Method and apparatus for blending viscous fluids and additives

A blender for blending viscous material and additive material, said blender comprising:

• (a) an upper section comprising:
• (i) a receiving portion;
• (ii) a viscous material inlet for directing viscous material into the receiving portion;
• (iii) an additive inlet for directing additive material into the receiving portion;
• (b) a lower section that is attached to and disposed below the upper section, said lower section comprising a blending portion that is in fluid communication with the receiving portion of the upper section, said blending portion being shaped so as to facilitate the blending of the additive material entering the receiving portion through the additive inlet with the viscous material entering the receiving portion through the viscous material inlet;
• (c) an outlet for blended material that is in fluid communication with the blending portion of the lower section;
• (d) a heat transfer component that is in conductive contact with:
• (i) the receiving portion of the upper section;
• (ii) the blending portion of the lower section;
• wherein the cooperation of the shape of the blending portion and the arrangement and configuration of the viscous material inlet and the additive inlet facilitates blending of the viscous material and the additive material by vortex action.