Patent GB-566791-A (GB)
Title: A method and apparatus for mixing substances
IPC: B01F25/74
Filed: 1942-12-30
Abstract: 566,791. Centrifugal mixing apparatus. CLAYTON, W. L.; FLEMING, L., WHITTINGTON, H., FUESLER, J.P., CANNAFAX, D., SUMNERS, D., JOHNSON, J. M., ODEN, S., and KOAR, W. H., [trading as ANDERSON, CLAYTON, & CO.]. Dec. 30,1942, No. 18505. A Specification was laid open to inspection under Section 91 of the Acts, Oct. 15, 1943. [Class 23] The invention describes centrifugal means to secure a mixture of substances in mist form, the substances being liquid, gaseous or solid, being specially directed towards the mixing of a small amount of one substance with a large amount of another substance. The substances are separately led by pipes in regulated proportions to a centrifugal head 36 containing one or more perforated baskets, the -substances being directed to a collecting surface 18 which may be heated by a jacket 20. Fig. 1 shows an. apparatus primarily concerned with mixing cottonseed oil and caustic soda. Steam or hot water circulates through the jacket 20. The head 36 is driven through a pulley 32 by means of a vertical shaft 31 in bearings 26, 28 fed by a lubricant-supply pipe 30. The head 36 has a basket .41 into which an aqueous solution of caustic soda is sprayed from a nozzle supplied by a pipe 67, and an outer basket 39 into which is conically sprayed cottonseed oil supplied by a pipe 55 to an annular chamber 49. The two liquids are fed by pumps which are regulated as to speed, the liquids passing through meters. A head speed of 13,000 r.p.m. may be reached. A disc 84 prevents the entrainment of too much air into the head. The nozzles are adjustable vertically and laterally. Atomization is secured by the liquids being driven through blades 44,45 in the head. The mist mixture collects as an emulsion on the wall 18 (heated at about 140 F.) and is led away through an opening 85 which may lead to a centrifuge. The head may be eight inches in diameter, and that of the chamber 16 may be four feet. The number of baskets and blade rings may be varied. The central nozzle may contain a helically-shaped metal plate. Fig. 5 shows another arrangement in which pipes 110, 111 supply oil and caustic solution, respectively, the two substances merging before entering the centrifugal head. A tubular extension may be fitted to the nozzle to secure greater interspersion of the two substances before atomization. Various other fluids which may be mixed together in the head 36, are described in the specification. A three-fluid nozzle is supplied by separate pipes with oil, water and sodium methylate solution. A gas under pressure may be fed through one of the three tubes. The gas may be inert or chemically reactive with one or both substances. Fig. 9 shows another arrangement in which tanks 144, 145 contain sodium methylate in metyl alcohol, and unclarified refined oil, respectively. The two may be admitted in regulated proportions to tube 149 and water for the reaction supplied through pipe 153. Instead of sodium methylate solution, sodium carbide may be used as the agent to react with water to form caustic soda in the oil. For this, the sodium carbide, in: finely divided form, is contained in a hopper 156. A colloid mill may be used to create a fine dispersion of the water in the oil. A blower 155 drives the sodium carbide down into the mist-forming chamber 151. A three-way valve 158 leads the mixture to either a separator 160, or up into a steam heated vessel 162 in which a paddle 164 agitates the mixture. A pump 168 transfers the mixture to the separator 160. The invention is stated to be applicable to the bleaching of oil with fuller's earth, the splitting up of glyceride oils and fats, into glycerine and fatty acids, the recovery of toluene from petroleum, the treatment of oils with sulphuric acid, in the solvent extraction of lubricating oil and in the emulsion polymerization in the manufacture of Buna rubber. Another use is in the production of colloidal sulphur by mixing a water solution of sulphur dioxide in mist form with hydrogen sulphide.