Table 1: Comparison of different types of agitators Components of an AgitatorĪn agitator is usually composed of three main components. Can efficiently handle visco-elastic liquids. Propeller Agitators Can handle corrosive materials with a glass lining. High power and high-efficiency gearbox requirement. Not preferred for highly viscous solvents Anchor Agitators Widely used in the pharma industry. High radial flow, good for dispersion operation. Turbine Agitator Liquids and gas reactions, widely used for reaction and extraction operations. High power consumption, Inefficient mixing. In addition, the blades can reportedly mix higher viscosity liquids than can hydrofoil blades or standard flat blades, and produce axial and radial flow characteristics that are suitable for virtually every process.Įngineered for use in glass-lined steel vessels, OptiFoil blades are available as an option on one-piece glass-lined mixers, or as removable blades when used in conjunction with the company's GlasLock® interchangeable glass-lined agitator blade system.Ī range of sizes allows matching of the blades to the process and vessel capacity.ĭe Dietrich Process Systems is a global supplier of chemical and pharmaceutical processing equipment and specialized systems manufactured from borosilicate glass, glass-lined steel and various alloys, for reaction technology, mixing and heat transfer, advanced separation, high-efficiency filtration and drying, solids containment, and gas and liquid handling.įor information contact De Dietrich Process Systems, Inc., 244 Sheffield St., Mountainside, NJ 07092 USA, 1-90, of Agitator Applications Advantages Disadvantages Paddle Agitator Mixing of Solids, Slurry Mixing, Used during Crystals forming phase during Supersaturated Cooling Heavy-duty, Slow Operation, 2 to 4 blades. The pitch angle of the OptiFoil blades also results in smoother contact with the product than vertically-oriented trapezoidal blades, less shear, and is said to prevent the alteration of fragile crystals. Furthermore, the shape of the blade produces effective mixing of minimum product volumes, creates strong flow at the reactor bottom, and facilitates evacuation of the vessel by reducing the gap between the blades and the bottom of the reactor, keeping particles in suspension while they exit the vessel.Īccording to the company, the blades can mix a minimum of 5 gallons in a 500-gallon vessel, and 20 gallons in a 4000-gallon vessel. The geometry of the new blade, trademarked OptiFoil®, is said to maximize the pumping action required for homogenization, suspension, heat transfer and crystallization of fragile particles. MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ-The availability of a new glass-lined agitator blade design which combines the advantages of hydrofoil agitator blades and trapezoidal agitator blades for improved mixing in glass-lined vessels was announced by Tom Adams, director of technical sales, De Dietrich Process Systems. Glass-Lined Agitator Blades for Improved Low-Level Mixing Blade can mix minimum of 5 gal in 500 gal vessel, and 20 gal in 4,000 gal vessel. Shape of blade produces effective mixing of minimum product volumes, creates strong flow at reactor bottom, and facilitates evacuation of vessel by reducing gap between blades and bottom of reactor.
Combining features of hydrofoil and trapezoidal agitator blades, OptiFoil® maximizes pumping action required for homogenization, suspension, heat transfer, and crystallization of fragile particles.