Method and apparatus for the continuous production of a slurry explosive containing an emulsified liquid component

A system for continuously producing an explosive in the form of an emulsion of at least two liquid components which are insoluble in each other by intermixing streams of said components, one of said components comprising an aqueous oxidizing salt solution, and another of said components comprising a combustible liquid, said system comprising:

• a housing having an upstream end and a downstream end;
• a mixing rotor freely rotatably supported within said housing, said rotor having an outer periphery facing an inner periphery of said housing and defining therewith an annular space;
• said rotor including vanes facing said upstream end of said housing;
• first inlet feed means extending into said upstream end of said housing for supplying therein a first stream of a first of said liquid components, and for directing said first stream against said vanes and past and around said rotor through said annular space toward said downstream end of said housing, thereby rotating said rotor;
• second inlet feed means, extending into said housing between said upstream and downstream ends thereof, for supplying a second stream of a second of said liquid components into said annular space at a position to thereat join with said first stream;
• said rotor having on said outer periphery thereof, downstream of said position, groove means for creating turbulence within said first and second streams and for thereby causing said first and second streams to form an emulsion;
• and
• outlet delivery means, extending from said housing at said downstream end thereof, for removing therefrom said emulsion.