Process for mixing a fluid meltflow stream

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a process. In an embodiment, the process includes providing an apparatus. The apparatus includes (A) a passageway with an interior for receiving a first flow stream (FFS1), the passageway having an inflow end and an opposing outflow end, and (B) a gear pump assembly. The gear pump assembly includes (i) a housing, (ii) a gear chamber in the housing, (iii) an inlet placing the passageway outflow end in fluid communication with the gear chamber, the inlet having a width (Iw), (iv) a plurality of intermeshing gears mounted for rotation in the gear chamber, the gears having teeth which engage with each other in the chamber, each gear having an axis of rotation, and (v) an outlet in fluid communication with the gear chamber. The apparatus includes (C) one or more injectors upstream of the gear pump assembly for adding a second fluid into the first flow stream. The injectors are located a distance of at least one-half of a gear diameter upstream of the inlet. Each injector has an elongated conduit extending into the passageway interior. Each elongated conduit is substantially parallel to the gear axis of rotation. The process includes introducing the second fluid from each respective elongated conduit into the FFS1 at a location at least one-half of a gear diameter upstream of the inlet, and feeding the FFS1 and the second fluid into the inlet. The process includes mixing, in the gear chamber, the second fluid with FFS1 to form a mixed fluid flowstream (mFFS); and discharging the mFFS from the outlet.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.