APPARATUS FOR HOMOGENIZATION AND/OR DISPERSION OF FREE-FLOWING MATERIAL

• US 20060233042A1
• Filed: 04/13/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ekato Unimix GmbH
• Original Assignee: Ekato Unimix GmbH
• Inventors: Helck, Martin, Buchholz, Marko
• Application Number:
  US11/279,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20060233042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/136
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/47 involving high-viscosity liquids, e.g. asphalt
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/56 by introducing solids in liquids, e.g. dispersing or dissolving
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/52 with a rotary stirrer in the recirculation tube
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/53 in which the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle through a recirculation tube, into which an additional component is introduced
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/1122 anchor-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/271 with means for moving the materials to be mixed radially between the surfaces of the rotor and the stator
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/821 with consecutive receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/20 Measuring; Control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2113 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/22141 Speed of feeding of at least one component to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/221422 Speed of rotation of the mixing axis, stirrer or receptacle during the operation

Abstract

Apparatus for homogenizing and/or dispersing free-flowing material, in particular liquid or pasty material, includes a container for receiving free-flowing material, a homogenizing and/or dispersing device, and a feed pump for transferring the material in a flow direction from a container outlet to an inlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device. The feed pump and the homogenizing and/or dispersing device are hereby operated by separate drives. An outlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device is connected to an inlet of the container via a recirculation system for optional return flow of material. Disposed between an outlet of the feed pump and the inlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device is a sensor for controlling operation of the feed pump in response to a flow characteristic of the material and/or a process parameter so that a material flow to the homogenizing and/or dispersing device is maintained constantly under a supply pressure.

Claims

1. Apparatus for homogenizing and/or dispersing free-flowing material, in particular liquid or pasty material, comprising:

a container for receiving free-flowing material;

a homogenizing and/or dispersing device;

a feed pump for transferring the material in a flow direction from a container outlet to an inlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device;

a recirculation system for connecting an outlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device to an inlet of the container for optional return flow of material;

a first drive for operating the feed pump;

a second drive for operating the homogenizing and/or dispersing device; and

a sensor disposed between an outlet of the feed pump and the inlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device for controlling operation of the feed pump in response to a flow characteristic of the material and/or a process parameter so that a material flow to the homogenizing and/or dispersing device is maintained constantly under a supply pressure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a feed unit for supply of an additive of liquid or powdered composition into the homogenizing and/or dispersing device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a branch conduit disposed in flow direction upstream of the inlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device, and a valve for opening and closing the branch conduit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feed pump is a centrifugal pump.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feed pump has a tangential outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recirculation system is constructed to extend from the outlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device to an area in proximity of the container outlet and/or to extend from the outlet of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device to an upper area of the container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the material is returned into the container at a level above a material level.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an agitator disposed in the container and constructed for conveying material in an axial and/or radial direction.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a frequency converter for controlling the first drive and a frequency converter for controlling the second drive.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feed pump has a pump capacity and the homogenizing and/or dispersing device has a conveying capacity, wherein the pump capacity and the conveying capacity are variable independently from one another.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the feed unit is constructed to respond to underpressure determined by the sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the homogenizing and/or dispersing device has a shearing zone, wherein the feed pump controls a retention time of material in the shearing zone through adjustment of a pump capacity of the feed pump to thereby adjust an energy density.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the retention time is controlled by adjusting a rotation speed of the feed pump.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feed pump and the homogenizing and/or dispersing device are combined to form a compact unitary structure having a flange for attachment to the container.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit for automatically operating the feed pump such that the material flow to the homogenizing and/or dispersing device is maintained constantly under the supply pressure.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control unit operates the feed pump in dependence on a speed of the homogenizing and/or dispersing device.