Oxygen/hydrocarbon rapid (high shear) gas mixer, particularly for the production of ethylene oxide

US8404189B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Dow Technology Investments LLC · US

Inventors

• Harvey E. Andresen · Luling, US
• Christopher P. Christenson · Lake Jackson, US
• Charles W. Lipp · Lake Jackson, US
• John R. Mayer · Diemelstraße, US
• Thomas J. Kling · Midland, US
• Victor R. Fey · Southfield, US
• Laurence G. Britton · Charleston, US
• Michael J. Rangitsch · Saginaw, US
• Michael L. Hutchison · Poca, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 12, 2008
• Grant date: Mar 26, 2013
• Expiry date: Dec 3, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01J2208/00876
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A gas mixer is disclosed which includes a vessel (10) (e.g., pipe) containing a stream (12) of a first hydrocarbon-containing gas. The mixer includes a hollow pipe (14) located internal to the vessel containing a stream of a second gas, e.g., an oxygen-containing gas stream such as a stream of pure oxygen gas or air enriched with oxygen. The internal pipe further includes a mixer tip (30) at the peripheral end thereof. The mixer tip includes a body having an internal passage for conducting the second gas out of the pipe and an opening introducing the second gas stream into the first gas stream in a radial plane at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the pipe. The pipe further includes a deflector (20) on its external surface in longitudinal alignment with the opening of the mixer tip. The deflector serves to deflect any entrained particles within the first gas stream away from the mixing zone where the two streams mix, minimizing the risk of ignition of the hydrocarbon-containing gas.