Device, system and method for mixing

Abstract

A device or system includes a mixer comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough. The mixer is in communication with sources or streams of at least two separate components which, when mixed, form a combined fluid stream. The sources or streams may be, at least initially, on opposite sides of the mixer, or the sources or streams may be on the upstream side of the mixer with an outlet disposed downstream of the mixer. A related method may include providing a mixer comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough, and selecting a material for the mixer based on physical characteristics of said material, said characteristics including a selected one or more of mean flow pore size, thickness and porosity volume.

1 . A device for mixing at least two separate streams of components which, when mixed, form a combined fluid stream, the device comprising:
 a first passageway adapted to communicate with one of the at least two separate streams;   a second passageway adapted to communicate with another of the at least two separate streams; and   a mixer communicating with each of the first and second passageways comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough, the mixer having physical characteristics to sufficiently mix the component streams of the combined fluid stream, which characteristics include a selected one or more of mean flow pore size, thickness and porosity.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  in the which mixer has a K value within the range of about 5 to 1000, as measured by Darcy's Law:
     K=Q*η*L /( S*ΔP )   where Q=flow rate of the combined fluid stream,   η=viscosity of the more viscous of the two components   L=thickness of the mixer   S=surface area of the mixer   ΔP=change in pressure between upstream and downstream locations of the mixer.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  comprising at least two of said mixers located in series. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the mixers are in spaced-apart relation to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the mixer is downstream from a location where the at least two separate streams are first combined. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the mixer comprises a material selected from polypropylene or polyethylene. 
     
     
         7 . A system for combining at least two separate streams of components which, when mixed, form a combined fluid stream, the system comprising:
 a first passageway in fluid communication with one of the at least two separate streams;   a second passageway in fluid communication with another of the at least two separate streams;   a third passageway in fluid communication with and downstream of the first and second passageways for joining the at least two separate streams at a selected location;   at least one mixer downstream of and in the vicinity of the selected location; the mixer comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough; and   an outlet downstream of the mixer to allow flow of the combined fluid stream.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the two components includes a liquid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the two components includes a solid. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the two components includes a gas. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the two components include at least two selected of diesel, oil, gasoline, water and air. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the two components include egg white and air. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the two components include fibrinogen and thrombin. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  comprising at least two of said mixers located in series. 
     
     
         15 . A system for mixing at least two separate components which, when mixed, form a combined fluid stream, the system comprising:
 at least one mixer having first and second sides and comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough;   a first port in fluid communication with the first side of the mixer and adapted to communicate with a source of a first component;   a second port in fluid communication with the second side of the mixer and adapted to communicate with a source of a second component; and   each port being in fluid communication with the other port through the mixer to allow one of the first and second components to flow from selected one of the first and second sides of the mixer to the other side and to allow return flow of both the first and second components from the other side through the mixer.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising a container for collecting said combined fluid stream. 
     
     
         17 . A method for combining at least two separate components, the method comprising:
 providing a mixer comprising a three-dimensional lattice defining a plurality of tortuous, interconnecting passages therethrough; and   selecting a material for the mixer based on physical characteristics of said material, said characteristics including a selected one or more of mean flow pore size, thickness and porosity volume.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 21  wherein selecting includes selecting a porosity and a mean pore size sufficient to form a generally homogenous mixed stream. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the two components includes a liquid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the two components includes a solid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 21  wherein at least one of the two components includes a gas. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the two components include fibrinogen and thrombin. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  comprising at least two of said mixers located in series and further comprising flowing the two components through the mixers to mix the first and second components. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein selecting includes determining a K value for the mixer, as measured by Darcy's Law:
     K=Q*η*L /( S*ΔP )   where Q=flow rate of the combined fluid stream,   η=viscosity of the more viscous of the two components   L=thickness of the mixer   S=surface area of the mixer   ΔP=change in pressure between upstream and downstream locations of the mixer.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein selecting includes determining the product of the mean flow pore size, thickness and porosity of the mixer. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the mixer is positioned intermediate first and second passageways and in fluid communication therewith, the first and second passageways being in respective fluid communication with a first and second component; and sequentially passing the first component through the mixer from the first passageway to the second passageway and passing both the first and second components through the mixer from the second passageway to the first passageway. 
     
     
         27 . The method of claim  32  wherein the first and second components pass through the mixer a plurality of times. 
     
     
         28 . The method of claim  32  further comprising combining the at least two components in the vicinity of the mixer at a selected location upstream of the mixer. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the specific surface of pores forming the pore size can range from 1000 up to 100000 μm2/μm3.