GB2337009A

GB2337009A - Method and apparatus for manufacturing chemical sub-substance by catalytic reaction and the like of reactive fluid

Info

Publication number: GB2337009A
Application number: GB9907612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yoshida Yasunobu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-16
Filing date: 1997-10-16
Publication date: 1999-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-16
Also published as: WO1998016307A1; AU4572897A; GB9907612D0; GB2337009B

Abstract

An apparatus capable of mixing fluids sufficiently, which is characterised by a hollow spherical number, a both end-opened discharge tube extending through a surface of the spherical member diametrically to substantially the center of the spherical member, and at least two fluid supply pipes extending at right angles to the discharge tube, opened to the inside of the spherical member in a plane positioned closer to the surface of the spherical number, through which the discharge tube passes, than to the center of the spherical member, and used to supply a fluid in the direction of a chord of the spherical member, characterised in that the discharge tube has a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots in the portions thereof which are adjacent to openings of the two fluid supply pipes, a filter means being provided which crosses a bore of the discharge tube in positions above upper edges of these slots, this apparatus is also characterized in that a cyclone is generated in the spherical member by rotating a body of revolution with curved surface, which is provided inside of the spherical member, by a motor.

Description

1 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CHEMICAL SUB-SUBSTANCE BY

CATALYTIC REACTION AND THE LIKE OF REACTIVE FLUID BACKGROLliD OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making a chemical substance through the catalytic reaction of reactive fluid and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making a chemical substance through the catalytic reaction between reactive gases, the catalytic reaction between a reactive gas and a reactive liquid or the mixing/contacting reaction between reactive liquids.

Description of the Prior Art:

When reactive gases or reactive gas and liquid are reactively mixed, it is a well-known technique to promote the reaction by mixing catalytic particles into the mixed fluid. Since the mixed catalytic particles remain within the reacted fluid, they must be removed therefrom to provide a clean reacted fluid. To accomplish such a removal, various proposals being effective as such have been made. It is further desired, however, that the rate of removal of the catalytic particles is improved.

Even when a chemical reaction is to be made through the mixing/contacting reaction between the reactive liquids, it is desired that a method and apparatus for more effectively accomplishing the mixing operation are developed.

2 As one of the devices used in such a mixing operation, there is known a cylindrical (or so-called capsule-shaped) device (or reaction tower). However, such a device is insufficient to mix the fluids with degradation of the efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which can sufficiently mix fluids.

In accordance with the principle of the present invention, at least two kinds of fluids (including either of gas or liquid) to be mixed together are fed into a sphere through airflow or by a rotary curved member so that a cyclone will be created within the sphere. Under the action of the cyclone, two kinds of fluids are mixed together in the sphere. With the catalytic reaction, the mixing efficiency can further be increased by causing catalytic particles such as activated carbon particles or the like to circulate through the sphere under the action of the cyclone.

To this end, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a hollow sphere, a hollow openended discharge pipe extending diametrically through the wall of the sphere substantially to the center of the sphere and at least two fluid supply pipes extending perpendicular to said discharge pipe and opened into the interior of the sphere in a plane located at a position nearer the wall portion of the sphere through which the discharge pipe extends than the center of the sphere, said fluid supply pipes being adapted to introduce the fluids into the sphere in the direction of sphere chord, said discharge pipe having a plurality of slots formed therein adjacent to the openings of said two fluid supply pipes and spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, and filter means disposed across the bore of the discharge pipe at a position above the top edges of said slots.

3 The apparatus of the present invention is characterized by that said filter means is in the form of a net concaved downwardly from the mounting location on the inner wall of said discharge pipe.

The apparatus of the present invention is also characterized by that it further comprises a fluid introducing pipe located adjacent to said discharge pipe, said fluid introducing pipe being so opened that the fluid is sprayed from said fluid introducing pipe in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said fluid supply pipes.

The apparatus of the present invention is further characterized by that said hollow sphere includes a rotary curved member driven by a motor, said rotary curved member including fins formed thereon at the bottom.

The catalytic particles entangled into the mixed fluid under the action of cyclone are introduced into the discharge pipe through its inner open end together with the cyclone flow and moved upwardly through the interior of the discharge pipe.

However, the filter means is located midway of the discharge pipe across the bore of the discharge pipe. Although the upwardly moving fluid can pass through the filter means and further move toward the other open or exit end of the discharge pipe, the catalytic particles will be prevented from upwardly moving through the filter means. Since the slots are formed through the wall of the discharge pipe below and adjacent to the filter means, the catalytic particles will be returned into the interior of the sphere through these slots. The returned catalytic particles are again entangled into the cyclone and moved downwardly toward the lower open end of the discharge pipe. During the downward movement, the catalytic particles can further catalyze the mixed fluid. In such a manner, the catalytic particles can be circulated through the sphere while a 4 clean fluid substantially with no catalytic particle will be discharged externally from the discharge pipe.

Even if the fluids to be mixed have different specific gravities, they can sufficiently be mixed with each other by controlling the rotational speed of the 5 rotary member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a side view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, partially broken, of the apparatus 15 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating the principle of the present invention in connection with the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side view of an apparatus relating to the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a rotary curved member in an apparatus relating to the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, there is shown the first embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention, which is mainly used to mix reactive gases together.

The apparatus comprises a hollow sphere 10 which is firmly mounted on a base or frame (not shown). The apparatus also comprises a hollow openended discharge pipe 14 which extends diametrically through the wall 12 of the sphere 10 substantially to the center thereof. The discharge pipe 14 includes an outer open end 16 which forms an exit port for the reacted fluid.

The apparatus further comprises at least two fluid supply pipes 18 and 20 which extend in a direction perpendicular to the discharge pipe 14 and open into the interior of the sphere 10 in a plane located nearer the wall portion of the sphere 10 through which the discharge pipe 14 extends than the center of the sphere. The fluid supply pipes 18 and 20 are thus adapted to supply fluids in a direction of sphere chord. The fluid supply pipes 18 and 20 receive different reactive gases or reactive gas and liquid from the respective sources of fluid. Valves 22 and 24 are provided in the fluid supply pipes 18 and 20, respectively. The discharge pipe 14 has a plurality of slots 26 which are formed through the wall of the discharge pipe 14 and located spaced circumferentially from one another and adjacent to the openings of the two fluid supply pipes 18 and 20, and a filter means or wire mesh 28 located above these slots 26 and across the bore of the discharge pipe 14.

6 The interior of the sphere 10 has previously contained catalytic particles 32 (e.g., activated carbon particles) prior to operation.

On operation, different reactive fluids are first supplied into the interior of the sphere 10 through the respective fluid supply pipes 18 and 20 under the action of air flow as shown by arrow A. Thus, a cyclone will be created as shown by arrow B in Fig. 4. The cyclone whirls and moves upwardly into the discharge pipe 14 through its lower open end 30. The cyclone further moves upwardly through the interior or bore of the discharge pipe 14. As the upwardly moving flow impacts the wire mesh 28, the catalytic particles 32 entangled into the cyclone are prevented from further upwardly moving through the wire mesh 2 8 and then deviated laterally into the interior of the sphere 10 through the slots 26 of the discharge pipe 14, as shown by arrow C. The catalytic particles 32 will again be entangled into the cyclone flow and moved toward the lower open end 30 of the discharge pipe 14.

The reacted and mixed fluid can upwardly move in the discharge pipe 14 through the wire mesh 28 and externally flow out of the discharge pipe 14 through the outer or upper open end 16 thereof.

Thus, the reacted and mixed fluid discharged from the outer open end 16 of the discharge pipe 14 will be a clean fluid which does not substantially contain the catalytic particles.

The fluid supply pipes 18 and 20 may be located at any location above the horizontal plane including the center of the sphere. The number of fluid supply pipes may be selected from any number more than two. Basically, the fluid supply pipes may be located so that the fluids can flow into the interior of the sphere in a plane spaced parallel to and above said horizontal plane including the center of the sphere 10 and in the direction of sphere chord, as shown in Fig. 1. A factor for determining the position of the fluid supply pipes 7 may be the difference of specific gravity between the reactive fluids to be mixed.

The sphere can be formed of any suitable material such as plastics, metals depending on the characteristics of the reactive fluids to be mixed. The wire mesh 28 may be replaced by any other porous material. Basically, the filter means for preventing the catalytic particles is required.

Second Embodiment The apparatus of the first embodiment was used as a reacting apparatus for DACONTI (2, 4, 5, 6-tetrachloro-1, 3-dicyanobenzene). In the reacting apparatus, the recovery percentage of the activated carbon particles (catalytic particles) in the completed DACONTI increased to 99.98 percents from 99.8 percents in the prior art.

Third Embodiment Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a third embodiment which can be used to mix a liquid with a gas or to mix a liquid with another liquid. For example, a gas to be mixed may be introduced into the sphere through either of the fluid supply pipe 18 or 20 under the action of air flow while at the same time a liquid to be mixed with the gas may be sprayed into the sphere through fluid openings 40 and 42. The fluid openings 40 and 42 are directed such that the fluid can be sprayed in the direction substantially perpendicular to the fluid supply pipes 18 and 20. The fluid openings 40 and 42 are in fluid supply branches 36 and 38 which are branched from a fluid supply base pipe 34. The other components are similar to those of the first embodiment.

8 Fluid introducing pipers 46 and 48 may extend into the interior of the sphere from above the sphere, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. In such a case, the fluid introducing pipes 46 and 48 extend in the sphere downwardly from the top of the sphere along the discharge pipe 14, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The openings 50 and 52 of the fluid introducing pipes 46 and 48 are directed such that the fluids are sprayed in the direction substantially perpendicular to the fluid flow from the openings of the fluid introducing pipes 18 and 20.

When both the fluids are in the form of liquid, the mixed liquid is discharged through a discharge port 60. Such a discharge is carried out while floating up the liquid by adjusting the rotational speed of a rotary curved member.

Fourth Embodiment Referring to Figs. 7 and 9, there is shown the fourth embodiment which comprises a rotary curved member 58 adapted to facilitate the recovery of the catalytic particles that have be moved into the sphere from the discharge pipe 14 through the slots 26 and again circulated through the interior of the sphere. The rotary curved member 58 is rotatably driven by a motor 56 at any speed. The rotary curved member 58 includes fin means 59 formed thereon at the bottom side, as shown in Fig. 8. The number of fins 50 may be selected from any number equal to one or more. The fins 59 function to thoroughly mix the fluids and catalytic particles in a gap formed between the rotary curved member 58 and the inner wall of the sphere. In addition to the rotary curved member 58, one or more auxiliary rotary curved members 62 having the same function may be provided within the sphere, as shown in Fig. -9.

To withstand the rotation, the hollow sphere is firmly mounted on a frame 54.

i 9

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a hollow sphere, a hollow open-ended discharge pipe extending diametrically through the wall of the sphere substantially to the center of the sphere and at least two fluid supply pipes extending perpendicular to said discharge pipe and opens into the interior of the sphere in a plane located at a position nearer the wall portion of the sphere through which the discharge pipe extends than the center of the sphere, said fluid supply pipes being adapted to introduce the fluids into the sphere in the direction of sphere chord, said discharge pipe having a plurality of slots formed therein adjacent to the openings of said two fluid supply pipes and spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction, and filter means disposed across the bore of the discharge pipe at a position above the top edges of said slots.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said filter means is in the form of a net concaved downwardly from the mounting location on the inner wall of said discharge pipe.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a fluid introducing pipe located adjacent to said discharge pipe, said fluid introducing pipe being so opened that the fluid is sprayed from said fluid introducing pipe in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said fluid supply pipes.

4. An apparatus as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said hollow sphere includes a rotary curved member driven by a motor, said rotary curved member including fins formed thereon at the bottom.