Method of chaotic mixing and improved stirred tank reactors
AssigneeRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
InventorsFernando J. Muzzio, David J. Lamberto
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Abstract
The invention provides a method and apparatus for efficiently achieving a homogeneous mixture of fluid components by introducing said components having a Reynolds number of between about .ltoreq.1 to about 500 into a vessel and continuously perturbing the mixing flow by altering the flow speed and mixing time until homogeniety is reached. This method prevents the components from aggregating into non-homogeneous segregated regions within said vessel during mixing and substantially reduces the time the admixed components reach homogeneity.
Claims32
A method for efficiently achieving a homogeneous mixture of components or reactants comprising
- introducing into a stirred tank vessel said components or reactants, wherein the flow of the mixture in the vessel has a Reynolds number between .gtoreq.1 to about 500;
- continuously stirring said components or reactants in said vessel to achieve a flow pattern;
- and
- continuously perturbing the flow pattern of said components or reactants in said vessel by periodically introducing a fluctuation in the flow rate, until said mixture is substantially homogeneous.
An improved method for mixing reactants having a designated reaction time in a stirred reaction tank having impeller blades, wherein said method involves subjecting said reactants corresponding to a Reynolds number of between about .ltoreq.1 and about 500 to admixture caused by rotation of said blades, the improvement comprising periodically alternating the rotation speeds and mixing times of said impeller blades, wherein said mixture reaches homogeneity prior to completion of the reaction time.
An improved method for mixing reactants having a reaction time in a stirred reaction tank having flow injection and outlet ports located on the vertical sides of said tank, wherein said method involves subjecting said component corresponding to a Reynolds number of between about .gtoreq.1 to about 500 to admixture caused by recirculation of said mixture flow through said injection and outlet ports, the improvement comprising periodically alternating the flow speeds and mixing times of said mixture flow through said ports, wherein said mixture reaches homogeneity prior to completion of the reaction time.
An improved method for mixing reactants having a designated reaction time in a stirred reaction tank having impeller blades, wherein said method involves subjecting said reactants corresponding to a Reynolds number of between about .ltoreq.1 and about 500 to admixture caused by rotation of said blades, the improvement comprising aperiodically alternating the rotation speeds and mixing times of said impeller blades, wherein said mixture reaches homogeneity prior to completion of the reaction time.
An improved method for mixing reactants having a reaction time in a stirred reaction tank having flow injection and outlet ports located on the vertical sides of said tank, wherein said method involves subjecting said component corresponding to a Reynolds number of between about .gtoreq.1 to about 500 to admixture caused by recirculation of said mixture flow through said injection and outlet ports, the improvement comprising aperiodically alternating the flow speeds and mixing times of said mixture flow through said ports, wherein said mixture reaches homogeneity prior to completion of the reaction time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.