What are the different types of industrial mixers?

Industrial mixers for powders, granules and bulk materials are used in many industries (i.e., chemical, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, animal nutrition, etc.) for the manufacture of flavorings, food colorings, paints, toners, as well as the treatment of polymers, silicones, lubricants and adhesives...
Mixing operations are required at many stages of industrial processes.

The choice and sizing of an agitator can be a complicated decision. The design takes into account three criteria:

• The nature of the bulk products to be mixed
• The purpose of the mixture
• The type of process (environment). The mixer will also depend on the number of phases present.

The mixer will also depend on the number of phases present.

Industrial mixers can be of several types: mechanical, static, rotating, with or without liquid injection, etc.

They are equipped with a motor (with speed reducer), a shaft guide mechanism, drive shaft and mixing agitators.

Depending on the viscosity of the product and the type of phase (liquid, solid or gas), we often refer to this equipment as either a mixer, blender or kneader.

It is important to consider factors such as environmental conditions that can indicate additional stresses on the mixer. These conditions would require specific design characteristics for the equipment: pressure (tightness), temperature (cooling), types of fluids and atmosphere (hazardous area rating).

• Container mixer

Rotating tank mixer.
 

• Horizontal mixers (convective):

They are equipped with an agitation system installed in a static tank. This stirrer moves the particles in groups from one place to another in the mixing tank.

The stirring media used can be ribbons or blades. The paddle mixer generates a more sustained mechanical action than the ribbon mixer and offers a shorter mixing time.
 

• Paddle mixers:

The blades incorporate a significant amount of air into the mixture, which tends to fluidize the layer of particles in the vessel and promote movement of the particles. The paddle mixers are used for many industrial applications, such as mixing mineral powders and chemical additives for production of facade plasters or tile adhesive. They can also be used for the treatment of minerals, ore or explosive powders.
 

• Ribbon mixers

They are used for mixing applications of more fragile products, such as in the food or animal nutrition industries.
 

• Mixers with secant blades

They are suitable for applications where precise mixing is not required. For example, the treatment of polluted soil.
 

• Conical Screw Mixer:

This is a high precision mixer for all types of powders with minimal difference in physical characteristics. The conical screw mixer consists of a tank with a vertical screw mixing system which passes through the entire volume of the cone and moves the material in an upward flow.

• Vertical ribbon mixer:

The helical ribbon allows the three-dimensional mixing of the different ingredients; a rotating and ascending flow at the sides, as well as a descending flow in the center.

This mixing principle works from a filling level as low as 10%.

The mixing of solids in liquids is a process used in certain fields such: paint, polymer, cosmetics, lubricants, agri-food, building materials, etc.

The mixture of liquids and solids is suitable for many industrial applications such as dissolution, crystallization, dispersion or heat transfer operations.

In the chemical sector, we find this type of application for the dispersion of fillers during the manufacture of glues, paints and certain polymers, but also in cosmetics (manufacture of toothpaste) or in materials chemistry (ready-to-use coatings, waterproofing coating, etc.).

Dispersers are the ideal tool for making liquid / solid mixtures. Agitation mobiles are designed to create different actions of circulation (radial, axial and tangential flow), turbulence and shear.

Industrial mixers, coupled with a wide range of tools, are suitable for all types of processes. They guarantee ergonomics for the operators, a high level of safety and good mixture quality.