Agitator

Mild agitation for blending

Medium agitation (turbulence) for gas absorption
Violent agitation for emulsification

Mixer
Mix non homogenous material
Maintain mixture of material which can be separated
Increase rate of heat transfer

1. Blending: combining miscible materials to homogenous mixture

2. Dissolving: dissipation of solid in liquid
3. Dispersion: mixing of non miscible materials
4. Solid suspension: suspends insoluble solids within liquid
5. Heat exchange: promote heat transfer through forced convention
6. Extraction: separation of a component through solvent
extraction

Top entry used for all applications

Side entry used for low speed, mild blending, tank cleaning

Type of mounting
1. Vessel on centre (VOC), require baffles
2. Off centre (VOFFC)
3. Angled off centre (AOC)

Liquid height/ vessel diameter > 1.25, multiple impellers required.

1 impeller for each diameter of liquid height

Tank baffles
Anti swirl baffles used for centre shaft, top mounted mixers
to prevent vortexing, promote top-to-bottom turnover,
4 baffles spaced at 90
500 cP, baffles mounted on vessel wall
High viscosity/solid contents, Baffles are spaced off of the
wall
10,000 Cp, spaced 1 from wall
20,000 cP, baffles not required
Horizontal tanks have no baffles
AS viscosity increases need for baffles and with of baffles
reduces, as the tendency of vortexing reduces.
Impellers types:
Paddle:
Low cost, small pumping action, low axial flow
Blade diameter/vessel diameter (1/3 to 2/3)
Propeller:
Axial flow reduces mix time, high flow, high speed, side entry
Heavier, costly than PBT
Propeller to vessel diameter 1/3

Anchor
Rotate slowly. High surface area, high viscosity
Turbine
Mounted vertically, low speed
Greater shear than pumping, higher horsepower per unit volume
Flat blade
radial discharging
Pump liquid outward due to centrifugal force
Liquid flows in from top /bottom at centre, discharge from
circumference
Widely used mechanical agitator
4 to 12 blades
Liquid liquid dispersion
Curved blades for high viscosity
Pitched blade axial thrust type
Radial and axial flow, pitching done to increase radial flow
Angle 0 to 90deg, 45deg is commercial
Ratio of blade diameter to vessel diameter is 1/3

Ribbon