Abstract:
A device is provided for mixing similar or dissimilar fluids into a homogenous fluids mix. The device operates without consuming additional energy.

Description:
TECHNOLOGY FIELD 
       [0001]    The present device is related to devices and apparatuses for mixing fluids. 
       DEFINITIONS 
       [0002]    As used in the present disclosure the term “fluid” includes liquids and gases. 
         [0003]    As used in the present disclosure the term “swirl chamber” is a chamber where fluid introduced at an angle tangential to the chamber long axis generates a fluid swirling motion around the chamber long axis or along the walls of the chamber. The axis of rotation could be the axis of symmetry of the chamber. 
         [0004]    As used in the present disclosure the term “deflector” is a device or a device component that changes the fluid flow parameters. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    In many industries and technical fields, like chemistry, biology, medicine, food manufacture, engine operation and others fluids have to be mixed, processed and brought to a condition that would ensure optimal operation of the device or process that consumes the mix. Often, preparation of a proper fluid mix requires a long sequence of different fluid processing steps. The fluid processing steps could be time consuming, limit the throughput and be prone to errors occurring during the procedure. 
         [0006]    The known fluid mixing devices usually include moving parts that apply to the fluids certain force (pressure) to propel one or more fluids to a fluid mixing area or volume and consume certain amount of energy. Fluid mixing devices moving parts are prone to malfunctioning and as such require periodic maintenance. This complicates maintaining consistent concentration values in the fluid mix and size of particles in the fluid mix. 
         [0007]    Specifically, the atomization of a solution into uniform particles by forming a contact between two different fluids can provide particles either too large or too small. The size of the particles could affect proper operation of a device using the atomized solution. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,715,378; 8,871,090; 8,746,965 and 8,844,495 to the same assignee and the same inventor disclose different methods of fluid mixing. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    Described is a fluid mixing device which is operated and regulated automatically by the stream or flow of the fluids to be mixed. The fluid mixing device has no moving parts and is characterized by a high degree of reliability. The device transforms laminar fluid flow into a turbulent fluid flow of the fluids to be mixed and the turbulent flow mixes different fluid that could be similar or dissimilar fluids into a homogenous fluid mix. 
         [0010]    Gaps between parts/components of the mixing device having a predetermined size allow for precise control of the proportions of fluids to be mixed and maintenance of a homogenous mix of the fluids and particles produced in the course of fluid mixing. Variation in gap size or gap with between the parts/components could be used to control the proportions of fluids to be mixed, size of the particles produced and resulting mix content. 
         [0011]    The turbulent flow parameters, such as flow speed and pressure at different segments of the flow support, in addition to fluids mixing, the formation of fluid particles wherein one fluid envelopes or encapsulates the second fluid. 
         [0012]    Overlapping physical effects resulting from adiabatic fluid expansion phenomena do not demand additional energy sources and, using essentially the same quantity of energy as traditional methods, air temperatures can be controlled and productivity and efficiency of the device can be increased. 
     
    
     
       LIST OF FIGURES AND THEIR BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a three dimensional representation of a device for mixing fluids according to an example; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an example of a cross section of device for mixing fluids of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an example of cross section of a swirl chamber of a device for mixing fluids of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross section of a fluid deflector unit according to an example; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cross section of liquid-gas mixing zone according to an example; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an example of a collector for mixing two fluids; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is an example of a collector for mixing more than two fluids. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    As indicated above, the atomization of a solution into uniform particles by forming contact between two different fluids can provide particles either too large or too small. The size of the particles could affect proper operation of a device using the atomized solution. 
         [0021]    This could be resolved by providing a fluid mixing device which is operated and regulated automatically by a stream or flow of the fluids to be mixed. The disclosed fluid mixing device has no moving parts and is characterized by a high degree of reliability. The device transforms laminar fluid flow into a turbulent fluid flow of the fluids to be mixed and the turbulent fluid flow mixes different fluids that could be similar or dissimilar in nature into a homogenous fluid mix. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  which is a three dimensional representation of a device for mixing fluids according to an example. Device  100  includes a tubular cylindrical housing or body  102  with a first inlet opening  104  configured to accept a first fluid, schematically shown by arrow  106 , a number of lateral inlet openings  108  and  110  adapted to receive additional fluids (second, third and so on fluids) to be mixed with first fluid  106  or with additional fluids an outlet opening  114  through which the fluid mix  112  leaves device  100 . Cutouts  116  include device  100  mounting holes  118 . The first inlet opening  104  and outlet opening  114  are located at opposite ends of the housing  102  sharing a common longitudinal axis. 
         [0023]    One or more pumps or compressors (not shown) could supply the first and the second and additional fluids to fluid mixing device  100 . The fluids could be dissimilar fluids such as for example, water and gas, milk and gas, gasoline and gas or similar fluids such as water and gasoline, gasoline and ethanol, water and milk, insecticides and fertilizer into an irrigating spray, chlorine into a swimming pool and others. The fluids supplied to the device for fluid mixing  100  are thereby mixed or processed by device  100  and output from the outlet opening  114  located at a second end of the of tubular or cylindrical housing. 
         [0024]    In some examples lateral inlet openings  108  and  110  can be arranged in series or arrays and share a common central longitudinal axis of the tubular or cylindrical housing  100 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is an example of a cross section of device for mixing fluids of  FIG. 1 . Device  100  includes a first housing or unit  202 . First unit  202  houses a first fluid inlet  104  configured to receive the first fluid  106  and a first fluid conducting channel  204  having a segment  206  with a cylindrical shape and a segment  208  with a conical shape. Segment  206  and segment  208  have a common axis of symmetry  210 . First fluid flow has a round cross section in cylindrical segment  206 . 
         [0026]    First housing or unit  202  accommodates an insert  212  with a conical external or outer surface  214  and an additional conical external or outer surface  214  corresponding to the housing  202  segment  208  with the inner conical shape cross section. When insert  212  is inserted into first housing or unit segment  208  with inner conical shape cross section the axes of symmetry of housing  202  and conical insert  212  coincide and segment  208  with inner conical cross section shape of first unit housing  202  and conical outer surface  214  of the insert form a conical gap  218  with a ring cross section, better illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The angle of the first conical deflector  212  could be 30 to 70 degrees. The width of the conical gap  218  with a ring cross section could be 1.0 to 200 micron. The conical gap  218  with ring cross section acts to increase the speed of the flow of the first fluid  106  and simultaneously increases the turbulence of the flow. The conical outer surface  214  of the insert  212  is operative to accept a first fluid  106  flow entering the device via the first fluid inlet  104  and to diverge the flow along the outer conical surface  214  into a mixing chamber  228 . 
         [0027]    In one example, conical outer surface  214  of insert  212  could be a smooth conical surface. In another example, surface  214  could include a plurality of groves distributed in regular or irregular intervals on the perimeter of conical insert  212 . Each grove could have a length at least  10  times greater than its depth or diameter. In still a further example the groves could be made on inner surface of conical segment  208  of housing or unit  202 . 
         [0028]    Conical outer surface  214  of insert or deflector  212  is configured to receive the flow of the first fluid  106  having a cylindrical shape with a round cross section and volumetrically transform the first fluid flow from cylindrical to conical shape. Apex  220  and conical surface  214  of deflector  212  act to transform the first fluid flow  106  from a cylindrical shape with a round cross section into a conical flow with a ring cross section. Through the transformation of the flow of first fluid  106  from a cylindrical shape with a round cross section into a conical flow with a ring cross section, the first flow changes its parameters such as for example, speed, turbulence and pressure. Conical deflector  212  performs compression of incoming fluid and the transformation from a cylindrical fluid flow with round cross section into a conical flow with ring cross section. The area of the ring cross section is smaller than the area of the round cross section and the reduction in cross section area increases fluid flow turbulence. 
         [0029]    Device  100  further includes a second housing or unit  224 . Second unit  224  houses a number of fluid inlets  230  configured to receive a second fluid flow shown by arrow  232 . The second fluid could be a dissimilar fluid, for example a gas, or a similar fluid, for example a liquid. Second fluid inlets  230  are in fluid communication with second fluid input channels  234 . Second fluid input channels  234  are oriented at an angle ( FIG. 3 ) to the common axis of symmetry  210 . Second housing or unit  224  also includes a collector with a swirl chamber  302  ( FIG. 3 ) being in fluid communication with the second fluid input channel/s  234  and the second fluid conducting channel  238 . Second unit or housing  224  has an axis of symmetry which is collinear (or coincides) with common axis  210  of first unit  202 . As it will be explained later, the collector could be configured to accept one additional fluid ( FIG. 6 ) or a plurality (two, three, . . . five) of additional fluids ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0030]    Pressurized fluid is injected into a swirl chamber  302  of collector unit ( 604  or  704   FIGS. 6 and 7 ) through tangential channels  234  of the swirl chamber inner cavity that is used in a system of dynamic vortex mixing and activation. The swirl chamber  302  wall  304  represents a vortex generator contour that extends along axis  210  and plural tangential channels  234  extending tangentially inward from the axial cylindrical channel. The ends of tangential channels  234  open into the axial cylindrical chamber  302 , and a vortex spiral  306  is formed within the axial cylindrical chamber around a stream of the first fluid. Vortex spiral  306  accelerates the fluid rotation rate. Although, according Ranque-Hilsch theorem, only the outer shell of the compressed fluid (closed to wall  304 ) is rotating. 
         [0031]    An insert  240  with a conical outer surface  244  ( FIG. 2 ) is inserted into second fluid  402  conducting channel  238 . Insert  212  with a conical outer surface  214  and insert  240  with conical outer surface  244  form a fluid deflector unit  248 . The angle of the second conical deflector  240  could be 30 to 70 degrees. Fluid deflector unit  248  is configured to change second fluid  402  flow parameters and includes at least (two) a first conical deflector surface  214  and a second conical deflector surface  244  with an axis of symmetry coaxial (or coinciding) with the common axis  210  of first unit  202  and apices  404  and  406  of conical deflectors  212  and  238  oriented in opposite directions. Deflector unit  240  is located between the first  202  and the second  224  units. 
         [0032]    Fluid deflector unit  248  includes a bushing  404  ( FIG. 4 ) with at least one segment  406  with an inner cylindrical shape and axis of symmetry  408  coaxial (or coinciding) with common axis of symmetry  210 . Second conical deflector  238  is coupled to bushing  404  such that their axes of symmetry coincide (are coaxial) and the outer cylindrical segment of the second conical deflector  238  and the cylindrical segment  406  of bushing  404  form a cavity/gap  410  with a ring cross section. Bushing  404  includes an outer conical segment  412  with surface  414 . The angle of the outer conical segment could be 15 to 60 degrees. Bushing  404  couples to the first conical deflector  212  such that their axes of symmetry coincide and outer conical segment  412  of the bushing  404  and the inner conical surface  416  of the first conical deflector  212  form a conical cavity/gap  418  with a ring cross section. The size of the channel/gap  418  could be 2.0 to 200 micron. The conical ring channel  418  acts to increase the speed of the flow of the second fluid and simultaneously increases the turbulence of the flow. 
         [0033]    The flow of the first fluid  106  divided by first conical deflector  212  into a thin, ring cross section  218  flow or into separate streams with size of 50.0 to 150 micron enters the fluid mixing zone or chamber  228 . Fluid pressure in the mixing zone  228  falls to a pressure lower than vapor pressure. The flow of the second fluid  232  in conical channel  418  with ring cross section changes direction in which the fluid flow moves and, owing to the high speed of the second fluid flow it also enters mixing zone  228 . When the first fluid is a liquid and the second fluid is a gas, the gas is encapsulated into a liquid bubble  504  of the first fluid in the mixing zone  420 , as illustrated in detail in  FIG. 5 . Liquid is incompressible and it cannot expand until it reaches the gas flow in the mixing zone  228  and enters in contact with gas  504 . The gas flow  402  in contact with the liquid flow  106  collapses into a plurality gas bubbles  508 . The liquid flow shown by arrow  106  and the gas flow  402  could be regulated by the width and orientation of the channels  218  and  418  with ring cross section and can create homogenous composite mixtures with ratios of 20 to less than 1, where the gas is encapsulated into the liquid. At the encapsulation stage, a double Bernoulli effect creates Joule-Thompson conditions and produces an internal vacuum in the mixing zone or chamber  420  forcing cavitation and quasi-boiling. The created liquid gas mixture  504  could be directed for different uses. 
         [0034]    Depending on the ratios of gas to liquid, a foam-like mixture can be created and the mixture could be directed to outlet opening  114 . 
         [0035]    Variation in the size of ring ross section gaps or conical channels  218  and  418  could be used to control the proportions of fluids to be mixed, size of the particles produced and resulting mix content. Appropriate ratio of mixed fluids also could be regulated by the pressure of the delivered fluids, volume of the delivered fluids and type of the delivered fluids. For example, if one of the fluids is gas the compression ratio of the output flow could be increased as compared to a mix of two fluids. An electronic control system could be employed for control the pressure of the fluids, the volume of the fluids, and/or a ratio of the amount of the first fluid to the second or third fluid. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is an example of a collector for mixing two fluids. Collector  604  includes second fluid inlets  230  that are in fluid communication with second fluid input channels  234  are oriented at an angle ( FIG. 3 ) to the common axis of symmetry  210  and a swirl chamber schematically shown by arrow  302 . Pressurized fluid injected into a swirl chamber  302  through tangential channels  234  is used in a system of dynamic vortex mixing and activation. Vortex spiral  306  accelerates the fluid rotation rate. Although, according Ranque-Hilsch theorem, only the outer shell of the compressed fluid (closed to wall  304 ) is rotating. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is an example of a collector for mixing more than two fluids. Collector  704  includes a plurality of fluid inlets  230  and plurality of swirl chambers schematically shown by arrow  302 . Principles of operation of collector  704  are similar to collector  604  operating principles. 
         [0038]    Operation of device  100  ( FIG. 1 ) does not require energy supply. Overlapping physical effects resulting from adiabatic fluid expansion (Joule-Thompson Effect) and from Ranque-Hilsch Effect phenomena do not demand additional energy sources and, using essentially the same quantity of energy as traditional methods, air temperatures can be lowered and productivity and efficiency of the device can be increased. 
         [0039]    Apparatus or device described could be scaled to meet different throughput requirement and can also include multiple modules for producing additional fluid mixes pipeline.