VARYING ANNULAR FLUIDIZATION ZONE FOR INCREASED MIXING EFFICIENCY IN A MEDIUM CONSISTENCY MIXER

摘要

Medium consistency (e.g. about 5-18%) paper pulp is mixed with a treatment fluid by fluidizing them while subjecting them to a constantly changing shear field in radial and axial planes. This is accomplished by providing a mixer rotor having a constantly varying cross-section along a dimension of elongation. The rotor may comprise a body having an external surface simulating alternately oriented cone frustums along its axis of rotation, with vanes connected to the external surface and including portions following the surface contour. A disk may or may not be provided at the end of the body connected to a shaft. A first interior housing portion has a configuration mimicking that of the rotor, while a second housing portion defines a fluidization zone with the disk.