MIXING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN EMULSIFIED FUEL
A mixing apparatus is disclosed. The mixing apparatus comprises a mixing device having a constant flow area. The mixing device is configured to create a shearing environment. Several types of mixing apparatus are disclosed. Methods for producing aqueous fuel emulsions with consistently uniform dispersed phase particle sizes using a mixing apparatus are also disclosed.
1 . A mixing apparatus comprising:
a disc body having a first face and a second face opposite said first face, said disc body having a disc wall disposed between said first face and said second face; and
at least one flow passage extending through said disc body from said first face to said second face, said at least one flow passage having a constant flow area;
wherein said disc body is configured to shear a fluid flowing through said at least one flow passage.
2 . The mixing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mixing apparatus creates a shearing environment having a constant mixing energy throughout said mixing device.
3 . The mixing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said fluid flows through said shearing environment to create an emulsion.
4 . A method of producing aqueous fuel emulsions with consistently uniform dispersed phase particle sizes using a mixing apparatus, comprising:
disposing aqueous fuel emulsion producing liquids into a mixing device, said mixing device comprising:
a fluid shear generator body having a first cavity with an inlet having a predetermined flow area and a second cavity with an outlet having a predetermined flow area, said first cavity having an inlet configured to receive liquids, said second cavity having an outlet configured to couple said liquids mixed in said fluid shear generator body;
a shear cone disposed between said first cavity and said second cavity;
a shear cone seat disposed between said first cavity and said second cavity, said shear cone seat matingly receives said shear cone, said shear cone seat is parallel to an upper surface of said shear cone; and
a control stem integral with said shear cone, said control stem configured to adjust said shear cone, said control stem is configured to control a gap between said shear cone and a shear cone seat, said gap having a predetermined flow area; and
flowing said aqueous fuel emulsion-producing liquids through a constant flow area of said mixing device.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the mixing apparatus creates a shearing environment having a constant mixing energy throughout said mixing device.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said predetermined flow area of said inlet, said predetermined flow area of said outlet, and said predetermined flow area of said gap are the same.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said predetermined flow area of said inlet, said predetermined flow area of said outlet, and said predetermined flow area of said gap are constant.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said predetermined flow area of said inlet, said predetermined flow area of said outlet, and said predetermined flow area of said gap are equal.
9 . A method of producing aqueous fuel emulsions with consistently uniform dispersed phase particle sizes using a mixing apparatus, comprising:
disposing aqueous fuel emulsion producing liquids into a mixing device, said mixing device comprising:
a disc body having a first face and a second face opposite said first face, said disc body having a disc wall disposed between said first face and said second face; and
at least one flow passage extending through said disc body from said first face to said second face, said at least one flow passage having a constant flow area;
wherein said disc body is configured to shear a fluid flowing through said at least one flow passage; and
flowing said aqueous fuel emulsion-producing liquids through said constant flow area of said mixing device.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the mixing apparatus creates a shearing environment having a constant mixing energy throughout said mixing device.