatably
mounted on a central shaft.
[00081 It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixing apparatus
that facilitates
longitudinainormal fluid flows.
[00091 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.
[0010] 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.
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[0011] 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.
[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a mixing
apparatus that stabilizes
angular fluid motion.
[0013] 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.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from
the reading of the attached specification and appended claims.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF_THF INVENTION
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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
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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.
[0018] 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 comers 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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-
[0021] In the present invention, flow restrictors are positioned within the
liquid phase and against
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the interior wall of the chamber. These flow restrictors are flat panels that
extend radially inwardly
from the side walls of the reactor. In particular, the flow restrictors should
be extending
perpendicular to the inside diameter wall of the reactor so as to
counteract/stabilize angular fluid
motion caused by the rotational movement and flow effects of the mixing
nozzles. The present
invention utilizes, in the preferred embodiment, four flow restrictors each
positioned 90 apart
around the interior of the chamber. Each of the flat panels of the flow
restrictors extends inwardly
for a distance so as to be separated from the rotating nozzles within the
chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the mixing apparatus in
accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention
[002.3] FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle as used with the mixing
apparatus of the
present invention.
[0024] FIGURE 3 is an end view showing the inlet of the nozzle of the mixing
apparatus of the
present invention.
[0025] FIGURE 4 is an opposite end view of the outlet of the nozzle of the
mixing apparatus of the
present invention.
[0026] FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing the attachment of the nozzles on
opposite sides of the
shaft of the mixing apparatus of the present invention.
[0027] FIGURE 6 is an exploded view showing the arrangement of the locking
ring and metal
coupon as affixed to the outlet of the nozzle of the mixing apparatus of the
present invention.
[0028] FIGURE 7 is a plan view showing the flow restrictors as extending
radially inwardly of the
walls of the chamber.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown the mixing apparatus 10 in
accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The mixing apparatus 10
includes a chamber 12,
a shaft 14 extending into the interior 16 of chamber 12, a motor 18 drivingly
interconnected to the
shaft 14, a nozzle support 20 affixed to the shaft 14 and extending outwardly
therefrom within the
chamber 12, and a first nozzle 22 affixed to the nozzle support 20 within the
chamber 12. A second
nozzle 24 is connected to the nozzle support 20 diametrically opposite to the
first nozzle 22. The
nozzles 22 and 24 are affixed to the nozzle support 20 such that the nozzles
22 and 24 move in the
chamber 12 as the motor 18 drivingly rotates the shaft 14.
[0030] In FIGURE 1, there is a multi-phase fluid within the interior 16 of the
chamber 12 . The
multi-phase fluid can includes a gas phase 26, an oil phase 28 and a water
phase 30. Within the
concept of the present invention, various other multi-phase fluid arrangements
can also be utilized.
As will be described hereinafter, it is only necessary to reconfigure each of
the nozzles 22 and 24
so as to establish an effective mixing of the fluids within the interior 16 of
the chamber 12.
[0031] In FIGURE 1, it can be seen that a first flow restrictor 31 extends
inwardly from one side of
the chamber 12. A second flow restrictor 33 extends inwardly from an opposite
side of the chamber
12. These flow restrictors 31 and 33 are in the nature of flat panels that
extend perpendicular to the
inner wall of the chamber 12 within the liquid phase 30. These flow
restrictors serve to
counteract/stabilize angular fluid motion caused by the rotating nozzles 22
and 24 within the interior
16 of chamber 12. These flow restrictors 31 and 33 also serve to eliminate any
vortex that may
occur as a result of the rotating motion caused by the nozzles 22 and 24 in
the fluid 30 within the
interior 16 of chamber 12.
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[0032] The drive motor 18 is connected to a main panel 32. The main panel 32
can include a
tachometer 34 so that the user can monitor the rotational speed of the shaft
14. The drive motor 18
will have a shaft connected to a suitable pulley or sheave 36. A belt drive 38
extends from pulley
36 to another pulley 40. Pulley 40 is directly connected to the shaft 14 and
is located outside of the
chamber 12 directly above the shaft 14. When the drive motor 18 is actuated,
the pulley 36 will
rotate so as to cause a corresponding movement of the belt 38 and a rotation
of the pulley 40. This,
in turn, creates a rotation of the shaft 14 such that the nozzle support 20
cause the nozzles 22 and
24 to rotate within the fluid on the interior 16 of the chamber 12. The shaft
14 extends vertically
downwardly into the chamber 12 from the pulley 40, The nozzle support 20
extends transversely
outwardly of the vertical shaft 14. The nozzles 22 and 24 extend in a
horizontal plane within the
interior 16 of the chamber 12.
[0033]Various other components can be connected to the chamber 12. For
example, a temperature
gauge 42 provides an indication of the temperature of the fluid within the
interior 16 of chamber
12. A pressure gauge 44 is mounted outwardly of the chamber 12 so as to be
indicative of the
pressure of the interior of the chamber. A gas inlet 46 is provided at the top
of the chamber 12. A
reactor gas outlet/sample port 48 extends outwardly of a side of the chamber
12.
[0034] FIGURE 2 shows a detailed view of the nozzle 22. The illustration of
FIGURE 2 is equally
applicable to the nozzle 24 since the nozzles 22 and 24 are identical. As can
be seen, the nozzle 22
includes an interior passageway 50 extending longitudinally therethrough. The
interior passageway
50 has an inlet 52 at one end of the body 54 of nozzle 22. Similarly, the
interior passageway 50
includes an outlet 56 at an end adjacent to the opposite end 58 ofthe body 54.
The body 54 includes
a tubular portion 60 extending toward the inlet 52. A frustroconical section
62 widens from the
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tubular portion 60 toward the end 58 of the body 54. The frustroconical
section 62 will begin to
widen generally adjacent to the center of the body 54 of nozzle 22.
[0035] As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the outlet 56 opens to a widened area 64
inwardly of the end
58. Importantly, in the present invention, a metal coupon 66 will extend
across the widened area 64
at the end 58 of body 54. The metal coupon 66 will be described hereinafter. A
gasket 68 secures
a locking ring 70 to the end 58 of the body 54. An inlet longitudinal metal
coupon 72 will extend
around the interior passageway 50 inwardly of the inlet 52. The longitudinal
metal ring is positioned
around the interior passageway 50 and extends therealong. A spacer 74 is
affixed to the body 54
such that the end of the inlet longitudinal metal coupon 72 will abut the
spacer 74. The spacer 74
can be in the nature of a TELFON (TM) spacer.
[0036] 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.
[0037] FIGURE 3 shows an and view of the inlet 52 of the body 54. In
particular, it can be seen that
the tapered section 76 will extend inwardly toward the interior passageway 50.
Spacer 74 is
positioned within the interior of the body 54 so as to provide a surface onto
which the inlet
longitudinal metal coupon 72 abuts.
[0038] FIGURE 4 illustrates how the metal coupon 66 is secured within the end
58 of the body 54
of nozzle 22. The metal coupon 66 is a square planar piece of metal. The metal
coupon 66 has
corners 78, 80, 82 and 84 affixed within the locking ring 70. Locking ring 70
is secured within a
gasket, or against a gasket, at the end 58 of the body 54. The widened portion
64 of the outlet 56
of the interior passageway 50 has a periphery 86. The locking ring 70 is
secured to this periphery
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86. It should be noted that the edge 88 of the metal coupon 66 will define an
outlet space with the
periphery 86. Similarly, edge 90 (between comers 82 and 84), edge 92 (between
corners 84 and 78)
and edge 94 (between corners 78 and 80) also define outlet spaces with respect
to the periphery 86.
As such, the size of the metal coupon 66 can be suitably dimensioned so that
the fluid flow outlet
from the passageway 50 will be as desired, Through the use of the locking ring
70, the metal coupon
66 can be adapted, in many ways, so as to achieve the desired results. -
100391 FIGURE 5 illustrates the nozzle support 20 as secured to the shaft 14
for the purposes of
maintaining the nozzles 22 and 24 in their desired orientation within the
chamber 12. Initially, it
can be seen that the nozzle support 20 includes a collar 100 that is affixed
around the outer periphery
of the shaft 14. Set screws 102 and 104 are provided so as to securely affix
the collar 100, along
with the associated nozzle support 20, to the shaft 14. A clamp 106 will
extend outwardly of the
nozzle support 20 so as to receive the nozzle 24 therein. A suitable clamping
screw 108 can be
loosened or tightened, as desired, so as to securely affix the exterior
surface of the nozzle 24 within
the clamp 106. Another clamp 110 extends diametrically outwardly of the collar
100 from that the
clamp 106. Once again, another clamping screw 112 is provided so as to allow
the user to easily
secure the nozzle 22 in a desired position within the clamp 110. In FIGURE 5,
it can be seen that
the inlet 114 of nozzle 22 is opposite the inlet 116 of nozzle 24. Similarly,
the outlet 118 of nozzle
22 is opposite to that of the outlet 120 of nozzle 24. As the nozzle support
20 rotates with the
rotation of the shaft 14, the nozzles 22 and 24 will follow each other in a
path around the orientation
of shaft 14.
[0040] FIGURE 6 shows the end 58 of the body 54 of the nozzle 22. As can be
seen, the outlet 56
of the interior passageway 50 opens to the widened area 64. The end 58
includes a suitable
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periphery 86.
[0041] The locking ring 70 has a generally split Q-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.
[0042] In FIGURE 7, the flow restrictors 31 and 33 are illustrated as
extending inwardly from
opposite sides of the inner wall 35 of chamber 12. Additionally, flow
restrictors 37 and 39 also
extend inwardly from opposite sides of the inner wall 35 of chamber 12. The
flow restrictors 31,
33,37 and 39 are equally radially spaced around the interior 16 of chamber 12.
The flow restrictors
31, 33, 37 and 39 are each flat panels that have one edge affixed to the inner
wall 35 of chamber 12
and extend inwardly radially therefrom. The flow restrictors 31, 33, 37 and 39
serve to eliminate
any vortexes that could be created by the rotation of the nozzles 22 and 24
about the shaft 14 upon
the liquid within the interior 16 of chamber 12. Additionally, these flow
restrictors 31, 33, 37 and
39 also serve to counteract and stabilize angular fluid motion of the liquid
phase.
[0043] 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) X (Radial Distance from the Axis
of Rotation).
Standard equations can be utilized for determining fluid flow through the
pipeline and/or shear stress
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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.
[00441 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.
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