Static mixing device

Abstract

A static mixing device comprising a conduit in which there are located a plurality of rows of spaced parallel tubes extending across the conduit. The tubes are located in rows in which the adjacent rows extend in a longitudinal direction, but are located at right angles to each other. The heat transfer medium flows through the tubes to maintain the product in the conduit within a preselected temperature range. The adjacent rows of tubes abut each other and thus provide a tortuous path for the product in the conduit to effect mixing thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A static mixing device comprising a tubular conduit .Iadd.consisting of a tubular wall defining a hollow tubular cross section .Iaddend.through which a viscous product to be maintained within a given temperature range is fed under substantial pressure, a plurality of rows of tubes extending across and filling a major portion of the cross section of said conduit through which a heat transfer medium flows to provide a greater interface between the heat transfer medium and viscous product to maintain said product within the preselected temperature range to help retain its homogeneity, .Iadd.each tube extending through the tubular wall of the conduit at an individual heat transfer medium entrance point for that tube and an individual heat transfer medium exit point for that tube, each tube being substantially linear between its entrance point and exit point, .Iaddend.each of said rows of tubes extending in a longitudinal direction relative to said conduit, the tubes in each of the rows abutting an adjacent row and extending at an angle relative to adjacent rows so that the product flowing through said conduit under high pressure is directed in a tortuous path around said tubes to effect uniform mixing of the product and prevent accumulation of the product on the tubes while the product is being maintained within the prescribed temperature range by the application of uniform heat to the viscous product to provide a more uniformly reacted viscous product flowing through the conduit. 
     
     
       2. A static mixing device as set forth in claim 1 in which the alternate rows of tubes are parallel to each other. 
     
     
       3. A static mixing device as set forth in claim 2 in which the immediately adjacent groups of tubes are disposed at right angles to each other. 
     
     
       4. A static mixing device as set forth in claim 1 in which the tubes extending through the conduit are welded to the outer surface of the conduit. 
     
     
       5. A static mixing device as set forth in claim 3 in which there are at least four groups of tubes. 
     
     
       6. A static mixing device as set forth in claim 1 in which said conduit has a relative small diameter whereby the flow of heat transfer medium flowing through the tubes occurs during a relatively short time span so that only a small variation of the temperature of the transfer medium takes place as it flows through the conduit.