Method and apparatus for mechanically heating a mixture of substances

Abstract

A method for mechanically heating a liquid mixture of substances is described. In a liquid-ring pump ( 1 ), a foam phase is compressed and the compression heat is transferred to the mixture of substances. An apparatus designed as a liquid-ring pump ( 1 ) for mechanically heating a liquid mixture of substances is also described. Said liquid-ring pump ( 1 ) comprises an impeller ( 12 ) eccentrically arranged in a cup-shaped pump housing ( 11 ) as well as a tangential suction port ( 13 ) and a tangential delivery port ( 14 ). A gas port ( 15 ) for introducing an inert process gas extends into the suction port ( 13 ) and/or into the cup-shaped pump housing ( 1 ).

1 . A method for the mechanical heating of a fluid substance mixture, wherein
 a foam layer is produced in a fluid ring pump and the foam phase is compressed in order to transfer the heat of the compression to the substance mixture.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the mixture is an oil, residue and catalyst mixture.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the mixture is circulated in a circuit.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the foam phase is produced by the introduction of an inert process gas under low pressure into the substance mixture.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the process gas is introduced into the substance mixture upstream of the fluid ring pump.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the process gas is introduced into the substance mixture in the fluid ring pump.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the proportion of the foam phase is from 10 to 30% by volume, preferably from 10 to 25% by volume.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the proportion of the foam phase is so selected that a fluid ring is formed on the inner periphery of the fluid ring pump.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the proportion of the foam phase is determined by temperature measurement upstream and downstream of the fluid ring pump and the energy transfer to the substance mixture is thus calculated.   
     
     
         10 . A device formed as a fluid ring pump for the mechanical heating of a fluid substance mixture, whereby the fluid ring pump has an eccentrically-arranged impeller as well as a tangentially-arranged suction nozzle and a tangentially-arranged pressure nozzle in a pot-shaped pump housing, wherein
 a gas nozzle for introducing an inert process gas opens into the suction nozzle and/or in the pot-shaped pump housing.   
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the gas nozzle is arranged with its axis parallel to or in alignment with the axis of rotation of the impeller.   
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the outlet of the gas nozzle is formed as a slot.   
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the width of the slot is greater than the diameter of the gas nozzle.