A novel process for continuously mixing and reacting at least two fluids
are disclosed. Excellent mixing and superior pressure drop characteristics
are achieved using cyclone mixing where at least two supply channels feed
a mixing chamber to create a vortex of the fluids to be mixed. The
alignment of the supply channels is such that fluids are introduced into
the chamber at both tangential and radial directions. In the case of
gas/liquid mixing, particularly advantageous is the injection of the
liquid stream tangentially and the gas stream radially. Reaction of the
fluids can take place within the mixing chamber or in a separate reactor
in fluid communication with the mixing chamber outlet. The process is
especially useful for reacting potentially explosive mixtures of reactants
where a homogeneous reactor feed mixture is critical to maintaining a
non-explosive environment.
