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.