Mixing body for mixing a first and a second medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixing body for mixing a first and at least one second medium to form a media mixture for a multi-component nozzle (200). The mixing body has a first supply channel (110) for a first medium and a second supply channel (120) for a second medium. The first and the second supply channels are connected to the inlet region (132) of a mixing chamber (130) of the mixing body and are used to supply the first and the second medium into the interior of the mixing chamber (130). The mixing chamber (130) is used to mix the first and the second medium to form a media mixture. In order to optimize the mixing body and in particular the mixing chamber (130) thereof in terms of flow and mixture, according to the invention, the mixing chamber (130) is designed as a drop-shaped hollow flow body having a widened and a tapered end, wherein the widened end of the drop-shaped hollow flow body forms the inlet region (132) and the tapered end forms the outlet region (134) of the hollow flow body for the media mixture. The invention further relates to a multi-component nozzle having the mixing body in the form of an exchangeable cartridge and to a method for operating the mixing body and / or the multicomponent nozzle.

Description

[0001] Mixing device for mixing a first and a second medium

[0002] The invention relates to a mixing element for mixing a first and at least one second medium to form a mixture for a multi-component nozzle. Furthermore, the invention relates to the multi-component nozzle for applying the mixture to a body to be cooled, for example, a metal body. Such mixing nozzles are used in particular in continuous casting plants for casting metal strands, and especially for secondary cooling within the strand guide. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a mixing element and such a multi-component nozzle.

[0003] Such mixing bodies and multi-component nozzles are known in the prior art, for example from international patent applications WO 2018 / 224304 A1 and WO 2020 / 089174 A1. The latter patent application discloses a multi-component nozzle for spraying a mixture of media consisting of a first and a second medium onto a metallic body to be cooled, as well as a mixing body according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of improving a known mixing body, a multi-component nozzle, and a method for their operation in terms of flow technology and mixing technology.

[0005] For mixing bodies of the type mentioned above, the problem is solved by the subject matter of claim 1. Accordingly, the mixing body according to the invention is characterized in that the mixing chamber is designed as a teardrop-shaped flow chamber with a widened and a tapered end, and that the widened end of the teardrop-shaped flow chamber forms the inlet region and the tapered end the outlet region of the flow chamber for the media mixture. The claimed teardrop shape, with its bulbous widened end, initially allows the introduced media to experience some pressure relief and to mix thoroughly.Due to the pressure exerted on the introduced media, the resulting mixture is forced from the bulbous inlet area into the increasingly narrow outlet area, where the media continue to mix and are simultaneously forced towards the outlet at increasing speed. The characteristic droplet shape of the flow chamber thus promotes the mixing of the two media. Specifically, the droplet shape of the flow chamber also improves the performance of the mixing element, as the consumption of at least one of the two media, such as air, can be reduced by up to 30% without significantly reducing the cooling capacity of the mixing element and, in particular, of a multi-fluid nozzle into which the mixing element is / will be installed.

[0006] The aforementioned problem of the invention is further solved by a multi-component nozzle according to claim 10 and a method according to claim 13, wherein the claimed mixing element is interchangeably inserted into a receiving chamber of a base body of the multi-component nozzle. The advantages of this multi-component nozzle and the method correspond to the advantages previously mentioned with regard to the mixing element.

[0007] Four figures are attached to the invention, wherein

[0008] Figure 1 shows the mixing body according to the invention in an external view;

[0009] Figure 2 shows the mixing body according to the invention in a longitudinal section view;

[0010] Figure 3 shows the multi-component nozzle according to the invention with the mixing body inserted; and Figure 4 shows the base body of the multi-component nozzle in a kind of exploded view with the mixing body.

[0011] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures mentioned, in the form of exemplary embodiments. In all figures, identical technical elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0012] Figure 1 shows the mixing body 100 according to the invention, which is cylindrical in shape, with a round cross-section shown here as an example. Any other cross-section, for example rectangular or oval, is also possible. The opening of a first feed channel 110 for introducing a first medium and the opening of a second feed channel 120 for introducing a second medium into the mixing body are visible.

[0013] The cylindrical mixing body 100 functions as an interchangeable body or cartridge for installation in and removal from a base body 210 of a multi-component nozzle 200; see Figure 3. On the outer circumference of the mixing body and on its end face, annular grooves 150-1 and 150-2 are formed for receiving seals to seal the mixing body against the inside of a receiving chamber 212 within the base body 210, into which the mixing body 100 can be inserted.

[0014] Figure 2 shows the mixing body in a longitudinal section. The first feed channel 110 for the first medium and the second feed channel 120 for the second medium are visible. Both feed channels open at individual angles a1, a2 into a mixing chamber 130, which, according to the present invention, is designed as a teardrop-shaped flow body. Specifically, the two feed channels 110, 120 open into a bulbous, widened end of the teardrop-shaped flow body, which represents its inlet region.

[0015] An adjustable orifice plate 112, 122 can be installed in each of the first and / or second feed channels 110, 120 for variably adjusting the flow rate of either the first or the second medium. The orifices 112, 122 are preferably adjustable and are located at the outlet end of the feed channels. The orifices are preferably interchangeable. By variably adjusting the flow rate of the respective medium, the cooling capacity of the mixing element 100 or the multi-component nozzle 200, into which the mixing element is inserted, can be variably adjusted. This is a significant advantage over traditional mixing elements, which were each designed for only a specific flow rate and thus only for a specific cooling capacity.

[0016] As can be seen in Figure 2, flow guide elements 135 can be formed on the inner wall and / or inside the flow body 130, particularly in the outlet region 134. These can be, for example, spiral-shaped protrusions and / or depressions. The flow guide elements 135 serve, firstly, to direct the media mixture, which had previously formed at least partially in the bulbous, widened end 132 of the flow body 130, to the outlet 136 of the flow body 130 and thus—equally—to the outlet of the mixing body 100. Furthermore, the aforementioned spiral shape of the flow guide elements 135 serves, in particular, to prevent the previously formed media mixture from separating on its way to the outlet 136 of the flow body and thus also of the mixing body.

[0017] The entire mixing body 100, including in particular the at least two feed channels 110, 120 and the mixing chamber 130, is preferably manufactured in one piece using additive manufacturing. This makes the production of the mixing chamber, in particular the claimed teardrop-shaped flow body, possible at reasonable costs. Alternatively, instead of additively manufacturing the entire mixing body, only individual parts of it can be additively manufactured. These include, for example, the aforementioned orifices or other (separate) components, which could be installed in individually provided receiving spaces in the base body of the multi-component nozzles described later. In this way, orifices of different designs can be additively manufactured and, in combination with the claimed teardrop-shaped flow body, inserted into or replaced within its feed channels.

[0018] The first feed channel 110, which serves to supply the first medium into the bulbous inlet region 132 of the teardrop-shaped flow body 130, is connected to the teardrop-shaped flow body 130 at an individual first angle α1 of 0° < α1 < 90°, preferably 10° < α1 < 80°, and more preferably 40° < α1 < 50°. The same applies to the second feed channel 130. This feed channel is also connected to the teardrop-shaped flow body 130 at an individual second angle α2 of 0° < α2 < 90°, preferably 10° < α2 < 80°, or more preferably 40° < α2 < 50°. Accordingly, the first medium is introduced into the droplet-shaped flow chamber 130 at an angle α1 and the second medium at an angle α2 according to the inventive method, in order to be mixed therein. The angles α1 and α2 can be the same or different, but neither zero nor 90°.The aforementioned angular ranges advantageously ensure that the first and second media to be mixed are already imparted with a flow direction towards the outlet 136 of the mixing chamber 130 in the feed channels, i.e., a flow direction with a component in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the teardrop-shaped flow body 130. Preferably, the first feed channel and the second feed channel are thus positioned at an angle β = a1 + a2 relative to each other. Feeding the two media at the oblique angles a1, a2 within the aforementioned angular ranges promotes the mixing of the two media in the flow body 130.

[0019] Figure 3 shows the multi-component nozzle 200 according to the invention, in particular a two-component nozzle for spraying the media mixture onto a body, for example, a cooling media mixture onto a metal body to be cooled. The multi-component nozzle consists of a base body 210 for attaching the multi-component nozzle 200 to an object or surface. The base body 210 has a receiving chamber 212 for preferably precisely fitting the mixing element 100, as described above. In addition to the receiving chamber 212, the base body 210 internally has a first and at least one second supply line 221, 222, which can be fluidly connected to the first and second supply channels 110, 120 of the mixing element 100 when the mixing element 100 is inserted into the receiving chamber 212. Then the first supply line 221 serves to supply the first medium to the first supply channel 110 and the second supply line 222 serves to direct the second medium to the second supply channel 120.The nutrient nozzle 200 further comprises a nozzle tube 230 with a nozzle tip 232 at its free end. A flange 240 with a through-bore 242 serves as a positive-locking connecting element between the base body 210 and the nozzle tube 230. The nozzle tube 230 can have its own flange 234 at its end opposite the nozzle tip 232 and can be screwed onto the flange 240 by means of a union nut 236 – preferably with a gasket interposed. The flange 240 is connected to the base body 210 – preferably detachably by means of screws – such that its through-bore 242 is fluidly connected on the one hand to the outlet 136 of the mixing body 100 and on the other hand to the nozzle tube 230. The media mixture formed in the droplet-shaped flow cavity 130 can thus pass through the through-bore 242 and the nozzle tube 230 to the mouthpiece 232 and be sprayed from there.As can be seen in Figure 3, the flange 240 is connected to the mixing body by means of screws 244 in such a way that not only is the fluid-conducting connection established, but the receiving chamber 212 for the mixing body 100 is also releasably closed. In this way, the mixing body 100 is held or fixed in the receiving chamber when it is inserted there. The mixing body 100, and in particular its first feed channel 110, its second feed channel 120, and its outlet 136, are each sealed against the base body 210 and the flange 240 by means of seals, preferably by means of ring seals 160. According to a separate embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the longitudinal axis L of the cylindrical mixing body 100, the longitudinal axis of the through-bore 242, and the longitudinal axis of the nozzle tube 230 lie on a straight line and are therefore aligned with each other.

[0020] Due to the variable closure of the receiving chamber 212, the mixing element 100, which can also be referred to as a cartridge or interchangeable element, can be installed, removed, or replaced as needed. The interchangeable element contains all the necessary components that, together with the nozzle tube 230 and the nozzle tip 232, ultimately form a multi-component nozzle 200 of the desired configuration. As mentioned, the mixing element 100 itself is already variably adjustable for a wide cooling capacity range due to its variable orifices. The mixing element can thus replicate all previously known nozzle sizes by adjusting the orifices accordingly. Furthermore, the range of replicable mixing nozzles 200 can be significantly expanded by the interchangeability of the mixing element as a cartridge or interchangeable element.Differently shaped mixing elements 100 with differently shaped flow hollow bodies can thus influence the properties of the multi-component nozzle when a desired mixing element 100 is inserted into the base body 210 of the mixing nozzle 200. By using the system of interchangeable mixing elements (cartridge system), the required material costs for a multi-component nozzle can be reduced to a minimum, since the base body 210 can be used for very different mixing elements or cartridges in different systems, especially continuous casting plants. The number of different individual components of the multi-component nozzle is minimized by their production using the aforementioned additive manufacturing process. The mixing element 100 and its individual parts can also be additively manufactured from different materials if required. For example,Particularly wear-prone components are manufactured from especially wear-resistant materials, such as ceramic materials. Conversely, less wear-prone components can be manufactured from less expensive, less wear-resistant materials.

[0021] Figure 4 shows the multi-component nozzle 200 from Figure 3 in an exploded view. Specifically, the base body 210 with the empty receiving chamber 212 is visible, and to the right of it, the mixing element 100. The mixing element 100 is shown as a separate component that can be inserted into and removed from the receiving chamber 212. Further to the right in the exploded view, the flange 240 and the nozzle tube 230 with the nozzle tip 232 connected to it are visible.

[0022] Reference symbol list

[0023] 100 mixing bodies

[0024] 110 first feed channel

[0025] 112 adjustable aperture in the first feed channel

[0026] 120 second feed channel

[0027] 122 adjustable aperture in the second feed channel

[0028] 130 Mixing chamber, teardrop-shaped flow cavity

[0029] 132 Inlet area of ​​the mixing chamber

[0030] 134 Outlet area of ​​the mixing chamber

[0031] 135 flow guides

[0032] 136 Outlet

[0033] 200 multi-fuel nozzle

[0034] 210 Basic body

[0035] 212 Receiving space for mixing bodies

[0036] 221 first supply line

[0037] 222 second supply line

[0038] 230 nozzle tube

[0039] 232 Mouthpiece

[0040] 234 Flange on nozzle pipe

[0041] 236 Union nut

[0042] 240 flange

[0043] 242 Through hole

[0044] L Longitudinal axis of the teardrop-shaped flow cavity a1 , a2 angle

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Mixing body (100) for mixing a first and at least one second medium to form a mixture of media for a multi-component nozzle (200), comprising: - a first feed channel (110) for the first medium; - at least one second feed channel (120) for the second medium; and - a mixing chamber (130) with an inlet region and an outlet region for mixing the first and second media to form a media mixture, wherein the first and second feed channels are connected to the mixing chamber (130) at the inlet region (132) for supplying the first and second media into the interior of the mixing chamber, and wherein the mixing chamber has an outlet (136) for the media mixture at its outlet region (134), which also forms the outlet for the mixing body; characterized in that the mixing chamber (130) is designed as a teardrop-shaped flow body with a widened and a tapered end; and that the widened end of the teardrop-shaped flow body (130) forms the inlet region (132) and the tapered end the outlet region (134) of the flow body (130) for the media mixture.

2. Mixing body (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the first and / or the second feed channel (110, 120) , preferably at its outlet-side end, has an adjustable aperture (112, 122) for variably adjusting the volume flow of each of the media passed through.

3. Mixing body (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the aperture (112, 122) is interchangeable.

4. Mixing body (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that flow guide bodies (135), e.g. in the form of spiral protrusions and / or depressions, are formed on the inside of the wall and / or inside the flow hollow body (130), in particular in the outlet area (134), to guide the media mixture to the outlet (136) of the flow hollow body (130) and the mixing body (100).

5. Mixing body (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire mixing body (100) with in particular the at least two feed channels (110, 120) and the mixing chamber (130) is formed in one piece and additively manufactured.

6. Mixing body (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first feed channel (110) is preferably connected to the teardrop-shaped flow hollow body (130) at an angle of 10° < a1 < 80°, further preferably at an angle of 40° < a1 < 50°; and that the second feed channel (130) is preferably connected to the teardrop-shaped flow hollow body (130) at an angle of 10° < a2 < 80°, further preferably at an angle of 40° < a2 < 50°.

7. Mixing body (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, that angles a1 and a2 are equal or not equal.

8. Mixing body (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing body (100) is designed as an interchangeable body for installation in and removal from a base body (210) of the multi-component nozzle (200).

9. Mixing body (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing body (100) has a cylindrical outer contour with an arbitrary, for example round, rectangular or oval cross-section.

10. Multi-component nozzle (200), in particular a two-component nozzle for spraying a mixture of media onto a body, for example a mixture of cooling media onto a metal body to be cooled, comprising: a base body (210) with a receiving chamber (212) for preferably precisely fitting the mixing body (100) according to one of the preceding claims; wherein the base body (210) has a first and at least one second supply line (221, 222) which can be fluidly connected to the first and second supply channels (110, 120) of the mixing body (100) for supplying the first and second medium from an external source to the first and second supply channels of the mixing body when the mixing body (100) is inserted into the receiving chamber (212);a nozzle tube (230) with a mouthpiece (232) at its free end, a flange (240) with a through-bore (242) as a positive-locking connecting element between the base body (210) and the nozzle tube (230), in particular the end of the nozzle tube opposite the mouthpiece (232), wherein the flange (240) is connected to the base body (210) in such a manner; is that its through-bore (242) is connected on the one hand to the outlet (136) of the mixing body (100) and on the other hand to the nozzle tube (230) in a fluid-conducting manner, and wherein the flange (240) detachably closes the receiving space (212) for the mixing body.

11. Multi-component nozzle (200) according to claim 10, characterized in that the mixing body (100) is inserted into the receiving chamber (212).

12. Multi-component nozzle (200) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the longitudinal axis (L) of the cylindrical mixing body (100), the longitudinal axis of the through-bore and the longitudinal axis of the nozzle tube form a straight line.

13. Method for operating a mixing body (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9 and / or a multi-component nozzle (200) according to one of claims 10 to 12 with the mixing body used, comprising the following steps: - Feeding a first and a second medium under pressure into a mixing chamber (130), where they are mixed to form a medium mixture, and - Guiding the media mixture from the mixing chamber (130) through a nozzle tube (230) to a mouthpiece (232) in order to be sprayed from there onto an object to be cooled, for example; characterized in that the first medium is introduced into the droplet-shaped flow body at an individual first angle a1 with 0° < a1 < 90° to the longitudinal axis L; and that the further medium is introduced into the teardrop-shaped flow cavity at an individual second angle a2 with 0° < a2 < 90° to the longitudinal axis L of the teardrop-shaped flow cavity.

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