CHANNEL MIXING APPARATUS

Abstract

A material distributing and mixing apparatus A conduit having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet houses a mixing element The mixing element includes rectangular segments forming forward facing V-sections and rearward facing V-sections The forward facing V-sections form vertical apexes that face an incoming fluid stream while additive inlet ports are positioned proximate thereto. The forward facing V-sections are positioned proximate to the top and bottom surfaces of the conduit while the rearward facing V-sections form apexes which are substantially horizontal, the rearward facing V-sections being positioned proximate the vertically extending side walls of the conduit

Claims

1. An element for use in a stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus comprising an article of manufacture having a pair of forward facing V-sections, each forward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs, each substantially rectangular forward facing leg having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular forward facing legs being joined to one another forming a forward facing vertically oriented apex and a pair of rearward facing V-sections, each rearward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular rearward facing legs, each substantially rectangular rearward facing leg having a first end and a second end, each first end of said substantially rectangular rearward facing leg being appended to a second end of a substantially rectangular forward facing leg, and the second ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular rearward facing legs being joined to one another forming a rearward facing horizontally oriented apex.

2. A stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus comprising a conduit, said conduit having a fluid inlet and fluid outlet, an element positioned between said fluid inlet and fluid outlet, said element comprising an article of manufacture having a pair of forward facing V-sections, each forward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs, each substantially rectangular forward facing leg having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular forward facing legs being joined to one another forming a forward facing vertically oriented apex and a pair of rearward facing V-sections, each rearward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular rearward facing legs, each substantially rectangular rearward facing leg having a first end and a second end, each first end of said substantially rectangular rearward facing leg being appended to a second end of a substantially rectangular forward facing leg, and the second ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular rearward facing legs being joined to one another forming a rearward facing horizontally oriented apex

3. The stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of additive ports positioned at said fluid inlet, upstream of said element.

4. The stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of claim 3 wherein said plurality of additive ports are configured within a vertically oriented additive feed tube, said additive feed tube being positioned proximate said forward facing vertically oriented apexes of said forward facing V-sections

5. The stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of claim 4 wherein said conduit is square or rectangular in cross-section having an open fluid inlet and open fluid outlet, parallel bottom and top walls and parallel side walls, said sidewalls being orthogonal to said bottom and top walls.

6. The stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of claim 5 wherein each rearward facing V-section is parallel to and adjacent to a side wall of said conduit.

7. The stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of claim 5 wherein each forward facing V-section is parallel to and adjacent to a top or bottom wall of said conduit

8. A method of mixing and distributing an additive into a moving fluid stream passing within a conduit, said conduit having a fluid inlet end and fluid outlet end, said method comprising positioning an element between said fluid inlet and fluid outlet, said element comprising an article of manufacture having a pair of forward facing V-sections, each forward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs, each substantially rectangular forward facing leg having a first end and a second end, the first ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular forward facing legs being joined to one another forming a forward facing vertically oriented apex and a pair of rearward facing V-sections, each rearward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular rearward facing legs, each substantially rectangular rearward facing leg having a first end and a second end, each first end of said substantially rectangular rearward facing leg being appended to a second end of a substantially rectangular forward facing leg, and the second ends of each pair of said substantially rectangular rearward facing legs being joined to one another forming a rearward facing horizontally oriented apex, positioning a plurality of additive ports at said fluid inlet end, upstream of said element, passing fluid through said conduit while introducing additive through said plurality of additive ports.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of the prior art.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an element for use in the stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus as depicted in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration description only and are not intended as definitions of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are recited with particularity in the claims

[0015] There has been broadly outlined more important features of the invention in the summary above and in order that the detailed description which follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important therefore, that claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0016] Certain terminology and the derivations thereof may be used in the following description for convenience and reference only, and will not be limiting. For example, words such as “upward,” “downward,” “left,” and “right” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made unless otherwise stated. Similar words such as “inward” and “outward” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of a device or area and designated parts thereof Reference in the singular tense include the plural and vice versa, unless otherwise noted.

[0017] Turning first to FIG. 3, element 50 is depicted which is employed in the present stationary material mixing and distribution apparatus such as that illustrated in FIG. 2. Specifically, element 50 comprises a pair of forward facing V-sections 61 and 62, each forward facing V-section comprising a pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs 51, 52, 53 and 54, respectively. Each substantially rectangular forward facing leg 51, 52, 53 and 54 are characterized as having first ends 55A, 55B and 56A and 56B and second ends 81, 83, 97 and 98. As illustrated, each pair of substantially rectangular forward facing legs 51, 52, 53 and 54 are joined to one another at their first ends forming vertically oriented apexes 82 and 88 which, in operation, face incoming fluid (in the direction of arrows 39) and direct the fluid from the midline of the conduit toward its edges. Element 50 is further characterized as having a pair of rearward facing V-sections 101 and 102 Rearward facing V-sections comprise a pair of substantially rectangular rearward facing legs 63, 64, 65 and 66, the substantially rectangular rearward facing legs having first ends 84, 85, 92 and 96 each of which are appended to second ends 81, 83, 97 and 98 of the substantially rectangular forward facing legs and have second ends 91A, 91B, 94A and 94B being joined to one another in pairs forming rearward facing horizontally oriented apexes 85 and 93

[0018] In turning to FIG. 2, array 30 of four conduits each housing element 50 is illustrated For the sake of simplicity, only the upper right conduit of FIG. 2 will be discussed. Element 50 is positioned within the conduit, the conduit being substantially square or rectangular in cross-section having an open fluid inlet 32 and outlet 34 for the passage of a fluid stream in the direction of arrows 39 there through. When mixing element 50 is installed within conduit 30, forward facing V-sections 61 and 62 are parallel to and adjacent to the top and bottom walls 31 and 35. Also, rearward facing V-sections 101 and 102 are parallel to and adjacent to sidewalls 41 and 42. As noted, the apexes of the forward facing V-sections are oriented vertically while the apexes of the rearward facing V-sections are oriented horizontally.

[0019] A series of additive ports 37 are configured within vertically oriented additive feed tube 36, additive feed tube 36 being positioned proximate forward facing vertically oriented apexes 82 and 88 such that additive is introduced in the direction of arrows 38 while impacting forward facing V-sections 61 and 62 together with fluid flowing in the direction of arrows 39 and are thus diverted towards sidewalls 41 and 42 proximate top and bottom walls 31 and 35 while rearward facing V-sections 101 and 102 cause the fluid to move away from top and bottom walls 31 and 35 and proximity to sidewalls 41 and 42 These complex vectors result in impressively efficient mixing at comparably low pressure drops.

[0020] The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensions, relationships, or operations as described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed as suitable without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like. Therefore, the above description and illustration should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims