Patent Publication Number: US-9839883-B2

Title: Channel mixing apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to material distributing and mixing apparatus and particularly to stationary material distribution and mixing apparatus which can be installed within a suitable conduit carrying fluids to be mixed on site as well as the method for employing the stationary material distribution and mixing apparatus for the introduction and mixing of an additive into a moving fluid stream 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Applicant has long ago recognized the desirability of providing a superior line of motionless mixers, that is, mixing elements which do not rely upon any moving parts to create an enhance the mixing operation. Motionless or static mixers generally operate on the principal of creating velocity vectors, increasing the contact area between fluids to be mixed and/or splitting a fluid stream into subparts and then recombining the subparts all to enhance the mixing of fluids in a conduit. 
     One area that is ideally suited to the application of static mixers is in water treatment Additives, such as chlorine, can be introduced and uniformly dispersed into an aqueous fluid stream using such devices. This environment deals with relatively low viscosity liquids and the introduction of additives in low concentrations which, again, is an ideal environment for mixers of the type described herein In this regard, reference is made to  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 1  is directed to a previous designed stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus employed by applicant for water treatment applications. The apparatus is generally employed by nesting four individual mixing and distribution devices in a square or rectangular array. Specifically, stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus  10  is shown composed of four sub-conduits although the number of sub-conduits can vary depending upon application. Each sub conduit is composed of sidewalls  12  and  14  which are substantially parallel to one another and are orthogonal to the bottom  15  and top  26  The conduit has open ends  12  and  14  to enable a fluid, such as water to travel through the conduit in the direction of arrows  19 . As fluid flows through the conduit, additive is introduced via vertically oriented tubes  16  having a plurality of additive ports  17  such that additive flows in the direction of arrows  18 . Upon doing so, the main fluid and additive confront diagonally oriented baffles  21 ,  22  and  23 , which are impacted by fluids flowing in the direction of arrows  18  and  19 , resulting in turbulent redirection of such fluid flow resulting in mixing while being mindful of any pressure drop related thereto. Although such a configuration has proven to be successful, it is now determined that more efficient mixing can be achieved at minimal pressure drops to which the present invention is directed 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus which is more efficient than similar devices of the prior art and at very low pressure drops 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to teach an element for use in a stationary material mixing and distribution device which greatly enhances mixing, particularly in aqueous and low viscosity fluid streams ideally suited in water treatment facilities. 
     These and further objects will be readily apparent when considering the following disclosure and appended claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An element for use in a stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus comprising an article of manufacture having a pair of forward facing V-sections, each forward facing V-section comprising a pail of substantially rectangular forward facing legs, each substantially rectangular forward facing leg having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular forward facing legs being joined to one another forming a forward facing vertically oriented apex and a pair of rearward facing V-sections, each rearward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular rearward facing legs, each substantially rectangular rearward facing leg having a first end and a second end, each first end of said substantially rectangular rearward facing leg being appended to a second end of a substantially rectangular forward facing leg, and the second ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular rearward facing legs being joined to one another forming a rearward facing horizontally oriented apex 
     A stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus comprising a conduit, said conduit having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, an element positioned between said fluid inlet and fluid outlet, said element comprising an article of manufacture having a pair of forward facing V-sections, each forward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs, each substantially rectangular forward facing leg having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular forward facing legs being joined to one another forming a forward facing vertically oriented apex and a pair of rearward facing V-sections, each rearward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular rearward facing legs, each substantially rectangular rearward facing leg having a first end and a second end, each first end of said substantially rectangular rearward facing leg being appended to a second end of a substantially rectangular forward facing leg, and the second ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular rearward facing legs being joined to one another forming a rearward facing horizontally oriented apex. 
     A method of mixing and distributing an additive into a moving fluid stream passing within a conduit, said conduit having a fluid inlet end and fluid outlet end, said method comprising positioning an element between said fluid inlet and fluid outlet, said element comprising an article of manufacture having a pair of forward facing V-sections, each forward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs, each substantially rectangular forward facing leg having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular forward facing legs being joined to one another forming a forward facing vertically oriented apex and a pair of rearward facing V-sections, each rearward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular rearward facing legs, each substantially rectangular rearward facing leg having a first end and a second end, each first end of said substantially rectangular rearward facing leg being appended to a second end of a substantially rectangular forward facing leg, and the second ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular rearward facing legs being joined to one another forming a rearward facing horizontally oriented apex, positioning a plurality of additive ports at said fluid inlet end, upstream of said element, passing fluid through said conduit while introducing additive through said plurality of additive ports 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an element for use in the stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration description only and are not intended as definitions of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are recited with particularity in the claims 
     There has been broadly outlined more important features of the invention in the summary above and in order that the detailed description which follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important therefore, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Certain terminology and the derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similar words such as “inward” and “outward” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof Reference in the singular tense include the plural and vice versa, unless otherwise noted. 
     Turning first to  FIG. 3 , element  50  is depicted which is employed in the present stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus such as that illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Specifically, element  50  comprises a pair of forward facing V-sections  61  and  62 , each forward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54 , respectively. Each substantially rectangular forward facing leg  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  are characterized as having first ends  55 A,  55 B and  56 A and  56 B and second ends  81 ,  83 ,  97  and  98 . As illustrated, each pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  are joined to one another at their first ends forming vertically oriented apexes  82  and  88  which, in operation, face incoming fluid (in the direction of arrows  39 ) and direct the fluid from the midline of the conduit toward its edges. Element  50  is further characterized as having a pair of rearward facing V-sections  101  and  102  Rearward facing V-sections comprise a pair of substantially rectangular rearward facing legs  63 ,  64 ,  65  and  66 , the substantially rectangular rearward facing legs having first ends  84 ,  85 ,  92  and  96  each of which are appended to second ends  81 ,  83 ,  97  and  98  of the substantially rectangular forward facing legs and have second ends  91 A,  91 B,  94 A and  94 B being joined to one another in pairs forming rearward facing horizontally oriented apexes  85  and  93   
     In turning to  FIG. 2 , array  30  of four conduits each housing element  50  is illustrated For the sake of simplicity, only the upper right conduit of  FIG. 2  will be discussed. Element  50  is positioned within the conduit, the conduit being substantially square or rectangular in cross-section having an open fluid inlet  32  and outlet  34  for the passage of a fluid stream in the direction of arrows  39  there through. When mixing element  50  is installed within conduit  30 , forward facing V-sections  61  and  62  are parallel to and adjacent to the top and bottom walls  31  and  35 . Also, rearward facing V-sections  101  and  102  are parallel to and adjacent to sidewalls  41  and  42 . As noted, the apexes of the forward facing V-sections are oriented vertically while the apexes of the rearward facing V-sections are oriented horizontally. 
     A series of additive ports  37  are configured within vertically oriented additive feed tube  36 , additive feed tube  36  being positioned proximate forward facing vertically oriented apexes  82  and  88  such that additive is introduced in the direction of arrows  38  while impacting forward facing V-sections  61  and  62  together with fluid flowing in the direction of arrows  39  and are thus diverted towards sidewalls  41  and  42  proximate top and bottom walls  31  and  35  while rearward facing V-sections  101  and  102  cause the fluid to move away from top and bottom walls  31  and  35  and proximity to sidewalls  41  and  42  These complex vectors result in impressively efficient mixing at comparably low pressure drops. 
     The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensions, relationships, or operations as described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed as suitable without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.