Continuous Stirrer with Arc-Shaped Pins for Mixing Efficiency

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing continuous stirrers face limitations in increasing stirring efficiency due to the finite strength of stirring pins, which restricts the number of pins and thus the stirred area, hindering further improvement in mixing effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

The stirrer features a cavity with axially staggered arc-shaped or curve-shaped outer and inner stirring pin groups, allowing for a larger pin area and reduced force application, enabling more pins within the same volume and enhancing mixing efficiency by aligning force directions for improved substance and gas mixture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of stirring pins is increased to expand the stirred area, then the stirring effect is improved, but the strength limitation of individual pins restricts further increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestirring effectVSAvoidstrength of stirring pins
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by changing the stirring pin shape from straight cylinder to arc-shaped or curve-shaped. This curvature increases the surface area of each pin without increasing its linear dimensions, allowing more pins to be installed within the same volume while maintaining individual pin strength. The curved surface provides better fluid contact and stirring effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces axial staggering between inner and outer stirring pin groups, adding a dimensional arrangement that maximizes the utilization of available space. This multi-layered axial distribution allows pins to be positioned in three-dimensional space efficiently, increasing the total number of pins without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If the size of stirring pins is reduced to accommodate more pins, then the number of pins increases, but the stirring effectiveness of each pin decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of stirring pinsVSAvoidstirring efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The arc-shaped or curve-shaped design increases the effective surface area of each pin, compensating for the reduced size. The curved geometry provides greater contact area with the fluid being stirred, maintaining stirring efficiency even as individual pin dimensions are reduced to allow more pins to be installed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the stirring pins from straight cylindrical form to curved forms. This parameter change in shape rather than size allows each pin to maintain adequate stirring capability while reducing the overall volume occupied by each pin, enabling higher pin density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If more stirring pins are installed to increase the stirred area, then the mixing effectiveness improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestirred areaVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a nested structure with inner and outer stirring pin groups arranged axially. The inner pins are positioned within the cavity formed by outer pins, creating a compact nested arrangement that maximizes stirred area while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured as an integrated unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2668999B1High-efficient continuous stirrer
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 LI ZERONG
  • EP2668999B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2668999B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2668999B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed in the present invention is a continuous stirrer, which comprises a receiving chamber (4) provided with a front material inlet (1), a back material inlet (2) and multilayer outer stirring needle groups (3) along axial direction and a stirring shaft (6) installed in the receiving chamber (4) in a sealing manner and provided with multiple inner stirring needle groups (5) along axial direction. The outer stirring needle groups (3) and the inner stirring needle groups (5) are staggered along axial direction, wherein inner stirring needles (5a) constituting the inner stirring needle groups (5) and outer stirring needles (3a) constituting the outer stirring needle groups (3) are arc or curve.