Dynamic Mixer Segmented Inlets Reduce Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dynamic mixers used for multi-component materials often result in excessive waste due to inefficient mixing, leading to high costs, especially in applications like dentistry where materials are used sparingly, and existing designs fail to balance mixing efficiency with low waste volume, pressure loss, and energy consumption effectively.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic mixer design featuring multiple inlets and an outlet, with a mixing element driven by a shaft, incorporating rotor blades and stator blades to ensure uniform flow and reduced pressure loss, and a housing that optimizes the inlet and outlet areas to minimize waste and enhance mixing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional dynamic mixer designs are used, then mixing function is provided, but excessive waste volume occurs due to inefficient mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet is divided into multiple separate inlet openings (first inlet opening, second inlet opening, etc.) that are spatially distributed around the rotor body. This segmentation allows multiple material streams to be introduced at different locations, improving mixing efficiency and reducing waste volume by utilizing the entire mixer chamber more effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet openings are arranged in a radial distribution pattern around the rotor body, utilizing the radial dimension of the mixer chamber. This three-dimensional arrangement of multiple inlet openings maximizes the use of available mixing space and reduces residual material volume compared to conventional single or linear inlet designs.
2Stress or pressure
If conventional dynamic mixer designs are used, then mixing function is provided, but high pressure loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented inlet structure with multiple distributed openings reduces flow resistance by providing multiple parallel flow paths into the mixing chamber, thereby reducing pressure loss while maintaining effective mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet openings are strategically positioned at specific locations around the rotor body where they optimally interact with the flowing material, creating efficient flow patterns that minimize pressure losses while maintaining mixing effectiveness.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional dynamic mixer designs are used, then mixing function is provided, but high energy consumption occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-opening inlet structure improves mixing efficiency by creating more effective flow patterns and reducing the volume of material that requires re-circulation, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the drive shaft while maintaining or improving mixing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameters of the inlet openings (size, position, orientation) are optimized to create efficient flow patterns that reduce turbulence and energy losses, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining mixing effectiveness.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional dynamic mixer designs are used, then mixing function is provided, but complex manufacturing processes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple inlet openings are integrated directly into the housing structure as a single molded component, combining what would traditionally be separate inlet assemblies into one unified structure. This merging simplifies manufacturing while maintaining the complex multi-opening configuration needed for efficient mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains the mixing chamber, provides the inlet openings for material introduction, and supports the rotor body. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall manufacturing process while maintaining mixing effectiveness.
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 design achieves up to 20% improvement in mixing efficiency, reduces waste volume, and simplifies manufacturing processes, allowing for better mixing results and reduced residual material in the mixer.
Implementation Method 1
the dynamic mixers are structured to repeatedly divide and recombine part flows of the multi-component material to thoroughly mix the multi-component material
Implementation Method 2
the mixing element of the dynamic mixer is configured to be coupled to a drive shaft to drive the mixing element about a longitudinal axis of the mixing element
Implementation Method 3
By forming the end of the passage of the inlet such that it has a greater area than a space between directly adjacent rotor blades of the first row of rotor blades enables a slice of a flow of material introduced into the dynamic mixer to essentially have a uniform shape and size between directly adjacent rotor blades
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A dynamic mixer having two or more inlets arranged at an inlet side of the dynamic mixer and an outlet arranged at an outlet side of the dynamic mixer, wherein the mixing element of the dynamic mixer is configured to be coupled to a drive shaft to drive the mixing element about a longitudinal axis of the mixing element. The invention further relates to a dispensing assembly comprising a dispenser, a cartridge, optionally filed with a multi-component material, received in the dispenser and a dynamic mixer and to a method of dispensing multi- component material from a cartridge using a dynamic mixer.