Suction and stirring amplifier for liquid-liquid distribution device
The mechanism amplifies suction and mixing in liquid-liquid partitioning systems by using agitator blades and structural guides, addressing the challenge of fine droplet formation and improving phase separation efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024082508
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing liquid-liquid partitioning systems face a dilemma where weak agitation results in weak suction force, while strong agitation creates fine droplets that are difficult to separate, leading to poor phase separation and entrainment.
A mechanism that amplifies suction and mixing effects without increasing mechanical stirring force, using a structure with agitator blades inside or outside a cylindrical container, and additional features like cylindrical protrusions and flange-like edges to guide liquid phases, stabilizing transfer and preventing fine droplet formation.
Achieves stable liquid transfer and improved mixing efficiency without generating fine droplets, enhancing phase separation and reducing entrainment, allowing for efficient distribution equilibrium at reduced agitation speeds.
Smart Images
Figure 2025176390000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a device used in the liquid-liquid distributor filed on the same day, and relates to a suction / agitation amplifier for amplifying the effect of suctioning a light liquid phase or a heavy liquid phase, or both, into the liquid-liquid distributor and the effect of mixing both phases.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for amplifying the effect of sucking in a light liquid phase, a heavy liquid phase, or both, and the effect of mixing the two phases, by using a mechanism having a structure in which stirring blades are installed inside a cylindrical structure, or on the outside of the cylindrical structure near the upper or lower end, or both. In other words, a liquid-liquid distribution device is a device (liquid-liquid extraction tower) that performs forward extraction, washing, stripping, or a combination of these functions based on the partition reaction of substances contained in a liquid-liquid system having two immiscible liquid phases (a light liquid phase and a heavy liquid phase). [Background technology]
[0003] Liquid-liquid systems consisting of two immiscible liquid phases are widely used in fields such as chemistry. For example, liquid-liquid partitioning (also known as liquid-liquid extraction or solvent extraction), which utilizes the difference in the partitioning of substances between two liquid phases to separate, purify, recover, or remove substances, is a method for separating and refining metals and organic compounds, supporting key industries such as the metallurgical and chemical industries, and is extremely important as a separation and recovery technology for rare metals, which are essential in the high-tech industry. Liquid-liquid partitioning is also an important technology in the bioindustry. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] To promote the liquid-liquid partitioning reaction, it is preferable to bring the two liquid phases into a fine emulsion state. Mechanical agitation using the rotation of an agitator blade is commonly used to achieve this. The suction force exerted by the agitator blade rotation on the light liquid phase, the heavy liquid phase, or both can also be used to transport each liquid phase, stabilizing the transport. However, while weak agitation weakens the suction force, increasing the agitation force creates a dilemma: the strong shear force exerted by the blades creates fine droplets, resulting in an emulsion that is difficult to separate.
[0005] The present invention provides a mechanism for amplifying the effect of sucking in the light liquid phase, the heavy liquid phase, or both, and the effect of mixing the two phases, without increasing the mechanical stirring force due to the rotation of the stirring blades, i.e., without generating fine droplets due to the strong shear force of the blades. Note that the generation of the fine droplets worsens phase separation and causes entrainment (droplet entrainment). [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] When mechanical stirring based on the rotation of an impeller is used as a method for mixing two liquid phases, a dilemma exists: if the stirring force is weak, the suction force is also weak, but if the stirring force is strong, the impeller exerts a strong shear force, generating fine droplets and resulting in an emulsion state that is difficult to separate into phases. The present invention solves this dilemma by providing a mechanism that can obtain a suction force sufficient to stabilize the liquid transfer even with weak stirring force, and can obtain an emulsion state sufficient to reach distribution equilibrium.
[0007] More specifically, the suction / agitation amplifier for a liquid-liquid distributor according to the present invention is typically installed in a liquid-liquid distributor in which a reaction section in which a distribution reaction of substances proceeds through phase mixing based on the rotation of the agitator blades of a light liquid phase and a heavy liquid phase installed in a container coexists with a buffer section in which the phase-separated light liquid phase and heavy liquid phase are located above and below the container via the reaction section, and is a suction / agitation amplifier that amplifies the effect of sucking in the light liquid phase or the heavy liquid phase, or both, and the effect of mixing the two phases, and is equipped with a tube containing a single or multiple agitator blades, a tube in which a single or multiple agitator blades are arranged outside the tube directly above or below the tube, or both, or a tube in which a single or multiple agitator blades are inside and also single or multiple agitator blades are arranged outside the tube. [Effects of the Invention]
[0008] The effects of the present invention are 1) amplification of the suction force on the light liquid phase, the heavy liquid phase, or both, caused by the rotation of the impeller, and 2) amplification of the mixing efficiency of both phases. Specifically, when the suction / mixing amplifier of the present invention is installed in a liquid-liquid distributor, the suction force on the light liquid phase, the heavy liquid phase, or both is amplified, stabilizing the flow of both phases. Furthermore, a fine two-phase mixture can be achieved without increasing the rotation speed of the impeller. In other words, the efficiency of mixing both phases is improved. Furthermore, if the rotation speed of the impeller is not too high, the shear force acting there is not too strong, preventing the generation of fine droplets and obtaining a highly dense droplet cluster, thereby improving phase separation between the light and heavy liquid phases and suppressing entrainment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0009] [Figure 1(a)] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a multi-stage liquid-liquid distribution device to which the suction / mixing amplifier of the present invention is applied. [Figure 1(b)] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the application of the suction / mixing amplifier of the present invention to a single-stage liquid-liquid distribution device. [Figure 2(a)] Top view showing the relationship between the suction / stirring amplifier cylinder and the Ω-shaped partition plate. [Figure 2(b)] FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view of the Ω-shaped partition shown in FIG. 2(a). [Figure 3(a)] Top view showing the relationship between the cylinder of the suction / agitation amplifier and the rectangular Ω-shaped partition plate. [Figure 3(b)] FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view of the Ω-shaped partition shown in FIG. [Figure 4(a)] Layout diagram of the cylinder and one stirring blade. [Figure 4(b)] Layout diagram of the cylinder and two stirring blades. [Figure 5(a)] Layout diagram of a cylinder and one stirring blade installed on the outside. [Figure 5(b)] Layout diagram of the cylinder and the two stirring blades installed on its outside. [Figure 6(a)] Arrangement of stirring blades installed inside and outside the cylinder. [Figure 6(b)] Another arrangement of stirring blades installed inside and outside the cylinder. [Figure 7(a)] Arrangement of mixing blades installed in two separate cylinders. [Figure 7(b)] Another arrangement of impellers installed in two separate cylinders. [Figure 7(c)] Another arrangement of stirring blades installed in two separate cylinders. [Figure 8(a)] FIG. 1 shows an example of a cylindrical protrusion installed below the suction / agitation amplifier. [Figure 8(b)] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a cylindrical protrusion installed below the suction / agitation amplifier. [Figure 9(a)] This is a diagram showing an example of a suction / agitation amplifier equipped with a flange-like edge. [Figure 9(b)] This is a diagram showing an example in which flange-like edges are provided on both the suction / agitation amplifier and the cylindrical protrusion. [Figure 10] FIG. 1(b) is a diagram showing the formation of reaction sections and buffer sections in a multistage liquid-liquid distributor equipped with the suction / mixing amplifier shown in FIG. 1(a), and the state of these sections. [Figure 11] FIG. 1(b) shows the formation of a reaction section and a buffer section in a single-stage liquid-liquid distributor equipped with a suction / mixing amplifier, and the state of these sections. [Figure 12(a)] This is a diagram of a single-stage liquid-liquid distribution device that does not have a suction / mixing amplifier. [Figure 12(b)]Schematic diagram of a single-stage liquid-liquid distribution device equipped with a suction / mixing amplifier. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates to a mechanically stirred liquid-liquid distributor system that includes a reaction zone (where the partition reaction proceeds) where a partition reaction of a substance proceeds through the phase mixing of a light liquid phase and a heavy liquid phase, and a buffer zone (where the partition reaction does not occur and acts as a buffer between the reaction zones) where the phase-separated phases are located above and below the reaction zone, and is characterized by the presence of a cylinder 11 containing one or more impellers 12, a cylinder 11 in which one or more impellers 12 are arranged directly above or below the cylinder 11, or both, or a cylinder containing one or more impellers and also having one or more impellers arranged on the outside of the cylinder 11. Here, "directly above" refers to the range from the top of the cylinder 11 up to about twice the height of the impellers. Furthermore, "directly below" refers to the range from the bottom of the cylinder up to about twice the height of the impellers.
[0011] Figure 1(a) shows an example in which the suction / agitation amplifier 1 of the present invention is applied to a multistage liquid-liquid distributor structure with zigzag flow paths 15, 16 (flow paths formed by stacking two or more plates horizontally or at an angle from the horizontal) that are excellent for phase separation. This figure shows a suction / agitation amplifier 1 in which two agitating blades 12 are installed per stage, one of which is contained within the cylinder 11 and the other is located near the bottom end of the cylinder 11, but the present invention is not limited to this, and multistage liquid-liquid distributors to which the suction / agitation amplifier 1 of the present invention is applied are not limited to those with zigzag flow paths.
[0012] 1(b) shows an example in which the suction / agitation amplifier 1 of the present invention is applied to the structure of a single-stage liquid-liquid distributor having zigzag flow paths 15, 16. This figure shows a suction / agitation amplifier in which a single agitating blade 12 is contained in a cylinder 11, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the single-stage liquid-liquid distributor to which the suction / agitation amplifier 1 of the present invention is applied is not limited to one having a zigzag flow path.
[0013] In addition, partitions are installed around the suction / agitation amplifier shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b) to guide the light liquid phase from the adjacent stage into the column and allow it to pass through the reaction zone. An example of such a partition is an Ω (ohm)-shaped partition 10 shown in Figures 2(b) and 3(b), but this is not limited to this. The structure of these Ω-shaped partitions 10 is Ω-shaped, with the head facing left when viewed from directly above. The vertical dashed lines in Figures 1(a) and 1(b) indicate the positions where the Ω-shaped partitions 10 are fixed to the front and rear walls of the vessel. At this position, the light liquid phase can pass through the center of the vessel (the center when viewed from above) but cannot migrate beyond the head of the Ω-shaped partition located beyond. Therefore, the partitions 10 act to guide the light liquid phase from the adjacent stage into the column and allow it to pass through the reaction zone. The cylinder 11 having the stirring blades 12 either inside or near the outside or both is fitted snugly into the head of the Ω-shaped partition plate 10 .
[0014] Here, some variations in the combination of the cylinder and the stirring blade that constitute the suction / stirring amplifier of the present invention are shown in Figs. 4(a) to 7(c), but the present invention is not limited to these.
[0015] In a suction / agitation amplifier 1 equipped with two or more impellers 12, if the impeller 12 installed at the top of the vessel is one that sucks in the light liquid phase and discharges it downward, and the impeller 12 installed at the bottom of the vessel is one that sucks in the heavy liquid phase and discharges it upward, while the shaft rotates in the same direction, this will create a driving force that can simultaneously suck in both the light and heavy liquid phases into the device. For example, this can be achieved by using paddle impellers with blades that are inclined in opposite directions. Of the two impellers 12 shown in Figure 1(a), the impeller enclosed in the upper cylinder 11 is one that sucks in the light liquid phase and discharges it downward, while the impeller located near the bottom of the lower cylinder 11 is one that sucks in the heavy liquid phase and discharges it upward.
[0016] Another method for more efficiently guiding the heavy liquid phase from the adjacent stage into the tube 11 and passing through the reaction section 14 is to narrow the area where the suction force is strong by enclosing it with a cylindrical structure. Specifically, several experiments have shown that providing a cylindrical protrusion 20 below the agitator blade 12 can more efficiently guide the heavy liquid phase into the tube. Examples of cylindrical protrusion mechanisms for guiding the heavy liquid phase from the adjacent stage into the tube 11 and passing through the reaction section 14 are shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), but are not limited to these. The structure shown at the bottom of Figures 8(a) and 8(b) is a hollow cylindrical protrusion 20 installed above the zigzag flow path for the heavy liquid phase (e.g., above the top flat plate forming the zigzag flow path in Figure 1).
[0017] By combining an Ω-shaped partition plate such as that shown in Figures 2(a), 2(b), 3(a) and 3(b) with a cylindrical protrusion 20 such as that shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), it is possible to introduce both the light liquid phase and the heavy liquid phase into the cylinder and have them both pass through the reaction section.
[0018] Several experiments have shown that the suction force can be further increased by providing a flange-like edge 21 of a certain width at the upper or lower end, or both, of the cylinder combined with the impeller, as shown in Figures 4(a) to 7(c), or at the upper end of the cylindrical protrusion 20, which guides the heavy liquid phase from the adjacent stage into the cylinder 11, as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b). The role of such a flange-like edge is to concentrate suction from the vicinity of the cylinder 11 or the inside of the cylindrical protrusion 20, thereby eliminating suction from the surrounding area. Figures 9(a) and 9(b) show examples of flange-like edges 21, but this is not limiting. The diameter of the flange-like edge 21 is preferably approximately 1 to 5 times the diameter of the impeller 12, but is not limited to this. [Example]
[0019] Figure 10 shows the formation of the reaction zone 14 and buffer zone 13 and the appearance of these regions in the steady state of the multi-stage liquid-liquid distributor shown in Figure 1(a). Figure 11 shows the formation of the reaction zone 14 and buffer zone 13 and the appearance of these regions in the steady state of the single-stage liquid-liquid distributor shown in Figure 1(b). A suction force sufficient to achieve stable liquid transfer was generated without strong stirring, and a sufficient emulsion-mixed state was obtained to reach distribution equilibrium. Furthermore, because strong shear forces were not applied, a densely packed droplet group was obtained without generating fine droplets, improving phase separation between the light and heavy liquid phases and suppressing entrainment. [Example]
[0020] Using the single-stage liquid-liquid distributor shown in Figures 12(a) and 12(b), extraction experiments on various metal ions were carried out, and comparisons were made between cases where the suction / agitation amplifier 1 of the present invention was installed and cases where it was not installed. As a result of multiple types of experiments, it was found that when the suction / agitation amplifier 1 of the present invention was installed, the same extraction rate could be obtained at a stirring impeller rotation speed that was 2 / 3 to 1 / 2 of that when it was not installed. [Industrial Applicability]
[0021] By applying the suction / agitation amplifier of the present invention to multi-stage and single-stage liquid-liquid distributors in which phase mixing and phase separation occur simultaneously, it has been possible to achieve sufficient emulsion phase mixing to reach distribution equilibrium even with weak agitation force. This has resolved the dilemma that, when the agitation force is increased to obtain a finer emulsion state and stronger suction force for each liquid phase, the strong shear force from the agitator blades 12 generates fine droplets, resulting in an emulsion state that is difficult to separate into phases.
[0022] This invention significantly improves the efficiency of liquid-liquid distribution and the stability of liquid transfer, and is therefore expected to bring about innovation in a wide variety of industrial fields that utilize two-liquid phase systems, such as metallurgy, chemistry, biology, and semiconductors. [Explanation of symbols]
[0023] 1. Suction and stirring amplifier 10...Ω type screen board 11...Cylinder 12...Agitating blade 13...Buffer section 14...Reaction section 15...Zigzag flow path on the light liquid phase side 16...Zigzag flow path on the heavy liquid phase side 17...Overflow board 18...Vertical plate 19...Divider board 20...Cylindrical protrusion
Claims
1. A suction / agitation amplifier is installed in a liquid-liquid distribution device in which a reaction section in which a distribution reaction of a substance progresses by phase mixing based on the rotation of an agitator blade of a light liquid phase and a heavy liquid phase installed in a container coexists with buffer sections in which the phase-separated light liquid phase and heavy liquid phase are located above and below the container via the reaction section, and amplifies the effect of suctioning the light liquid phase or the heavy liquid phase, or both, and the effect of mixing the two phases, A suction / agitation amplifier for a liquid-liquid distributor, characterized by comprising a cylinder containing one or more agitating blades, a cylinder in which one or more agitating blades are arranged directly above or directly below the cylinder, or on the outside of the cylinder, or a cylinder in which one or more agitating blades are arranged both on the outside and inside the cylinder.
2. 2. The suction / agitation amplifier for a liquid-liquid distribution device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises both an agitator blade that sucks in the light liquid phase located in the upper part of the container and discharges it downward, and an agitator blade that sucks in the heavy liquid phase located in the lower part of the container and discharges it upward, and the agitator blades are attached to a rotating shaft that rotates in the same direction.
3. 2. The suction and stirring amplifier for a liquid-liquid distributor according to claim 1, further comprising a partition plate arranged around the periphery of the cylinder so as to guide the light liquid phase from the adjacent stage into the cylinder and pass through the reaction section.
4. 2. The suction / agitation amplifier for a liquid-liquid distributor according to claim 1, further comprising a cylindrical protrusion arranged around the periphery of the cylinder so as to guide the heavy liquid phase from the adjacent stage into the cylinder and pass it through the reaction section.
5. 4. The suction / agitation amplifier for a liquid-liquid distributor according to claim 3, further comprising a cylindrical protrusion arranged around the periphery of the cylinder so as to guide the heavy liquid phase from the adjacent stage into the cylinder and pass it through the reaction section.
6. A suction and stirring amplifier for a liquid-liquid distributor, characterized in that the cylinder of claim 1 or the cylindrical protrusion of claim 4, or both, have flange-like edges at their upper end, lower end, or both ends.