Method of dispersion of a non-Newtonian fluid
AssigneeNova Chemical Corporation
InventorsGrazyna Petela, Karel Cornelis Bleijenberg, Jonathan O'Blenes, John Thomas Bressler
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Abstract
Non-Newtonian fluids, such as partially polymerized monomers or solutions of polymer in monomer may be pressure atomized below the surface of an immiscible continuous liquid phase to produce a dispersed phase having a uniform particle size distribution. A dual or customized size distribution can be obtained by imposing a controlled pressure pulsation on a flowing fluid upstream the atomizer inlet. Such dispersion may be further polymerized to produce a uniform or customized bead size product.
Claims27
A process comprising pressure atomizing a non-Newtonian immiscible liquid at a gauge pressure from 3 to 100 bars through at least one atomizer having an opening diameter from 0.01 mm to 2 mm and a length less than 5 mm and an L/D ratio from 0.2 to 5 at a flow rate from 0.05 to 15 ml/second/per atomizer, wherein the flow of the liquid to be atomized is subjected to a pressure pulsation upstream of the atomizer inlet at a frequency of less than 200 Hz with an amplitude of less than 20% of the liquid static pressure upstream the atomizer, in an amount from 0.01 to 60% volume of a continuous liquid phase, below the free surface of the continuous liquid phase which may be stationary or flowing, contained in a tank, pipe or loop vessel, to produce a dispersion of atomized droplets of the immiscible liquid having at least one controlled average diameter from 0.1 mm to 5 mm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.