Stirring method

• US 4,310,253 A
• Filed: 03/24/1980
• Issued: 01/12/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TOYO Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: TOYO Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Katoh, Shigeo, Michiki, Hideyuki, Sada, Eizo, Toei, Ryozo
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US06/132,847
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 366/273, 366/274, 366/292, 261/84
• US Class Current: 366/273
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/451 wherein the mixture is directly exposed to an electromagnetic field without use of a stirrer, e.g. for material comprising ferromagnetic particles or for molten metal

Abstract

A stirring method comprising placing particles of a magnetic material or particles of a magnetic material coated or covered with a non-magnetic material in an interface between two phases or in a specific layer, and subjecting said particles to influences of a rotating magnetic field to cause rotation and revolution in the particles. According to this method, transfer of substances and/or heat in the interface between the two phases or in the specific layer is promoted. Also disclosed is a stir method comprising placing particles of a magnetic material or particles of a magnetic material coated or covered with a non-magnetic material in a fluid under influences of a rotating magnetic field, to cause rotation and revolution in the particles in the fluid. According to this method, transfer of substances and/or heat in the interface between a phase of the particles and a phase of the fluid is promoted.

Claims

1. Method for magnetically and selectively stirring substances in a vessel containing them, which comprises:

(a) placing a predetermined quantity of comminuted magnetic material at a preselected location in said vessel, said magnetic material being covered with a non-magnetic material so as to possess a predetermined specific gravity;

(b) placing in said vessel and above said comminuted magnetic material movable means for rotating said magnetic material under the influence of a variable rotating magnetic field generated by said movable means;

(c) adjusting said rotating magnetic field to a predetermined rotational speed and said movable means to a predetermined distance from said magnetic material; and

(d) causing said movable means to stir said substances selectively in said vessel, thereby obtaining a transfer of the thus stirred substances in said vessel.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

(a) placing in said vessel and below said comminuted magnetic material mechanically-actuated stirring means for additionally stirring said substances in said vessel, whereby said substances are selectively stirred by the combined stirring action of said movable means and said mechanically-actuated stirring means for the obtainment of a transfer of the thus stirred substances in said vessel.

3. The method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said comminuted magnetic material consists of particles of magnetic material individually or plurally coated by non-magnetic material.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more specific non-magnetic materials are combined with said magnetic material, the resulting combination being covered by said non-magnetic material.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said non-magnetic material consist of said specific non-magnetic material.

6. The method according to claim 5 or 2, wherein said preselected location is selected from the group consisting of the interface between two fluids in a multi-phase system, the interface between two liquids in a multi-liquid system, one liquid in a multi-liquid system and one phase in a multi-phase system.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said multi-phase system is selected from the group consisting of gas-liquid systems, liquid-solid systems and gas-liquid-solid ternary systems.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said magnetic material consists of comminuted iron oxide covered with a non-magnetic material selected from the group consisting of paraffin, plastic material, and glass.

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said movable means for rotating said magnetic material is selected from a rotating magnet or a permanent magnet or an electromagnet or a three-phase alternating electric current.