Mixers come in a variety of different styles, sizes, and speeds, each made for a specific industry. Where food processing and pharmaceutical needs might need something a little more delicate, cement blending, plastic creation, and water treatment mixers are designed to be a little more durable and robust.
But they all have the same thing in common: Creating a product that is uniform in makeup with exacting precision. If a blending process isn’t allowed to finish, the material may not be able to complete the production process. If it mixes too long certain properties may be eliminated.
Depending on the process, mixers can be used at almost any point during production or in concert with other mixers.
Different Types of Mixers
Although mixers can be highly customized, there are a few standard types of equipment. These mixers can be divided into two different processes: continuous or batch mixing. Continuous mixing is when materials are brought in at a constant rate, blended, and then moved down the line.
Batch mixers take a certain amount of materials, mix them, and then the material is removed so the mixer can be readied for the next batch. These are often used when the handling of the product isn’t as time-sensitive. Continuous mixing is preferred when material viscosity is altered when it’s allowed to sit.
Blenders
Used to fold larger, bulk solid materials together in an even fashion. There are three main types of blenders: Tumbler, Convective, and Fluidization. Tumblers mix materials of both similar and dissimilar sizes and can be used for solid-solid or solid-fluid mixtures. Tumblers come in double-cone, v-shape, and slant varieties.
Convective blenders consist of a stationary shell and rotating paddles or ribbons or a large vertical screw on the inside. Fluid can be added to these blenders and materials discharged during operation. These are ideal when space limits tumblers or cohesive materials are involved.
Fluidization blenders move through fine, yet solid, materials as if they were fluid. Jets are often employed to move heavier particles back into the ix when needed. Plow or double paddles are used to mix the materials much faster than ribbons.
Agitators
Used for mixing fluids with other fluids or to add gas to liquid mixtures, agitators come in two main styles. Axial flow impellers use blades that are angled less than 90 degrees are “top-to-bottom” mixers that draw fluid from the top of the mixing tank. Radial flow impellers use four to six blades and move the materials from side to side.
High-viscosity mixers are used for materials that are thicker than fluid and also have adhesive properties, such as resins or dough. They can employ double arms, dual and triple shafts, and rotating blades that also rotate around a center axis.
Whatever your industrial mixer needs, Storee Construction can install the machines at any point along your production lines. When used in conjunction with other equipment, the appropriate mixers can increase productivity and efficiency. Let us know what materials are being mixed, the viscosity of the materials, and how much room you have and we’ll find the perfect fit.
