Centrifugal Blower Internal Gas Mixing for Chemical Reactors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional centrifugal blowers used in chemical reactors often require external mixing devices to achieve uniform gas mixing, which increases structural complexity and can cause back pressure, limiting the efficiency of gas flow in reaction zones.

Innovation Solution

A centrifugal blower system with an internal gas flow inlet that allows for the uniform mixing of separate gas streams within the blower, eliminating the need for external mixing devices and reducing back pressure by ensuring thorough mixing before the gases are introduced into the reaction zone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If external mixing devices are used to achieve uniform gas mixing, then mixing uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases and back pressure rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas mixing uniformityVSAvoidmixing device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mixing function with the centrifugal blower by incorporating a secondary gas inlet directly into the blower housing. This allows the blower to perform both gas transport and mixing functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate external mixing devices and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective gas mixing uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The centrifugal blower is designed to perform multiple functions: it not only transports the primary gas stream but also introduces and mixes a secondary gas stream through an integrated secondary inlet. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated mixing devices, reducing device complexity while achieving uniform gas mixing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If external mixing devices are used to achieve uniform gas mixing, then mixing uniformity is improved, but back pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas mixing uniformityVSAvoidback pressure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the mixing function with the blower's gas transport function through an integrated secondary inlet, the system eliminates additional pressure drops that would occur across separate mixing devices. The mixing occurs within the blower's existing flow path, avoiding extra back pressure while still achieving uniform gas mixing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary gas is introduced and mixed with the primary gas stream before the gases enter the reaction zone. This preliminary mixing action within the blower ensures uniform composition is achieved upstream, preventing the need for additional mixing stages downstream that would increase back pressure across the reaction system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If turbulent mixing is relied upon for gas mixing, then device complexity is reduced, but mixing uniformity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing device structureVSAvoidgas mixing uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The centrifugal blower's impeller and housing act as an intermediary mixing mechanism between the primary and secondary gas streams. The rotating impeller creates controlled turbulence and flow patterns that enhance mixing uniformity beyond simple turbulent mixing, while the integrated design avoids the complexity of dedicated mixing devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves a more uniform mixture of gases without external mixing devices, simplifying the blower's connection structure and reducing back pressure, thereby enhancing gas flow efficiency in chemical reactors.

Implementation Method 1

A centrifugal blower includes a housing having an axially directed gas inlet and a radially directed gas outlet, an impeller disposed within the housing for drawing gas at a first pressure into the inlet and expelling gas at a second higher pressure through the outlet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

an impeller disposed within the housing for drawing gas at a first pressure into the inlet and expelling gas at a second higher pressure through the outlet and a motor for driving, i.e., spinning, the impeller

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpeller rotation: Impeller

Data Source

PatentEP3271586B1Centrifugal blower system with internal gas mixing and gas phase chemical reactor incorporating same
Publication Date: 2023.05.03 WATT FUEL CELL CORP
  • EP3271586B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3271586B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3271586B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A centrifugal blower system has internal gas mixing capability.