Method and apparatus for effecting even distribution and mixing of high consistency pulp and treatment fluid

A method for continuously distributing and mixing high consistency pulp with at least one treatment fluid in a housing having a cylindrical portion comprising the steps of

• tangentially introducing pulp having a solids content of about 5% or more into the housing cylindrical portion,
• imparting a rapid circular movement about an axis of rotation to said pulp, corresponding to a linear peripheral velocity at the velocity at which the pulp is fluidized, after introduction into said housing cylindrical portion, said moving pulp being contained by said housing cylindrical portion,
• generally radially introducing treatment fluid in the housing cylindrical portion in a predominantly even layer over a layer of moving pulp in said housing cylindrical portion thus forming repeated layers of pulp and treatment fluid,
• transforming the circular movement of said pulp having a layer of treatment fluid into a whirling movement translating along said axis of rotation of said pulp so that displacement between the pulp layers takes place effecting complete mixing of said pump and said treatment fluid;
• said transforming being effected by providing a generally converging open conical portion extending outwardly from the housing cylindrical portion, and
• transporting the now mixed pulp and treatment fluid to another treatment station, the mixed pulp and fluid no longer having a whirling movement during transport to the other treatment station.

Apparatus for continuously distributing and mixing high consistency pulp with at least one treatment fluid comprising

• an enclosed housing, said housing having a cylindrical portion thereof,
• means for tangentially introducing pulp having a solids consistency of about 5% or more into said housing cylindrical portion,
• means for imparting a rapid circular movement about an axis of rotation to said pulp, corresponding to a linear peripheral velocity at the velocity at which the pulp is fluidized, after introduction into said housing cylindrical portion, said moving pulp being initially contained by said housing cylindrical portion,
• means for generally radially introducing a treatment fluid into the housing cylindrical portion in a predominantly even layer over a layer of moving pulp in said housing cylindrical portion, thus forming repeated layers of pulp and treatment fluid,
• means for transforming the circular movement of said pulp having a layer of treatment fluid into a whirling movement translating along said axis of rotation of said pulp, so that displacement between the pulp layers takes place effecting complete mixing of said pulp and said treatment fluid, said transforming means comprising a generally converging open conical portion extending outwardly from one end of said cylindrical housing portion, said conical housing portion having an outlet disposed at the termination of the convergence thereof, and
• means for transporting the now mixed pulp and treatment fluid to another treatment station, the mixed pulp and fluid no longer having a whirling movement during transport to the other, treatment station.