Process for blending fluids of widely differing viscosities

摘要

A process is provided for blending two fluids having widely differing viscosities, such that the ratio of the two viscosities is at least 10,000:1. The low viscosity fluid is injected into the high viscosity fluid as it flows through a conduit, such that the low viscosity fluid is at least 30% by weight of the total weight of the low viscosity fluid and the high viscosity fluid. The two fluids are then forwarded to a second conduit containing a first set of static mixing elements providing a fluid shear rate in excess of 0.57 sec^−1. The two fluids are then further forwarded to a third conduit containing a second set of static mixing elements of a larger diameter than the first set, providing a fluid shear rate in excess of 0.20 sec^−1. Within the third conduit the two fluids form a homogeneous blend.