STIRRING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A STIRRING DEVICE

Abstract

A stirring device, in particular a reactor stirring device, comprises a radiation unit which is configured for irradiating a medium. wherein the stirring device comprises a guide tube unit which is configured for separating two opposing flows of the medium.

Claims

1. A stirring device, in particular a reactor stirring device, with a radiation unit which is configured for irradiating a medium, the stirring device further comprising a guide tube unit which is configured for separating two opposing flows of the medium.

2. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation unit is at least partially formed integrally with the guide tube unit.

3. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation unit has at least one at least substantially transparent inner wall element and at least one at least substantially transparent outer wall element, wherein the inner wall element and the outer wall element are also part of the guide tube unit.

4. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation unit at least partially forms a fluid-technical guide for the separation of the opposing flows of the medium.

5. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation unit is configured for an irradiation of a volume of the medium flowing within the guide tube unit.

6. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein that wherein the radiation unit is configured for an irradiation of a volume of the medium flowing outside the guide tube unit.

7. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation unit at least partially defines at least one passage area for a radial passage of the medium through the radiation unit, wherein the at least one passage area is bounded by at least two radiation elements of the radiation unit.

8. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the radiation unit comprises a plurality of radiation elements, each arranged in alignment with the guide tube unit.

9. The stirring device according to claim 1, comprising at least one holding unit, which fastens at least one radiation element of the radiation unit to at least one guide tube element of the guide tube unit.

10. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the guide tube unit has at least one receiving area for at least partially receiving at least one radiation element of the radiation unit.

11. The stirring device according to claim 1, comprising at least one agitator that is arranged at least substantially within the guide tube unit.

12. The stirring device according to claim 1, comprising at least one further radiation unit, which is configured for an irradiation of the medium and is arranged radially outside the guide tube unit.

13. A stirrer, in particular a reactor, with a container and with at least one stirring device according to claim 1, which is at least partially arranged in the container.

14. The stirrer according to claim 13, wherein the radiation unit comprises a plurality of radiation elements, which are spaced apart from an inner wall of the container by at least 20% of a radius of the container.

15. The stirrer according to claim 13, wherein the radiation unit is fastened at least to a first axial end area of the container, and the guide tube unit is fastened at least to at least one second axial end area of the container that is situated opposite the first axial end area.

16. A method for operating a stirring device, in particular according to claim 1, in particular for carrying out a chemical reaction for the production, in particular for halogenation and/or chlorination, of C-PVC by means of the stirring device, which has at least one radiation unit by which a medium is irradiated, wherein a relative residence time of the medium in an effective range of the radiation unit is extended in that the radiation unit is on both sides flown around by opposing flows of the medium.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the medium is transported to an area outside of the effective range of the radiation unit after irradiation by the radiation unit.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0037] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of drawings. Three exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination.

[0038] Expediently, the person skilled in the art will look at each of the features also individually and will combine them to form other meaningful combinations.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a stirrer with a stirring device in a perspective sectional view,

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a portion of the stirrer with the stirring device and with a radiation unit in a perspective sectional view,

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a portion of the stirrer with the stirring device and with the radiation unit and with an agitator in a sectional top view,

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method for operating the stirring device,

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a stirrer with a stirring device in a simplified cross-sectional representation,

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a portion of the stirrer with the stirring device with a guide tube unit in a sectional top view,

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a portion of the stirrer with the stirring device and with an intermediate space between an inner wall element and an outer wall element of the guide tube unit,

[0046] FIG. 8 shows another exemplary embodiment of a stirrer with a stirring device in a simplified cross-sectional representation, and

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a portion of the stirrer with the stirring device, which has a radiation unit and a further radiation unit, in a simplified sectional top view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0048] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a stirrer 10a, which is in the illustrated example formed as a reactor. The stirrer 10a has a container 44a. Merely for illustrative purposes, a sectional view of a portion of the stirrer 10a is shown in the figures by way of example, in particular to illustrate an interior of the stirrer 10a. In addition, the stirrer 10a has a stirring device 12a. In the illustrated example, the stirring device 12a is arranged at least partially in container 44a.

[0049] In the example shown, the stirring device 12a is formed as a reactor stirring device. The stirring device 12a has a radiation unit 14a. The radiation unit 14a is configured for irradiating a medium 16a. In the example shown, the radiation unit 14a is configured for irradiating a medium 16a with UV radiation. The radiation unit 14a is configured for at least initiating and/or maintaining at least one chemical reaction, for example a photochemical reaction, in particular a chlorination and/or a halogenation and/or a bromination, of the medium 16a.

[0050] The stirring device 12a also has a guide tube unit 18a. The guide tube unit 18a is configured for separating two opposing flows 20a, 22a of the medium 16a.

[0051] The radiation unit 14a comprises a plurality of radiation elements 26a. In the example shown, the radiation unit 14a comprises a plurality of eight radiation elements 26a. In the example shown, the radiation elements 26a are formed to be identical. The radiation elements 26a are each arranged in alignment with the guide tube unit 18a.

[0052] The radiation unit 14a is formed at least partially integrally with the guide tube unit 18a. This means that, as shown in FIG. 1 by way of example, a portion of each of the radiation elements 26a is formed integrally with the guide tube unit 18a. For this purpose, the radiation elements 26a each have a subsection 54a, which in each case is formed integrally with the guide tube unit 18a.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows the stirring device 12a in particular in an operating state. In the operating state, two at least substantially opposing flows 20a, 22a of the medium 16a flow around the radiation unit 14a.

[0054] In the illustrated exemplary operating state, one of the two at least substantially opposing flows 20a, 22a of medium 16a, in particular the flow 20a, flows within the guide tube unit 18a upward.

[0055] In addition, in the illustrated exemplary operating state, a second one of the two at least substantially opposing flows 20a, 22a of the medium 16a, in particular the flow 22a, flows outside the guide tube unit 18a downward.

[0056] In the operating state, the two at least substantially opposing flows 20a, 22a of the medium 16a are in a circulation.

[0057] The radiation unit 14a at least partially forms a fluid-technical guide 24a. The fluid-technical guide 24a is configured for separating the opposing flows 20a, 22a of the medium 16a.

[0058] In the example illustrated, the radiation unit 14a together with a guide tube element 38a of the guide tube unit 18a forms a fluid-technical guide 24a which is configured for separating the opposing flows 20a, 22a of the medium 16a.

[0059] Fluid-technical guide 24a separates a volume 28a of medium 16a flowing within the guide tube unit 18a from a volume 30a of medium 16a flowing outside guide tube unit 18a.

[0060] In the operating state, the radiation unit 14a is configured for irradiating the volume 28a of the medium 16a flowing within the guide tube unit 18a. That is to say, all radiation elements 26a of the radiation unit 14a are configured for irradiating the volume 28a of the medium 16a flowing within the guide tube unit 18a.

[0061] In the operating state, the radiation unit 14a is configured for irradiating the volume 30a of the medium 16a flowing outside the guide tube unit 18a, that is to say, that all radiation elements 26a of the radiation unit 14a are configured for irradiating the volume 30a of the medium 16a flowing outside the guide tube unit 18a.

[0062] Thus, the radiation unit 14a is configured for irradiating the two opposing flows 20a, 22a of the medium 16a, that is to say, for irradiating by means of UV radiation in the example shown. Alternatively or additionally, radiation with visible light would also be conceivable.

[0063] The radiation unit 14a defines a plurality of passage areas 32a. The passage areas 32a serve a radial passage 34a of the medium 16a through the radiation unit 14a. In the example illustrated, the radiation unit 14a defines a plurality of eight passage areas 32a. The passage areas 32a enable the circulation of the medium 16a in the operating state.

[0064] Each of the passage areas 32a is bounded by at least two radiation elements 26a of the radiation unit 14a. In each case two radiation elements 26a of the radiation unit 14a bound each of the passage areas 32a laterally.

[0065] In addition, the stirring device 12a has at least one holding unit 36a. The holding unit 36a fastens at least one radiation element 26a of the radiation unit 14a to at least one guide tube element 38a of the guide tube unit 18a. The holding unit 36a may be formed in any way that appears to be reasonable to the person skilled in the art. Alternatively or additionally, the holding unit 36a could be formed for example as shown in DE 10 2017 102 165 A1.

[0066] Also, the guide tube unit 18a has at least one receiving area 40a. In the example shown, the guide tube unit 18a has eight receiving areas 40a. The receiving area 40a is configured for at least partially receiving in each case at least one radiation element 26a of the radiation unit 14a. In the example illustrated, the receiving area 40a is formed as a recess of the guide tube element 38a. This means that the radiation unit 14a and the guide tube unit 18a at least partially overlap with respect to an axial direction 56a.

[0067] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the stirrer 10a of the preceding figures. The container 44a comprises an inner wall 48a. The plurality of, in particular eight, radiation elements 26a are arranged spaced apart from the inner wall 48a of the container 44a by at least 20% of a radius 46a of the container 44a (cf. FIGS. 1 to 3). In the example shown, the plurality of radiation elements 26a is arranged spaced apart from the inner wall 48a of the container 44a by about 55% of a radius 46a of the container 44a.

[0068] In the example shown, the container 44a has a first axial end area 50a. Opposite the first axial end area 50a, the container 44a has a second axial end area 52a. In the present case, the radiation unit 14a is fastened at least to the first axial end area 50a of the container 44a. In addition, the guide tube unit 18a is fastened at least to the second axial end area 52a of the container 44a. Thus, the radiation unit 14a and the guide tube unit 18a are fastened at least to opposite axial end areas 50a, 52a of the container 44a.

[0069] Moreover, the stirrer 10a has an agitator 42a arranged at least substantially within the guide tube unit 18a. The agitator 42a is formed to be rotatable around an axis of rotation 58a. The agitator 42a has a centrally arranged hub element 60a. Furthermore, the agitator 42a, in the present case, has three rotor blade elements 62a, wherein a different number of rotor blade elements 62a would be conceivable also. The agitator 42a is configured for conveying and/or mixing the medium 16a. For driving the agitator 42a, the stirrer 10a also has a drive unit 64a, which is formed as an electric motor.

[0070] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a method 100a for operating the stirring device 12a, which has at least one radiation unit 14a.

[0071] Method 100a in particular has a first method step 102a. The method 100a furthermore has a further method step 104a.

[0072] In first method step 102a, the medium 16a is irradiated by the radiation unit 14a. In the further method step 104a, a relative residence time of medium 16a in an effective range of the radiation unit 14a is increased in that opposing flows 20a, 22a of the medium 16a flow around the radiation unit 14a on both sides. Furthermore, the medium 16a is then transported to an area outside the effective range of the radiation unit 14a.

[0073] FIGS. 5 to 9 show two further exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions are essentially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, where reference is made to the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular FIGS. 1 to 4, with respect to unchanging components, features and functions. To distinguish the exemplary embodiments, letter a in the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 is replaced by letters b and c in the reference numerals the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 9. With respect to components having the same denomination, in particular with respect to components with the same reference numerals, reference can be made in principle also to the drawings and/or the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular of FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0074] FIGS. 5 to 7 show a further embodiment of a stirrer 10b. The stirrer 10b has a stirring device 12b.

[0075] The stirring device 12b has a radiation unit 14b. The radiation unit 14b has an inner wall element 66b that is at least substantially transparent. In addition, the radiation unit 14b has an outer wall element 68b that is at least substantially transparent. The inner wall element 66b and the outer wall element 68b are also part of a guide tube unit 18b of the stirring device 12b. The inner wall element 66b and the outer wall element 68b are formed to a large extent, in particular completely, of quartz glass.

[0076] The inner wall element 66b and the outer wall element 68b are formed at least substantially to be cylindrical and have diameters of different sizes. A receiving area 40b is arranged between the inner wall element 66b and the outer wall element 68b.

[0077] The radiation unit 14b has a plurality of radiation elements 26b. In the example illustrated, the radiation unit 14b has a number of 24 radiation elements 26b.

[0078] The radiation elements 26b are arranged in the receiving area 40b between the inner wall element 66b and the outer wall element 68b.

[0079] The stirrer 10b also has a plurality of baffle elements 72b. Some of the baffle elements 72b are fixed integrally to the inner wall element 66b.

[0080] Moreover, the receiving area 40b is cooled by means of a coolant formed as an oil. The receiving area 40b is supplied with the coolant via at least one supply line, which is part of a holding unit 74b formed as a suspension.

[0081] FIGS. 8 and 9 show a further exemplary embodiment of a stirrer 10c. The stirrer 10c has a stirring device 12c.

[0082] The stirring device 12c has a radiation unit 14c. The radiation unit 14c comprises a plurality of radiation elements 26c, which are each arranged in alignment with a guide tube unit 18c of the stirring device 12c.

[0083] The stirring device 12c furthermore has a further radiation unit 76c. The radiation unit 76c is configured for irradiating a medium (not shown). The radiation unit 76c is arranged radially outside the guide tube unit 18c. The radiation unit 76c is arranged radially between the guide tube unit 18c and an inner wall 48c of a container 44c of the stirrer 10c. That is to say that the radiation unit 76c is arranged in an area between the guide tube unit 18c and the inner wall 48c (cf. also FIG. 9).

[0084] The radiation unit 76c has an arbitrarily selectable number of further radiation elements 78c. In the present example, the further radiation unit 76c has six further radiation elements 78c.

[0085] The further radiation elements 78c of the further radiation unit 76c have a greater radial distance 80c from an axis of rotation 58c of an agitator 42c of the stirrer 10c than the radiation elements 26c of the radiation unit 14c.

[0086] The illustrated orientation of the stirrer 10c is exemplary, with any further orientations of the stirrer 10c being also conceivable, such as for example a horizontal orientation in which the agitator 42c is arranged to the side of the container 44c, or a reverse orientation of the stirrer 10c, in which the agitator 42c is arranged above the container 44c.

[0087] The further radiation elements 78c of the further radiation unit 76c could be fastened in particular to the container 44c in a manner known from WO 2018/141517, for example.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0088] 10 Stirrer [0089] 12 Stirring device [0090] 14 Radiation unit [0091] 16 Medium [0092] 18 Guide tube unit [0093] 20 Flow [0094] 22 Flow [0095] 24 Fluid-technical guide [0096] 26 Radiation element [0097] 28 Volume [0098] 30 Volume [0099] 32 Passage area [0100] 34 Radial passage [0101] 36 Holding unit [0102] 38 Guide tube element [0103] 40 Receiving area [0104] 42 Agitator [0105] 44 Container [0106] 46 Radius [0107] 48 Inner wall [0108] 50 First axial end area [0109] 52 Second axial end area [0110] 54 Subsection [0111] 56 Axial direction [0112] 58 Axis of rotation [0113] 60 Hub element [0114] 62 Rotor blade element [0115] 64 Drive unit [0116] 66 Inner wall element [0117] 68 Outer wall element [0118] 72 Baffle element [0119] 74 Holding unit [0120] 76 Further radiation unit [0121] 78 Further radiation element [0122] 80 Radial distance [0123] 100 Method [0124] 102 Method step [0125] 104 Further method step