Method and apparatus for continuous mixing of liquids

Claim 1

Apparatus for admixture of a feed liquid to a process liquid at least one of which is of high viscosity, comprising a pipe having a generally cylindrical bore, said process liquid flowing in said pipe, a throat in said bore, a portion of said bore downstream of and adjacent to said throat being wideR than said throat and forming a first angle between said portion and the axis of said bore up to about 15*, a plurality of feed nozzles for injection of said feed liquid disposed in said pipe, said nozzles being positioned around the periphery of said pipe and extending between a source of said feed liquid and said bore, said nozzles opening into said bore at said throat and being generally cylindrical in cross section, the axis of any of said nozzles forming a second angle with a portion of the axis of said bore upstream of said nozzle of between 30* to 75*, whereby said feed liquid is injected through said nozzles and mixed with said process liquid, the axes of all said nozzles crossing the centerline of said bore at a point adjacent the downstream end of said throat, a releasable and adjustable nozzle closure associated with each nozzle, said closure having a tip complimentary in shape to said nozzle adapted to extend completely through said nozzle and into said pipe in closed position for scraping the wall of the nozzle clean when the said closure is in closed position.

Claim 10

A method for admixture of feed liquid to a process liquid comprising flowing said process liquid along a predetermined substantially straight path, providing a throat in said path, providing a widening portion of said path downstream of said throat, providing a plurality of entrance paths for said feed liquid into said process liquid and selectively feeding said feed liquid through less than all of said entrance paths into said process liquid at said throat at an entry angle of 30* to 90* to the upstream portion of said process liquid, said feed liquid being injected at a velocity of at least twice the velocity of said process liquid, said process liquid and said feed liquid forming a stream downstream of said throat, permitting said stream to widen at an exit angle of up to about 15* with the center line of said process liquid.

Claim 11

A method for admixture of feed liquid to a process liquid comprising flowing said process liquid along a predetermined substantially straight path, providing a throat in said path, providing a widening portion of said path downstream of said throat, providing a plurality of entrance paths for said feed liquid into said process liquid and selectively feeding said feed liquid through less than all of said entrance paths into said process liquid at said throat at an entry angle of 30* to 90* to the upstream portion of said process liquid, said feed liquid being injected at a velocity of at least twice the velocity of said process liquid, said process liquid and said feed liquid forming a stream downstream of said throat, permitting said stream to widen at an exit angle of up to about 15* with the center line of said process liquid.