Method and device for mixing fluid flows

1. A device for mixing at least two separate fluid flows having a plurality of fluid flow channels arranged in a plurality of concentric rings with respect to a longitudinal center line,

the fluid flow channels forming first rings, in which the fluid flow channels are inclined in a first direction in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal center line, in such a way that as medium flows through them, they in each case generate an annular swirl flow rotating in the first direction for each first ring,

the fluid flow channels forming second rings, in which the fluid flow channels are inclined in a second direction which is counter to the first direction, in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal center line, in such a way that, as medium flows through them, they in each case generate an annular swirl flow rotating in the second direction for each second ring,

first groups, each comprising at least one first ring, and second groups, each comprising at least one second ring, alternating in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal center line,

wherein the inclination of the channels with respect to the longitudinal center line increases at increasing distance from the longitudinal center line;

wherein the fluid flow channels form third rings, in which the fluid flow channels run parallel to the longitudinal center line,

third groups, each comprising at least one third ring, are in each case arranged radially between a first group and a second group.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the first and second rings or the first and second and third rings are arranged in a swirl generating structure,

a straightener structure, which exclusively includes fluid flow channels running parallel to the longitudinal center line, is arranged downstream of and at a distance from the swirl generating structure.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the fluid flow channels of the straightener structure are shorter and have larger cross-sectional areas than the fluid flow channels of the swirl generating structure.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein some of the fluid flow channels have catalytically active surfaces, while the other fluid flow channels have catalytically inactive surfaces.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein radially adjacent fluid flow channels of the first and second rings or of the first and second and third rings are in communication with one another via at least one gas-permeable portion.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the device, radially with respect to the longitudinal center line, has a plurality of layers of a corrugated or folded first plate material, the corrugations or folds of which form the fluid flow channels,

in each case one intermediate layer of a flat or smooth second plate material is arranged radially between two adjacent layers,

the plate materials are layered concentrically and annularly or helically with respect to the longitudinal center line.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein adjacent fluid flow channels are in communication with one another, in such a manner that when medium flows through the fluid flow channels, the flow is intimately mixed by being transferred between fluid flow channels.

8. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the fluid flow channels of the straightener structure are shorter or have larger cross-sectional areas than the fluid flow channels of the swirl generating structure.

9. The device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the fluid flow channels have a diameter from 0.5 mm to 5 mm.