Device for processing a flowable medium, in particular mineral oil or synthetic oil, as well as a method for operating such a device and the use of such a device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (101, 102, 103) for processing a flowable medium (12), in particular mineral oil or synthetic oil, comprising a reaction vessel (14) with at least one inlet (16, 18) and at least one outlet (20), a conveying line (34) connecting the outlet (20) to the inlet (16, 18), a conveying device (56) arranged in the conveying line (34) for conveying the medium (12) from the outlet (20) to the inlet (16, 18), at least one additive supply line (481, 482) for supplying one or more additives (A1, A2) to the flowable medium (12), and an ultrasonic unit (76) arranged in or cooperating with the conveying line (34) for providing ultrasonic waves and introducing the ultrasonic waves into the flowable medium (12).and a control device (84) for controlling and / or regulating at least the conveying capacity of the conveying device (56) as well as the frequency and the sound power (P). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for operating such a device (101, 102, 103), a computer program for executing such a method, and the use of such a device (101, 102, 103) for processing a flowable medium (12).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for processing a flowable medium, in particular lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil, for example of API classes I, II, III, IV and V. The present invention further relates to a method for operating such a device and to the use of such a device for processing a flowable medium. The invention is explained below using the production of lubricating oil as an example, but it also applies analogously to other free-flowing media that are mixed with additives (chemical and physical agents). The additives themselves can be liquid, viscous, or solid. Lubricating oils are a mixture in which a mineral or synthetic oil, also known as a base oil, is blended with one or typically several additives. While the available base oils are more or less the same, it is the additives that optimize the lubricating oil for a specific application. Additives can include cleaning agents, solubilizers, protective film-forming agents, lubricants, and the like, although this list is not exhaustive. For the lubricating oil to fully exert its effect, the additives must be distributed as homogeneously as possible in the base oil. To achieve this, the additives are typically added to a reaction vessel, usually heated and equipped with an agitator, along with the base oil. The additives are homogenized with the heated base oil for a certain period of time by mixing with the agitator and then removed from the reaction vessel. The resulting mixture is the finished lubricating oil. Alternatively, the mixture can be recirculated, with the mixture removed from the reaction vessel being returned to the same or a different reaction vessel via a conveying line. Besides achieving the highest possible homogeneity, meaning the most uniform distribution of additives in the base oil, the stability of the mixture of base oil and additives is also of great importance. Regardless of the initial homogeneity of the mixture, segregation can occur over time, manifested, for example, as a precipitate of one or more additives. This significantly reduces the homogeneity of the mixture, rendering the lubricating oil ineffective or only partially effective. Within the scope of this disclosure, stability can be understood as a measure of the period for which a specific homogeneity of the mixture is maintained. It is known to use ultrasonic waves for homogenization, either in addition to or instead of a stirrer. Reference is made in this regard to DE 102 43 837 A1 and WO 2017 / 013424 A1. However, it has been found that the use of ultrasonic waves does not necessarily lead to increased homogeneity and stability. Further information on the technical field to which the present invention relates can be found in DE 44 31 872 C1, EP 1 800 355 B1, GB 2 607 104 A and DE 40 16 076 A1. As mentioned, the additives are added to the base oil in a reaction vessel and mixed using an agitator. This mixing process is carried out at temperatures between approximately 40 and 60°C, with the required temperature increasing with higher oil viscosity and the number of additives added. The energy required to heat to these temperatures is considerable and results in correspondingly high costs. Furthermore, the resulting mixture cannot be immediately filled into ready-to-use bottles or similar containers but must first be transferred to an intermediate container where it can cool. This cooling process can take several days. The associated equipment and time expenditure increase the cost of the manufacturing process. The object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a device for processing a flowable medium, in particular mineral oil or synthetic oil, which makes it possible to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages using cost-effective means. In particular, the device should make it possible to provide a medium containing additives with high homogeneity and high stability. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a method for operating such a device to produce a medium with high homogeneity and high stability. Finally, another embodiment of the invention aims to propose the use of such a device for processing a flowable medium. This problem is solved by the features specified in claims 1, 14, 15 and 16. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims. One embodiment of the invention relates to a device for processing a flowable medium, in particular mineral oil or synthetic oil, comprising: - a reaction vessel with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, - a conveying line, which in particular runs outside the reaction vessel and connects the outlet to the inlet, - a conveying device arranged in the conveying line for conveying the medium from the outlet to the inlet, - at least one additive supply line for supplying one or more additives to the flowable medium, - an ultrasonic unit arranged in or cooperating with the conveying line for providing ultrasonic waves and for introducing the ultrasonic waves into the flowable medium.and a control device for controlling and / or regulating at least◯ the delivery rate of the conveying device as well as◯ the frequency and / or the sound power of the ultrasonic waves provided by the ultrasonic unit. When the term "medium" is used, it refers, depending on the context and the understanding of the person skilled in the art, in particular to the base oil, i.e., the mineral oil or synthetic oil as such, or to the mixture, in particular, of the base oil and the additives. A distinction between the medium and the mixture does not appear to be essential for understanding the invention. The finished mixture of base oil and additive is also referred to as lubricating oil. The mixture of base oil and additives can be removed from and returned to the reaction vessel via the conveying line. Therefore, the mixture can be circulated as often as desired, although two to four circulations—that is, two to four passes through the reaction vessel and the ultrasonic unit—are considered sufficient for this device to achieve the desired homogeneity and stability. The reaction vessel primarily serves as a reservoir for introducing the required quantity of medium into the device. The ultrasonic waves provided by the ultrasonic unit introduce significant amounts of energy into the medium, eliminating the need to perform the homogenization of the additives in the base oil at elevated temperatures. Homogenization can now be carried out at room temperature, thus saving energy. However, to achieve sufficiently high homogenization and the desired stability, the residence time of the medium-additive mixture in the ultrasonic unit is crucial. Furthermore, the sound power and frequency of the ultrasonic waves provided by the unit are highly significant for the resulting homogeneity and stability. The residence time depends primarily on the volumetric flow rate of the medium or the mixture of medium and additive through the ultrasonic unit.The volume flow rate can be adjusted using the delivery capacity of the conveying device. The ultrasonic unit is designed so that the sound power and / or the frequency of the ultrasonic waves it provides can be adjusted. The ultrasonic unit typically comprises a cylindrical flow reactor through which the mixture flows. This flow reactor, which can also be described as a resonator, is set into vibration by ultrasonic transducers attached to it. The ultrasonic transducers, which are, for example, designed as piezoelectric actuators, convert electrical energy directly into mechanical kinetic energy, which is transferred from the resonator to the lubricating oil. The sound power indicates how much energy is transferred from the ultrasonic transducer to the flow reactor. The sound power and the frequency at which the piezoelectric actuators operate can be adjusted. It has proven particularly useful if the flow reactor is made of stainless steel, preferably material 1.4404, with a wall thickness of 2 to 6 mm. Because the residence time in the ultrasonic unit, as well as the frequency and sound power, can be optimally adjusted via the control unit to the type, number, and properties of the additives and the properties of the base oil used, optimal homogeneity and stability can be achieved with low energy consumption. Furthermore, the resulting lubricating oil can be filled directly into ready-to-use bottles or containers without having to cool it down first. According to the invention, a viscometer is arranged in the conveying line, with which the viscosity of the medium in the conveying line can be determined. This can be, in particular, a so-called inline viscometer. To achieve good homogenization, the viscosity must not be too high. The viscosity depends, among other things, on the temperature, which can be changed with the temperature control device. If, despite the correctly set temperature, the viscosity does not reach the desired value, the temperature can be changed accordingly. Such deviations can be caused, for example, by batch differences in the base oil and / or the additives. In this respect, redundancy can be created to carry out the homogenization process reproducibly. Both the kinematic viscosity and the dynamic viscosity can be determined. According to a further embodiment, the conveying line has a first branch point and a second branch point, wherein the first branch point and the second branch point are connected to each other by a first sub-line and a second sub-line, and the ultrasonic unit has a first sub-unit and a second sub-unit, wherein the first sub-unit is arranged in or interacts with the first sub-line, and the second sub-unit is arranged in or interacts with the second sub-line. According to this embodiment, two subunits of the ultrasonic unit, which act on the mixture, can be connected in parallel. It is also conceivable to connect three or more subunits in parallel. The mixture can be passed through either one subunit or both. This allows the volume-specific energy of the sound waves introduced into the mixture to be controlled. It is possible to flexibly respond to the desired quantity of the medium to be processed into lubricating oil. According to a further embodiment, the ultrasonic unit can be arranged between the conveying device and the inlet. It has been found that particularly high homogeneity and stability can be achieved when the ultrasonic unit is arranged between the conveying device and the inlet. In a further developed embodiment, at least one additive feed line can connect to the conveying line between the outlet and the ultrasonic unit, and in particular between the outlet and the conveying device. The equipment complexity can be minimized, partly because the additive feed line and its components can be positioned near the floor and at a short distance from the conveying line. Furthermore, if the additive feed line connects to the conveying line between the outlet and the conveying device, a certain degree of premixing can be achieved in the conveying device before the mixture enters the ultrasonic unit. In this embodiment, the desired homogeneity and stability can be achieved with reduced energy consumption. In another embodiment, the reaction vessel can have at least one additive inlet, and the at least one additive supply line can be connected to the additive inlet. In this embodiment, the additive is not added to the supply line but directly into the reaction vessel. This embodiment is particularly suitable when existing devices are to be retrofitted. The lids of reaction vessels often have a multitude of connections, at least one of which can be used as an additive inlet. Consequently, the additional effort required for retrofitting can be kept to a minimum. A further developed embodiment can be characterized by the arrangement of an agitator in the reaction vessel. The agitator allows for additional mixing beyond the homogenization achieved in the ultrasonic unit. This is particularly advantageous for base oils with especially high viscosity. According to another embodiment, the conveying device can be a gear pump. A gear pump achieves largely pulsation-free conveying of the medium within the device. Furthermore, gear pumps are well-suited for conveying highly viscous media. The gear pump contributes to homogenization, thus performing a dual function: conveying and, at least to some extent, homogenizing. In another embodiment, it may be advantageous for the device to include a temperature control unit with which the temperature of the medium can be adjusted. As mentioned, with the proposed device, it is not necessary to perform homogenization at an elevated temperature. However, the temperature of the medium typically fluctuates somewhat, at least depending on the season, since the storage containers, especially those for the base oil, are often located outdoors and are not heated. In order to carry out a reproducible and verifiable homogenization process, the medium can be brought to a minimum temperature by means of the temperature control unit, which corresponds approximately to the maximum annual temperature of the medium. Thus, the homogenization process can always be carried out with the same inlet temperature and consequently with the same viscosity, without consuming unnecessarily large amounts of energy. In a further developed embodiment, the device can have a medium supply line through which the medium can be fed to the reaction vessel and / or the conveying line. In this embodiment, a high degree of automation of the homogenization process can be achieved, since the medium, in particular the base oil, can be introduced into the device via its own dedicated supply line. Manual feeding is no longer necessary. Furthermore, the quantity and timing of the medium feed can be selected. Homogenization is typically carried out as a batch process. However, particularly in this embodiment, it is also possible to perform, for example, a fed-batch process, which can achieve increased throughput rates. In a further developed embodiment, the device can have a medium discharge line through which the medium can be discharged from the reaction vessel and / or the conveying line. After homogenization, the finished lubricating oil can be removed from the device through the medium discharge line. For example, the lubricating oil can be fed to a further processing unit, such as a filling unit, with which the lubricating oil is filled into bottles or similar containers. In another embodiment, the device can include a weighing unit for determining the mass of the medium in the reaction vessel. While modern pumps allow for sufficiently precise adjustment of the flow rates, enabling the mass ratios between the base oil and the additives to be readily deduced from the flow rates, the weighing unit can nevertheless be used to verify that the desired mass ratio is indeed present. This creates redundancy, thereby increasing process reliability. A further developed embodiment is characterized by the device being arranged on a mobile transport platform. This mobile transport platform could, for example, be a 1 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) or a 1 FEU (forty-foot equivalent unit) standard container. This allows the device to be transported flexibly from one location to another. In particular, the manufacturer can largely assemble and test the device for functionality in their own production facilities and then ship it to the customer. The effort required for commissioning the device by the customer is minimal. Furthermore, the device can be provided to the customer on a loan basis, for example, so that they can test it or produce a special lubricating oil that is only needed in small quantities. According to a further embodiment, the device may have: an additive supply line coupling arranged on the transport platform for connecting an additive storage container to the additive supply line; and / or a medium supply line coupling arranged on the transport platform for connecting a medium storage container to the medium supply line; and / or a medium discharge line coupling arranged on the transport platform for connecting a further processing device and / or a medium storage container to the medium discharge line. In this embodiment, the device can be put into operation very easily. Only the relevant storage containers need to be connected to the appropriate couplings. The device can then be put into operation. One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for processing a flowable medium, in particular lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil, with a device according to one of the preceding embodiments, comprising the following steps: - operating the conveying device at a volume flow rate for the medium such that a residence time for the medium in the ultrasonic unit results, - operating the ultrasonic unit such that the ultrasonic waves provided by it have a sound power, - operating the temperature control device such that the medium has a kinematic viscosity, wherein - an energy quotient in the range of 25 to 70 W sec2mm-2, in particular between 30 and 60 W sec2mm-2. The energy quotient refers to a single flow through the ultrasonic unit. As mentioned, depending on the device's design, the medium within the device can be circulated. In the case of multiple circulations where the ultrasonic unit is circulated by the relevant volume, the cumulative residence time must be divided by the number of circulations. In other words, the residence time for an additive describes how long that additive was exposed to the ultrasonic waves. One implementation of the invention relates to a method for processing a flowable medium, in particular lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil, with a device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - operating the conveying device at a volume flow rate for the medium such that a residence time for the medium in the ultrasonic unit results, - operating the ultrasonic unit such that the ultrasonic waves provided by it have a sound power and a frequency, - operating the temperature control device such that the medium has a kinematic viscosity, wherein - a frequency-energy quotient in the range of 150 to 350 mm sec-3W-1, in particular between 200 and 300 mm sec-3W-1. In this implementation of the method, the frequency-energy ratio also applies when one unit volume of the medium passes through the ultrasound unit once. The ultrasound unit is designed so that the ultrasound frequency is adjustable. The technical effects and advantages achievable with the proposed method are essentially the same as those discussed for the present device. In summary, it should be noted that when the proposed device is operated within the specified range of the energy quotient, lubricating oils with particularly high homogeneity and stability can be produced. One implementation of the invention relates to the use of a device according to one of the embodiments discussed above for processing a flowable medium, in particular lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil. The technical effects and advantages that can be achieved through its use are essentially the same as those discussed for the present device. In summary, it should be noted that this results in particularly high homogeneity and stability. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for processing a flowable medium, Fig. 2 a second embodiment of the device according to the invention for processing a flowable medium, and Fig. 3 a third embodiment of the device according to the invention for processing a flowable medium, each shown in principle. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a device 101 according to the invention for processing a flowable medium in a schematic representation. The device 101 is described below for processing lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil, although its use is not limited to this. The device 101 comprises a reaction vessel 14 with a first inlet 16, a second inlet 18, and an outlet 20. The first inlet 16 is connected to a medium supply line 22. The medium supply line 22 extends from a first medium storage container 24, which is designed in the form of a tank, in which a base oil, in particular a mineral oil or a synthetic oil, or other flowable media 12 can be stored. A first medium shut-off valve 26 is arranged in the medium supply line 22, extending from the first medium storage container 24, with which the medium supply line 22 can be selectively opened or closed.Starting from the first medium storage container 24 along the medium supply line 22, a first medium pumping device 28, here a gear pump, is arranged downstream of the first medium shut-off valve 26. This pump conveys the medium 12 along the medium supply line 22, and in particular from the first medium storage container 24 to the reaction vessel 14. Furthermore, a medium flow meter 30 for determining the volumetric flow rate of the medium through the medium supply line 22 and a second medium shut-off valve 32 are arranged between the first medium pumping device 28 and the reaction vessel 14. The second medium shut-off valve 32 can be designed as an electromechanical or pneumatic valve. The outlet 20 of the reaction vessel 14 is connected to the second inlet 18 by means of a conveying line 34. A temperature control device 35 is provided at the outlet 20, which can be used to bring the medium 12 exiting the reaction vessel 14 to a specific temperature. Downstream of the temperature control device 35, a medium discharge line 38 branches off from the conveying line 34, starting from the reaction vessel 14. A third medium shut-off valve 36 and a second medium conveying device 40 are arranged in the medium discharge line 38. The medium discharge line 38 is connected to a further processing device 42 and / or a second medium storage container 44. Starting from the temperature control unit 35, a fourth medium shut-off valve 46 is provided within the conveying line 34. From the reaction vessel 14, along the conveying line 34 downstream of the fourth medium shut-off valve 46, a first additive supply line 481 and a second additive supply line 482 open into the conveying line 34. The first additive supply line 481 and the second additive supply line 482 are identical in design and each originates from an additive storage container 501, 502, respectively. Furthermore, an additive delivery unit 511, 512, an additive flow measuring device 521, 522 for determining the volume flow of the additives through the first additive supply line 481 or through the second additive supply line 482, and an additive shut-off valve 541, 542 are provided. Furthermore, a conveying device 56, designed as a gear pump 57, a conveying line flow measuring device 58 for determining the volume flow V through the conveying line 34, a viscometer 60 for determining the viscosity of the medium in the conveying line 34, and a temperature measuring device 62 for determining the temperature of the medium in the conveying line 34 are arranged in the conveying line 34. Viewed from the conveying device 56 along the conveying line 34 downstream of the temperature measuring device 62, there is a first branching point 64 with a first branching valve 66, which can, for example, be designed as a three-way valve. At the first branching point 64, the conveying line 34 divides into a first sub-line 68 and a second sub-line 70. A first sub-unit 72 of an ultrasonic unit 76 is arranged in the first sub-line 68, and a second sub-unit 74 of an ultrasonic unit 76 is arranged in the second sub-line 70. This unit is capable of generating ultrasonic waves and introducing them into the medium 12 flowing through the first sub-line 68 and the second sub-line 70. The first sub-line 68 and the second sub-line 70 merge again at a second branch point 78, which contains a second branch valve 80, also designed as a three-way valve. Consequently, the medium 12 can flow through the first sub-line 68 or through the second sub-line 70, or through both the first sub-line 68 and the second sub-line 70, or the conveying line 34 can be closed at the first branch point 68 or the second branch point 78. From the second branch point 78, the conveying line 34 leads to the aforementioned second inlet 18 of the reaction vessel 14. Furthermore, the device 101 has a weighing device 82 with which the mass of the medium located in the reaction vessel 14 can be determined. Furthermore, the device 101 is equipped with a control unit 84, which is connected to some of the previously described components via electrical lines as shown in Fig. 1, thereby enabling control and / or regulation of the device 101. A wireless connection is also conceivable. The device 101 can be operated as follows: It is assumed that the first medium storage container 24 is sufficiently filled with medium 12 and the additive storage containers 501, 502 are sufficiently filled with additives A1 and A2. A base oil, in particular a mineral oil or a synthetic oil, can be used as medium 12. Cleaning substances, solubilizers, protective film-forming substances, lubricants, and the like, or pre-mixed substances, can be used as the first additive A1 and the second additive A2. The first medium shut-off valve 26 is opened manually, although opening by means of a corresponding control signal from the control unit 84 is also conceivable. The third medium shut-off valve 36 is closed and the fourth medium shut-off valve 46 is open. The first medium pumping device 28 is now activated, and the second medium shut-off valve 32 is opened by means of the control device 84. The medium flow meter 30 determines the extent to which the volume flow supplied by the first medium pumping device 28 corresponds to the target volume flow. The medium 12 is pumped into the reaction vessel 14 until the desired volume is reached. The weighing device 82 can be used to check whether the desired volume is present in the reaction vessel 14. If this is the case, the second medium shut-off valve 32 is closed, and the first medium pumping device 28 is deactivated. The additive delivery units 511, 512 and the delivery device 56 are activated, and the additive shut-off valves 541, 542 are opened. The additive flow measuring devices 521, 522 are then used to check whether the desired flow rates are flowing through the first additive supply line 481 and the second additive supply line 482 into the delivery line 34. The flow rates through the first additive supply line 481 and the second additive supply line 482 may differ. It is also possible that the flow rate through the first additive supply line 481 or the second additive supply line 482 is zero. In the additive supply line where the flow rate is zero, the corresponding additive shut-off valve 541, 542 can remain closed. As mentioned, the conveying device 56 is also activated. Consequently, the medium 12 is drawn from the reaction vessel 14 through the outlet 20. The medium 12 then flows through the temperature control device 35. The volume flow rate through the delivery line 34 is measured by the delivery line flow meter 58. The ratio of the volume flow rates through the first additive supply line 481 and through the second additive supply line 482 and through the delivery line 34 also yields the mixing or mass ratio between the additives A1, A2 and the medium 12. A certain degree of mixing of the additives A1, A2 in the medium 12 already takes place in the delivery line 34 and mainly in the delivery device 56, which is designed as the gear pump 57. The viscosity, in this case the kinematic viscosity ν, of the medium or, if additives are being conveyed into the conveying line 34, of the mixture of medium 12 and additives, in the conveying line 34 is determined by the viscometer 60. The temperature of the medium or the mixture in the conveying line 34 is also determined by a temperature measuring device 62. Since viscosity depends on temperature, if the measured viscosity deviates from the desired viscosity, the temperature control device 35 can be controlled accordingly by the control unit 84. The measurement of temperature and viscosity therefore provides a degree of redundancy, which, however, serves process reliability and can simplify the control and / or regulation. In particular, the measured values ​​of temperature and viscosity can be subjected to a plausibility check, and thus malfunctions of the temperature measuring device 62 and / or the viscometer 60 can be detected and reported accordingly. After the medium 12 or the mixture of medium 12 and additives has flowed through the viscometer 60 and the temperature measuring device 62, the volume flow through the delivery line 34 is divided between the first sub-line 68 and the second sub-line 70, depending on the position of the first branching valve 66 and the second branching valve 80. There, ultrasonic waves with the desired sound power P and the desired ultrasonic frequency are generated by the ultrasonic unit 76 and introduced into the mixture of medium 12 and additives, thereby homogenizing the mixture. Depending on the applied sound power P, which is introduced into the cylindrical or tubular flow reactor of the ultrasonic unit 76, the volume flow rate V' through the ultrasonic unit 76, the resulting residence time T in the ultrasonic unit 76, and the temperature-dependent kinematic viscosity v of the mixture, the homogeneity can be influenced. The use of an energy quotient EQ as a guideline has proven particularly useful, which is defined as follows: The energy quotient EQ has the unit [W sec²mm⁻²] and refers to a single pass through the ultrasonic unit. The residence time T also refers to a single pass through the ultrasonic unit. Values ​​between 30 and 60 W sec²mm⁻² have proven particularly advantageous for achieving good and stable homogeneity of additives A1 and A2 in a base oil, especially in a mineral or synthetic oil. While EQ values ​​above 60 also produce a homogeneous oil mixture, the process becomes less economical in terms of energy consumption and processing time. The control unit 84 adjusts the volume flow rate V', the temperature of the mixture, and the sound power P so that the energy quotient EQ remains within the specified range.Table 1: Exemplary embodiment for the homogenization of a flowable medium by a single flow through the ultrasound unit 76. 2002000660 As mentioned at the beginning, depending on the design of the ultrasonic unit 76, not only the sound power but also the frequency of the ultrasonic waves acting on the mixture can be varied. A frequency-energy quotient can therefore be defined as follows: The frequency-energy quotient EQf has the unit [mm²sec⁻³W⁻¹]. Values ​​between 200 and 300 mm²sec⁻³W⁻¹ have proven particularly advantageous for achieving good and stable homogeneity of additives A1 and A2 in a base oil, especially in a mineral or synthetic oil. EQf values ​​below 200 also produce a homogeneous oil mixture, but the process becomes less economical in terms of energy consumption and processing time. Table 2: Exemplary embodiment for the homogenization of a flowable medium by multiple passes through the ultrasonic unit 76. 20025001028000224 As mentioned, the mixture can be circulated multiple times, so that the ultrasonic unit 76 is permeated by one volume multiple times. The volume flow rate V' can be varied, resulting in different residence times T. It is recommended that the energy quotient EQ and the frequency-energy quotient EQf remain within the specified range for each permeation of one volume through the ultrasonic unit 76. The frequency-energy quotient EQf must remain within the specified range, taking into account the total residence time Tav = T*n, where n represents the number of times one volume has permeated the ultrasonic unit 76. Both the energy quotient and the frequency-energy quotient can be used for upscaling the device and for comparing multiple devices. After the mixture has passed through the ultrasonic unit 76, the two volume flows merge again at the second branch point 78 via the first sub-line 68 and the second sub-line 70. The mixture then enters the reaction vessel 14. The mixture can now be conveyed again through the conveying line 34 and thus circulated. During this process, the additive shut-off valves 541 and 542 can be closed and the additive conveying units 511 and 512 deactivated to maintain the set ratio between the medium 12 and the additives. Once the homogenization process is complete, the fourth medium shut-off valve 46 is closed and the third medium shut-off valve 36 is opened. The now fully homogenized mixture of medium 12 and additives A1 and A2, which can then be referred to as lubricating oil, is fed to the downstream processing unit 42. For this purpose, the second medium conveying unit 40 is activated. In the downstream processing unit 42, the lubricating oil can be filled into ready-to-use bottles or the like, or stored in the second medium storage container 44. Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the device 102 according to the invention, also in a schematic representation. The essential components of the device 102 of the second embodiment correspond to those of the device 101 of the first embodiment, which is why only the essential differences will be discussed below. In the second embodiment, the reaction vessel 14 has a first additive inlet 881 and a second additive inlet 882, to which the first additive supply line 481 and the second additive supply line 482 are connected, respectively. Furthermore, the reaction vessel 14 is equipped with an agitator 90.The essential difference between the device 102 according to the second embodiment and the device 101 according to the first embodiment lies particularly in the fact that the medium 12 and the additives A1, A2 are first fed into the reaction vessel 14 and mixed there using the agitator 90 before the mixture is pumped through the conveying line 34 by the conveying device 56 and subjected to ultrasonic waves in the ultrasonic unit 76. Otherwise, the operating mode is essentially the same as that of the device 101 according to the first embodiment. In particular, good homogeneity and high stability of the mixture of base oil and additives are also achieved in the second embodiment of the device 102 when the energy quotient EQ has values ​​between 30 and 60 W sec²mm⁻². Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of the device 103 in a schematic representation. The device 103 according to the third embodiment is largely similar to the device 101 according to the first embodiment; however, the device 103 according to the third embodiment is arranged on a mobile transport platform 92, which is formed by a container, in particular a 1 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) or a 1 FEU (fourty-foot equivalent unit) standard container.The transport platform 92 is equipped with two additive supply line couplings 941, 942 for connecting one additive storage container 501, 502 each to the additive supply lines 481, 482, a medium supply line coupling 96 for connecting a first medium storage container 24 to the medium supply line 22, and a medium discharge line coupling 98 for connecting a further processing device 42 and / or a second medium storage container 44 to the medium discharge line 38. The additive feed line couplings 941, 942, the medium feed line coupling 96 and the medium discharge line coupling 98 can be detachably attached to the container wall so that they can be removed during transport, for example by means of a truck or a ship, so that they do not protrude outwards beyond the containers and collide with adjacent containers. Once the transport platform 92 has been placed at the desired location, the additive storage containers 501, 502 can be connected to the additive supply line couplings 94, the first medium storage container 24 to the medium supply line coupling 96, and the second medium storage container 44 and / or the further processing unit 42 to the medium discharge line coupling 98. The device 103 can then be operated in the manner described above. Reference symbol list 101, 102, 103 Device 12 Medium 14 Reaction vessel 16 First inlet 18 Second inlet 20 Outlet 22 Medium feed line 24 First medium storage container 26 First medium shut-off valve 28 First medium conveying device 30 Medium flow meter 32 Second medium shut-off valve 34 Conveying line 36 Third medium shut-off valve 38 Medium discharge line 40 Second medium conveying device 42 Processing device 44 Second medium storage container 46 Fourth medium shut-off valve 481, 482 Additive feed line 501, 502 Additive storage container 511, 512 Additive conveying unit 521, 522 Additive flow meters 541,542 Additive shut-off valve 56 Conveyor 57 Gear pump 58 Conveyor line flow meter 60 Viscometer 62 Temperature meter 64 First branch 66 First branch valve 68 First sub-line 70 Second sub-line 72 First sub-unit 74 Second sub-unit 76 Ultrasonic unit 78 Second branch 80 Second branch valve 82 Weighing device 84 Control device 86 Electrical line 881, 882 Additive inlet 90 Agitator 92 Transport platform 941, 942 Additive feed line coupling 96 Medium feed line coupling 98 Medium discharge line coupling EQ Energy quotient F Frequency P Power V Volume flow rate T Residence time Tav Total residence time v Kinematic viscosity

Claims

Device (101, 102, 103) for processing a flowable medium (12), in particular lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil, comprising: - a reaction vessel (14) with at least one inlet (16, 18) and at least one outlet (20), - a delivery line (34) connecting the outlet (20) to the inlet (16, 18), - a conveying device (56) arranged in the delivery line (34) for conveying the medium (12) from the outlet (20) to the inlet (16, 18), - at least one additive supply line (481, 482) for supplying one or more additives (A1, A2) to the flowable medium (12), - an ultrasonic unit (76) arranged in or cooperating with the delivery line (34) for providing ultrasonic waves and introducing the ultrasonic waves into the flowable medium (12),and a control device (84) for controlling and / or regulating at least the delivery rate of the delivery device (56) as well as the frequency and the sound power (P) of the ultrasonic waves provided by the ultrasonic unit (76), characterized in that a viscometer (60) is arranged in the delivery line (34) with which the viscosity of the medium (12) in the delivery line (34) can be determined. Device (101, 102, 103) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ultrasonic unit (76) is arranged between the conveying device (56) and the inlet (16, 18). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, - the conveying line (34) has a first branching point (64) and a second branching point (78), wherein the first branching point (64) and the second branching point (78) are connected to each other by a first sub-line (68) and a second sub-line (70), and - the ultrasonic unit (76) has a first sub-unit (72) and a second sub-unit (74), wherein the first sub-unit (72) is arranged in or interacts with the first sub-line (68), and the second sub-unit (74) is arranged in or interacts with the second sub-line (70). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one additive supply line (481, 482) between the outlet (20) and the ultrasonic unit (76) and in particular between the outlet (20) and the conveying device (56) opens into the conveying line (34). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the reaction vessel (14) has at least one additive inlet (16, 18) and the at least one additive supply line (481, 482) is connected to the additive inlet (16, 18). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stirrer (90) is arranged in the reaction vessel (14). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device (56) is a gear pump (57). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (101, 102, 103) has a temperature control device (62) with which the temperature of the medium (12) can be adjusted. Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (101, 102, 103) has a medium supply line (22) with which the medium (12) can be supplied to the reaction vessel (14) and / or to the conveying line (34). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (101, 102, 103) has a medium discharge line (38) with which the medium (12) can be discharged from the reaction vessel (14) and / or from the conveying line (34). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (101, 102, 103) comprises a weighing device (82) for determining the mass of the medium (12) located in the reaction vessel (14). Device (101, 102, 103) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (101, 102, 103) is arranged on a mobile transport platform (92). Device (101, 102, 103) according to claim 12, characterized in that the device (101, 102, 103) comprises: an additive supply line coupling (941, 942) arranged on the transport platform (92) for connecting an additive storage container (501, 502) to the additive supply line (481, 482); and / or a medium supply line coupling (96) arranged on the transport platform (92) for connecting a first medium storage container (24) to the medium supply line (22); and / or a medium discharge line coupling (98) arranged on the transport platform (92) for connecting a further processing device (42) and / or a second medium storage container (44) to the medium discharge line (38). Method for processing a flowable medium (12), in particular lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil, with a device (101, 102, 103) according to any one of claims 7 to 13, comprising the following steps: - operating the conveying device (56) at a volume flow rate (V·) for the medium (12) such that a residence time (T) for the medium (12) in the ultrasonic unit (76) results, - operating the ultrasonic unit (76) such that the ultrasonic waves provided by it have a sound power (P), - operating the temperature control device (62) such that the medium (12) has a kinematic viscosity (ν), wherein - an energy quotient (EQ) in the range of 25 to 70 W sec2mm-2, in particular between 30 and 60 W sec2mm-2. Method for processing a flowable medium (12), in particular lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil, with a device (101, 102, 103) according to any one of claims 7 to 13, comprising the following steps: - operating the conveying device (56) at a volume flow rate (V·) for the medium (12) such that a residence time (T) for the medium (12) in the ultrasonic unit (76) results, - operating the ultrasonic unit (76) such that the ultrasonic waves provided by it have a sound power (P) and a frequency (f), - operating the temperature control device (62) such that the medium (12) has a kinematic viscosity (ν), wherein - a frequency-energy quotient (EQf) is in the range of 150 to 350 mm sec-3W-1, in particular between 200 and 300 mm sec-3W-1. Use of a device (101, 102, 103) according to one of claims 1 to 13 for processing a flowable medium (12), in particular lubricating oil based on mineral oil or synthetic oil.

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