MIXER WITH IMPINGING CO-AXIAL STREAMS

Abstract

A mixer for separate streams of gas includes a center stream of a first gas and a co-axial stream of a second gas injected at an angle to the center stream and filling an annulus around the center stream. The mixer may further include a feed zone wherein the first gas is introduced into the mixer as the center stream and the second gas is introduced into the mixer as the co-axial stream filling the annulus around the center stream; a mixing zone wherein the first gas and the second gas mix with no recirculation zones to form a mixture; and a diffusion zone for advancing the mixture from the mixing zone. Corresponding or associated methods for mixing materials are also provided.

Claims

1. A mixer for separate streams of gas comprising: a center stream of a first gas; and a co-axial stream of a second gas injected at an angle to the center stream and filling an annulus around the center stream.

2. The mixer of claim 1, wherein the mixer includes: a feed zone wherein the first gas is introduced into the mixer as the center stream and the second gas is introduced into the mixer as the co-axial stream filling the annulus around the center stream; a mixing zone wherein the first gas and the second gas mix with no recirculation zones to form a mixture; and a diffusion zone for advancing the mixture from the mixing zone.

3. The mixer of claim 1 wherein the first gas is oxygen.

4. The mixer of claim 1 wherein the second gas is a fuel gas.

5. The mixer of claim 1 wherein the angle of injection of the second gas injected to the center stream is selected to enhance mixing.

6. A method for co-axially mixing separate streams of gas, the method comprising: introducing a first gas as a center stream in a co-axial mixer, introducing a second gas as a co-axial stream at an angle to the center stream and filling an annulus around the center stream, and mixing the first and second gases to form a mixture with no recirculation zones.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Objects and features of this invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic showing a mixer in accordance with aspect of the subject invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] As shown in FIG. 1, an impinging co-axial mixer according to a preferred embodiment preferably includes a mixer, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, for separate streams with particular application to gas-to-gas mixing. The mixer 10 generally includes a feed or introduction zone 12 wherein feed materials or components are fed or introduced into the mixer 10, a mixing zone 14 wherein feed materials or components introduced into the mixer 10 are appropriately combined and mixed and a diffusion zone 16 wherein the mixture of materials or components resulting from the mixing zone 14 are appropriately advanced. The mixer 10 works by mixing two streams: (1) a first stream 20, e.g., a center stream; and (2) a second stream 22 coaxially filling an annulus around the central stream as shown in the attached schematic.

[0009] While mixer 10 shown in FIG. 1 illustrates the first or center stream 20 as composed of oxygen and the second or annulus stream 22 as composed of fuel, those skilled in the art and guided by the teaching herein provided will understand and appreciate that the broader practice of the subject development is not necessarily so limited.

[0010] In addition to mixing driven by different velocities of the two streams such as may be typical of co-axial mixers, with an impinging co-axial mixer in accordance with the subject development, an angle to the flow of the annular stream such as directing the annular stream into the central stream can be suitably selected and tailored such as to desirably enhance the resulting mixing. Also, the shape of the mixing zone can be varied to inhibit recirculation. Thus, in accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the mixer and processing of the invention result or produce rapid mixing to a uniform mixture with no recirculation zones.

[0011] While in the foregoing specification the subject development has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.