Method of and means for hydrodynamic mixing

Claim 1

Apparatus for attaining an intimate mixture of a plurality of fluent substances in a continuous flow-through passage having an entry end and a discharge end, comprising: means for combining said plurality of fluent substances at said entry end in a continuously flowing stream filling said flow-through passage under substantial hydrodynamic pressure; means for subjecting said stream in said passage to substantially continuous turbulence and dispersion with mixing effect, and comprising a series of immediately adjacent alternating radially inwardly tapering relatively short conical turbulence surfaces and radially outwardly flaring relatively longer generally conical turbulence surfaces; means for effecting abrupt transition of the stream from each of said surfaces to the next of said surfaces throughout the entire length of said series; said surfaces and said abrupt transition means cooperating for attaining continuous and progressively thorough dispersion and mixing of said substances in the continuously flowing stream from said entry end to said discharge end of said passage; and said discharge end being arranged for discharging the treated stream to receiving means.

Claim 6

An apparatus for obtaining an intimate mixture of a plurality of combined fluent substances supplied to said apparatus under substantial hydrodynamic pressure, said apparatus comprising a series of mixing modules defining a continuous, flow-through passage in which mixing occurs; said passage including a series of alternating radially inwardly tapering, relatively short conical surfaces and radially outwardly flaring, relatively longer conical surfaces; and abrupt transition edges between adjacent inwardly and outwardly tapering surfaces such that fluid passing therethrough is subjected continously to the effects of dispersion from said outwardly tapering surfaces or acceleration from said inwardly tapering surfaces throughout the length of said passage.

Claim 7

An apparatus for obtaining an intimate mixture of a plurality of combined fluent substances supplied to said apparatus under substantial hydrodynamic pressure, said apparatus comprising a series of mixing modules defining a continuous, flow-through passage in which mixing occurs; said passage including a series of alternating radially inwardly tapering, relatively short conical surfaces and radially outwardly flaring, relatively longer conical surfaces; and abrupt transition edges between adjacent inwardly and outwardly tapering surfaces such that fluid passing therethrough is subjected continously to the effects of dispersion from said outwardly tapering surfaces or acceleration from said inwardly tapering surfaces throughout the length of said passage.