Agitator and Mixer
Agitators are equipment used to homogenize media inside a tank. They work by rotating immersed impellers at a controlled speed, also called revolutions per minute (RPM). The work exerted by the impeller induces the flow and shear of the media inside the tank, causing a single or multi-component media to homogenize. The flow of the media is kept at a uniform rate and pattern.
A mixer is a complex and precision piece of equipment that blends, emulsifies, homogenizes, and combines various types of ingredients that are essential to a manufacturing or production process. Mixing is part of the production of commercial and industrial products including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and foods each of which require precision control for mixing of unlike and dissimilar chemicals and materials.
The terms “agitators” and “mixers” are often used interchangeably, but they technically do not mean the same thing. Mixers are equipment that rapidly blends two or more components together. These components may be of the same or different phases (e.g., solid-liquid, liquid-liquid, gas-liquid). When a component enters a mixer, it is often in a “pure” state and leaves combined with other components. On the other hand, agitators maintain homogeneity and equilibrium in an existing mixture. They prevent the formation of concentration and temperature gradients and ensure uniform consistency in a mixture.
MAIN COMPONENTS OF AGITATOR:
- MOTOR: The motor drives the agitator assembly. It produces the required torque to induce flow and shear to the media at a controlled degree.
- SHAFT: The shaft is connected to the motor’s driveshaft and transmits the torque to the impeller. Couplings, end caps, and other devices are used to build the shaft assembly. Sealings are also used to prevent material build-up.
- IMPELLER: The impeller is considered the most critical component of agitators that determine the flow pattern, efficiency of the homogenizing process, and mixing parameters. It is responsible for exerting energy directly to the materials being mixed. It induces fluid flow and shear patterns as it rotates. This component does the actual mixing.
TYPES OF AGITATOR:
- Paddle Agitators
- Anchor Agitators
- Helical Ribbon Agitators
- Double Helical Ribbon Agitators
- Agitators With Screw Impellers
- Propeller Agitators
- Turbine Agitators
- Agitators with Retreat Curve Impellers
- Agitators with Coil Impellers
- Agitators with Dispersion Blade Impellers
- Agitators with Hydrofoil Impellers
TYPES OF MIXER:
- Paddle Mixer
- Horizontal Ribbon Mixer
- Tumbler Mixer
- Drum Mixer
- Emulsifier
- Static Mixer