Thermally regulated closed mixer

Abstract

A method for mixing a compound in a closed-batch mixer includes predetermining a minimum temperature of a mixer body for starting a mixing cycle; predetermining a preheating temperature for a thermal-regulation system of the mixer as a first set point; predetermining a working temperature for the system as a second set point; predetermining a thermal-hysteresis value of the mixer body; predetermining a first temperature of the mixer body for switching the system from the first to the second set point; predetermining a second temperature of the mixer body for switching the system from the second to the first set point; directly measuring mixer-body temperature using continuous, real-time measurement; comparing the mixer-body temperature to the first and second temperatures; and switching the system from the first to the second set point or from the second to the first set point, if required, as a result of the comparison.

1 . Method for mixing a compound in a closed batch mixer, including the phases of 
 predetermining a minimum mixer body temperature value for starting the mixing cycle;    predetermining a mixer thermal regulation system pre-heating temperature as Set Point  1 ;    predetermining a mixer thermal regulation system working temperature as Set Point  2 ;    predetermining the mixer body thermal hysteresis;    predetermining a mixer body temperature Break Point A for switching the mixer thermal regulation system from Set Point  1  to Set Point  2 ;    predetermining a mixer body temperature Break Point B for switching the mixer thermal regulation system from Set Point  2  to Set Point  1 ;    directly measuring, in a continuous real-time, the mixer body temperature;    comparing the mixer body temperature to the predetermined Break Point temperatures A and B; and    switching the mixer thermal regulation system from one Set Point to the other as a result of the above comparison.    
   
   
       2 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the switching from Set Point  2  to Set Point  1  is excluded when the mixer cycle is running.  
   
   
       3 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the measure of the mixer body temperature is carried out by providing at least two sensors on the external surface of the body mixer.  
   
   
       4 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the average value of the temperatures measured by the sensors is considered as a mixer body temperature.  
   
   
       5 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the predetermined temperature values are stored and managed by a computerised control system.  
   
   
       6 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein Set Point  1  and Set Point  2  are determined as defined temperatures of a thermal regulation fluid.  
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 6  wherein the thermal regulation fluid is water.  
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the Break Point A is said minimum temperature of the mixer body plus the thermal hysteresis of the mixer body.  
   
   
       9 . Method according to  claim 1  wherein the Break Point B is the result of the following equation:  
     
       
         
           
             
               Break 
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               point 
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               A 
             
             - 
             
               ( 
               
                 
                   mixer 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   thermal 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   hysteresis 
                 
                 2 
               
               ) 
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
       10 . Process for mixing a compound in a closed batch mixer comprising 
 a) predetermining a minimum mixer body temperature value for starting the mixing cycle;    b) predetermining a mixer thermal regulation system pre-heating temperature as Set Point  1 ;    c) predetermining a mixer thermal regulation system working temperature as Set Point  2 ;    d) predetermining the mixer body thermal hysteresis;    e) predetermining a mixer body temperature Break Point A for switching the mixer thermal regulation system from Set Point  1  to Set Point  2 ;    f) predetermining a mixer body temperature Break Point B for switching the mixer thermal regulation system from Set Point  2  to Set Point  1 ;    g) directly measuring, in a continuous real-time, the mixer body temperature;    h) comparing the mixer body temperature to the predetermined Break Point temperatures A and B;    i) switching the mixer thermal regulation system from one Set Point to the other as a result of the above comparison.    j) enabling the mixing cycle to start when the minimum body temperature is exceeded;    k) introducing the materials to be mixed into the mixing chamber at intervals;    l) continuously monitoring the mixer body temperature in real time;    m) continuously transmitting the signal representing the monitored real time mixer body temperature value to the process control system;    n) switching to Set Point  2  when the mixer body temperature is equal or higher than Break Point A temperature; and    o) switching to Set Point  1  when the mixing cycle is not running and the mixer body temperature is lower than Break Point B temperature.    
   
   
       11 . Process according to  claim 10  wherein the switching from Set Point  2  to Set Point  1  is excluded when the mixer cycle is running.  
   
   
       12 . Process according to  claim 10  wherein the measure of the mixer body temperature is carried out by providing at least two sensors on the external surface of the body mixer.  
   
   
       13 . Process according to  claim 10  wherein the average value of the temperatures measured by the sensors is considered as a mixer body temperature.  
   
   
       14 . Process according to  claim 10  wherein the predetermined temperature values are stored and managed by a computerised control system.  
   
   
       15 . Process according to  claim 10  wherein Set Point  1  and Set Point  2  are determined as defined temperatures of a thermal regulation fluid.  
   
   
       16 . Process according to  claim 15  wherein the thermal regulation fluid is water.  
   
   
       17 . Process according to  claim 10  wherein the Break Point A is the minimum temperature of the mixer body plus the thermal hysteresis of the mixer body.  
   
   
       18 . Process according to  claim 10  wherein the Break Point B is the result of the following equation:  
     
       
         
           
             
               break 
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               point 
               ⁢ 
               
                   
               
               ⁢ 
               A 
             
             - 
             
               ( 
               
                 
                   mixer 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   thermal 
                   ⁢ 
                   
                       
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   hysteresis 
                 
                 2 
               
               ) 
             
           
         
       
     
   
   
       19 . Process according to  claim 10  wherein the compound is a silica-filled compound.