The Ideal Equipment for Agitation

Many processing industries depend on effective mixing and agitation processes. The agitation is a process of forcing fluids by mechanical forces to flow in a specific pattern inside a vessel, while the mixing is a process of taking two or more separate phases (for example, a fluid and a powdered solid) and distributing them randomly one with another. There are many purposes why agitating fluids are important. For example, agitation can dissolve solid materials, blend two miscible liquids, distribute gases as liquids and increase the heat transfer between the fluid and the coil in the vessel wall.

Today, there is a wide range of equipment for agitation. The agitation process is the same no matter what type of equipment for agitation is being used – the liquids are being agitated in cylindrical vessels, which can be closed or open. Read on to find out the ideal equipment for agitation.

Three-blade Impeller Agitator

The most common type of equipment for agitation is the three-blade impeller agitator. This equipment for agitation is generally used in driving boats. The impeller of this agitator can be either on one of the sides in a tank or fixed on the side of an open vessel. The three-blade impeller agitator can operate at high speeds with almost 1800 revolutions per minute. Because of this, this equipment for agitation is ideal for low viscosity liquids.

Paddle Agitator

This type of equipment for agitation is ideal for low speed applications that require maximum of 200 revolutions per minute. The most commonly used paddle agitators are the two and four-bladed flat paddles. The total length of the paddle impeller varies from 60 to 80% of the diameter of the tank, while the width of the blade is adequate to its length. The paddle agitator is not efficient for suspending solids as liquids, because despite the great radial flow, it lacks vertical and axial flow. The paddle agitator is most efficient for viscous liquids, and is used to process paints, cosmetics and starch pastes.

Turbine Agitator

The turbine agitator is an ideal equipment for agitation for mixing liquids with different viscosity at high speeds. This agitator usually has 4 to 6 blades. The turbine agitators with flat blades provide a radial flow and are most efficient for gas dispersion. A pitched-blade turbine agitator with only four blades is used for suspending solids, while a three-blade impeller features a larger pitch angle and produces more fluid motion and mixing per unit.