Rotatable Piston Jet Disperser for Fine Fluid Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing jet dispersers face challenges in producing finely dispersed emulsions and suspensions with varying mass flows while minimizing energy consumption, as they struggle to adjust the nozzle openings effectively and maintain structural integrity under high pressure.
Innovation Solution
A jet disperser design featuring a rotatable piston with adjustable gap openings, enabled by spacers, allows for variable gap height and outlet cross-section control, enabling efficient mixing and dispersion even with fluctuating flow rates and pressures, with the option for motorized or manual adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of nozzle openings is increased to handle larger mass flows, then the dispersing capacity is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a rotatable piston that can dynamically adjust the number of openings in the process chamber wall through which fluid passes. By rotating the piston to different angular positions, the effective number of openings varies, allowing the dispersing capacity to be adapted to different mass flow requirements without permanently increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The piston divides the process chamber into multiple segments or zones, with openings distributed around its circumference. This segmentation allows selective activation of different opening groups by rotating the piston, enabling scalable dispersing capacity from a single integrated component
2Use of energy by moving object
If the bore diameter is reduced to achieve finer dispersion, then the energy consumption decreases, but the structural integrity and resistance to high pressure loads deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from varying bore diameter (one-dimensional change) to varying the number of openings (zero-dimensional change in cross-section, but one-dimensional change in count). This allows achieving finer dispersion through multiple small openings rather than a single large opening, maintaining structural integrity while reducing energy consumption
3Adaptability or versatility
If the piston is used to close nozzle openings, then the adaptability to varied mass flows is improved, but the forces acting on the piston increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using the piston to actively close openings against high pressure (which would require the piston to withstand full pressure forces), the system is designed so that the piston rotates to align openings with the flow path. The pressure forces then act to keep openings open, and the piston only needs to overcome minimal friction to maintain position, dramatically reducing the forces on the piston
4Strength
If the process chamber wall thickness is increased to withstand high pressure, then the structural integrity is improved, but the minimum achievable bore cross-section is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a rotatable piston with openings that can provide effective passage cross-sections smaller than what would be feasible through the thick process chamber wall. The piston acts as a flexible flow control element that can create narrow passages without requiring the main chamber wall to be thin, thus maintaining structural integrity while achieving fine dispersion
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
This design achieves high shear forces and fine dispersion with reduced energy expenditure, allowing for adaptation to different process parameters and maintaining structural integrity under high pressures, thus effectively handling varied mass flows and pressures.
Implementation Method 1
liquid mixtures can be subjected to high shear stresses in order to produce, for example, finely dispersed emulsions or suspensions
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
A jet disperser for the fine mixing or dispersing of fluid media has a housing (7, 9, 10), in which a process chamber (1) is disposed for mixing the fluid media. At least two gaps (2a, 2b) extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the process chamber, the gaps also being connected to at least one further feed/discharge channel (3a, 3b) for a fluid medium, end substantially radially in the process chamber via a gap opening. A piston (5) is introduced in the process chamber, wherein the piston can be rotated about a rotational axis (6) and carries an arrangement of openings connected to the process chamber (1) at the height of the gap openings such that the gap openings (2a, 2b) are closed by the piston depending on the angular position of the piston (5) to a higher or lesser degree. In this manner, it is possible to effortless continuously vary the inflow cross-section of the gap (2a, 2b), thus enabling a reproducible, and moreover a particularly fine mixing or dispersing of the fluid media at a low expenditure of energy, even if the mass flows of the reactants vary.