Abstract: A mixer impeller having high efficiency blades. The impeller may include a central hub and a plurality of blades attached to and extending radially outwardly from the hub such that leading edges thereof are inclined upwardly from trailing edges thereof.

Abstract: In one aspect, a mixing arrangement is provided for a tank mixing system which includes a tank defined by a side wall, a bottom and a top, the top including at least one opening therethrough. The arrangement includes a non-rotating elongated arm extending through the opening in the top of the tank, the arm pivoted for movement about a pivot axis; an impeller positioned on the arm for movement therewith and within the tank, the impeller moving back and forth along an arcuate path within the tank as the arm pivots back and forth about the pivot axis. In another aspect, a ball-and-socket assembly is positioned above the top of the tank and is movable along a curved path to mope an impeller in a curved path within the tank.

Abstract: A radial impeller includes a cover having a frusto-conical portion and multiple blades extending radially outwardly. Related mixing systems involve positioning the radial impeller with blades adjacent a flow opening of a tank to draw water through the flow opening when the impeller is rotated.

Abstract: A static mixer element and a method for mixing first and second (or more) fluids using a static mixer element. The static mixer element includes a directional flow axis which points in an intended downstream direction opposite to an intended upstream direction. The static mixer element also includes interdigitated static mixer blades. The blades each have a concave side which faces generally in the intended upstream direction at an acute angle with respect to the intended upstream direction. The static mixer element is placed in a pipe with the directional flow axis of the static mixer element pointing downstream. The first and second fluids are introduced into the pipe upstream from the static mixer element. Optionally, other static mixer elements can be added downstream, wherein even-numbered elements are rotated ninety-degrees about the directional flow axis from odd-numbered static mixer elements.

Abstract: An assembly for rotationally coupling a set of blades to a drive shaft. The assembly includes an sleeve rotationally coupled to the drive shaft, a cap rotationally coupled to the sleeve, and a lower ring located between the cap and the sleeve, the lower ring having a set of generally radially extending blades. The assembly further includes an upper ring located between the lower ring and the sleeve, the upper ring having a set of generally radially extending blades, wherein the upper and lower rings are rotationally coupled to at least one of the sleeve or the cap.

Abstract: A static mixer element and a method for mixing first and second (or more) fluids using a static mixer element. The static mixer element includes a directional flow axis which points in an intended downstream direction opposite to an intended upstream direction. The static mixer element also includes interdigitated static mixer blades. The blades each have a concave side which faces generally in the intended upstream direction at an acute angle with respect to the intended upstream direction. The static mixer element is placed in a pipe with the directional flow axis of the static mixer element pointing downstream. The first and second fluids are introduced into the pipe upstream from the static mixer element. Optionally, other static mixer elements can be added downstream, wherein even-numbered elements are rotated ninety-degrees about the directional flow axis from odd-numbered static mixer elements.

Abstract: A fluid mixing system including a liquid mixing device and method for generating and maintaining a substantially uniform, horizontal velocity profile in a liquid circulation system, such as a plug flow reactor, which requires less horsepower than conventional liquid mixing systems without losing mixing effectiveness. The liquid mixing device employs a top-entry, vertically-oriented impeller and a housing that directs the pumped flow in a generally horizontal direction. The liquid mixing module may be positioned in close proximity to an aeration source within a channel.

Abstract: A speed reducer for a mixing apparatus having a gear train mounted within a housing such that the output shaft is supported by upper and lower bearings mounted within the upper portion and base of the housing, respectively. The lower output shaft bearing preferably is mounted within a recess in the underside of the housing base below a dry well containing the output shaft. The dry well forms a lubricant sump within the housing and preferably is unitary with the housing base. By placing the output shaft bearing below the dry well in the base of the housing, the diameter of the bearing can be increased to bear larger loads without being restricted by the dry well and is better able to transmit bending and radial loads to a relatively massive portion of the housing, and is placed closer to the load, thereby minimizing the amount of unsupported output shaft projecting from the reducer.

Abstract: An impeller assembly for agitating a fluid contained in a vessel and dispersing a gas introduced therein. The impeller assembly includes an impeller having a plurality of generally radially extending blades. Each of the blades includes diverging upper and lower sheet-like portions having generally radially extending leading edges. The upper and lower portions are joined to form a generally V-shaped cross-section with a trailing vertex. The width of the upper portion of each blade is greater than the width of the lower portion of the blade such that the upper portion leading edge extends forwardly of the lower portion leading edge, thus producing an upper portion overhang to capture and disperse rising gas bubbles. The impeller assembly further comprises a drive assembly for rotating the impeller assembly.

Abstract: An in-line laminar flow motionless mixer mixes a low viscosity fluid into a high viscosity fluid. A first conduit section receives the high viscosity fluid and has a first set of slots. Injector nozzles extend into the first conduit section ahead of the slots with orifices which add the low viscosity fluid in the form of sheets. A second tubular section has a second series of slots formed orthogonally to the slots in the first section, and an annular connective jacket encloses the first and second set of slots and provides a flow path between the sections. A flow distributor extends within the respective and provides flow equalization. Method of mixing includes the injection of a low viscosity fluid as a striation. The composite flow is diverted circumferentially radially outwardly causing laminar shear mixing. The outward flow is cut into a smaller individual flows by slots, causing distributive and extensional mixing. The flows are recombined causing further distributive and laminar shear mixing.

Abstract: Liquid mixing impellers particularly designed for the chemical processing industry provide a generally axial flow when rotated in a first direction of rotation and provide a generally radial flow when rotated in the opposite direction of rotation. The blades are formed of sheet material with an edge which leads in the first direction of rotation being defined by a portion of the blade which is folded and turned in a chordwise sense through a limited extent back upon itself. The folded back leading edge forms a rearwardly facing concavity which faces the blade trailing edge. The power number in the radial flow rotation direction substantially exceeds the power number in the axial flow rotation direction.

Abstract: A high efficiency impeller has blades which are formed of plate material. Each blade has a first span-wise bend which extends generally parallel to the trailing edge and through about the center of the blade measured cord-wise and extending the length of the blade from the root end to the tip end. The first bend divides the blade into a back portion and a front portion. The front portion is further divided by a second bend line which extends from the intersection of the first bend line with the tip of the blade diagonally to the leading edge of the blade at a point about one-fifth to one-third the span-wise length outwardly from the blade root. The material of the blade is bent about each of the bend lines, in the same direction, to provide camber and concavity for the blade. The leading and trailing edges of the blade are chamfered.

Abstract: A steady bearing for supporting the extended end of an impeller shaft at the bottom of a mixing vessel provides adjustment for the alignment of the position of the shaft within the vessel and includes a bearing support stand with legs extending to the bottom of the tank or vessel, and a plate which is supported off of the bottom. A steady bearing housing has a bearing sleeve which receives the end of the shaft and has a mounting flange which extends radially of the housing and is mounted or received in abutting relation to the bearing support plate. Couplers in the form of slotted circular discs are received in recesses in the bearing housing mounting flange. The slots have threaded fasteners which extend therethrough and into the support plate, so that the radial position of the steady bearing housing with respect to the support stand may be made accompanied by rotational movement of the coupler discs within their respective recesses.

Abstract: An improved liquid-liquid solvent extraction system is provided having a mixing stage which includes a mixing device for creating a dispersion of the two liquid phases followed by a residence chamber designed to enhance contacting and mass transfer between the solute and solvent phases. The separating stage includes a drop size conditioning device which establishes a drop size in the discontinuous liquid phase of the dispersion which can be separated easily from the continuous liquid phase in the succeeding settling stage of the device. The drop size conditioning device also acts to reduce entrainment of the solvent phase in the solute phase during separation of the phases. The settling device may contain a series of baffles to reduce the time required for phase separation and to reduce entrainment of the solvent phase in the solute phase.The system is used to extract metal ions such as uranium, copper, cobalt, nickel, and vanadium from aqueous process streams containing dilute concentrations of such ions.

Abstract: A motionless mixer for combining different substances brought into communication therewith. The mixer includes at least two tubular members. Each tubular member has at least one spiral corrugated surface thereon. The members are arranged so that different substances brought into and out of communication therewith including the at least one corrugated surface will be mixed together.

Abstract: A mechanical seal and rotating agitator shaft assembly for effecting sealing between the shaft and the wall of the opening through which it extends into a mixer tank includes a sleeve dimensioned for removable mounting on the shaft and serving as a support for the rotating seal assembly which includes a sealing ring arranged for sealing against a glass coated portion of the shaft to prevent access of the contents of the tank to any metal part of the seal and shaft assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the shaft includes a glass coated boss located below the sleeve for engagement by the sealing ring.