Twisted Plate Mixing Element for High Viscosity Fluid Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mixing systems, particularly those using static mixers, face challenges in efficiently mixing fluids with significantly different viscosities, which can lead to incomplete mixing and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed mixing system incorporates an extensional mixing element with plate-like mixing members that have twisted rear ends, spaced apart to form internal and external mixing spaces. A supply part delivers a second fluid with lower viscosity into these spaces, enhancing the mixing process before the fluids are further mixed by a static mixer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a static mixer is used to mix fluids with significantly different viscosities, then the mixing process is continuous and requires no moving parts, but the mixing efficiency deteriorates due to incomplete mixing of high viscosity fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The extensional mixing element performs preliminary mixing action on the high viscosity fluid before it enters the static mixer. The twisted plate-like structure creates extensional flow that pre-distributes and pre-mixes the high viscosity fluid with the low viscosity fluid, preparing it for more effective final mixing in the static mixer section.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing system is segmented into two distinct functional sections: an extensional mixing element for preliminary mixing and a static mixer for final mixing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the extensional element handling the difficult high viscosity fluid preparation and the static mixer completing the thorough mixing.
2Productivity
If mixing members are arranged closely to increase mixing intensity, then mixing efficiency improves, but the space for supplying second fluid decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The twisted plate-like mixing members create locally varied flow patterns with different velocity profiles across the flow cross-section. This local quality variation in flow velocity and direction enhances mixing intensity without requiring reduced spacing between members, as the mixing is achieved through flow field manipulation rather than geometric proximity alone.
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 configuration improves the mixing efficiency of fluids with high viscosity differences by initial extensional mixing within the system's internal and external spaces, followed by thorough mixing by the static mixer, resulting in better fluid integration.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing part including a plurality of mixing members installed in the piping, installed in a flow direction of the first fluid, having a plate-like shape in which a rear end thereof is twisted by a predetermined angle from a front end thereof
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a mixing system to mix different types of fluids more efficiently. The mixing system installed in a piping in which a first fluid is supplied includes a mixing part including a plurality of mixing members each having a front end and a rear end rotated by a predetermined angle to form a curved surface and disposed to be spaced apart from each other and a supply part supplying a second fluid to a space between adjacent mixing members.