A well-developed mixing strategy is essential to production efficiency. Ideally, mixing equipment and procedures are evaluated periodically, as production needs change or when new formulations come through the pipeline. However, mixing is often overlooked in terms of upgrades, at least until it becomes a source of drastic losses whether because of low yield, recurring contamination, inconsistent product quality or excessive labor hours.
In mixing, it is not too difficult to find "something that works." Yet, while there may be several ways to make good product, not all are efficient, competitive or even sustainable. Limitations in capital expenditure and overreliance on legacy equipment are common obstacles that keep processes stagnant for years and decades even as various aspects of the business are constantly undergoing significant changes. The irony is that a careful re-evaluation of mixing procedures can reveal achievable steps to significantly reduce costs.
One technique is to examine the entire production flow and determine if multiple mixing operations can be performed in a single machine without sacrificing product quality. One major benefit to "one-pot processing" is the reduction of energy consumption though many other incentives are equally justifiable including faster throughput, easier cleanup, less transfer steps and lower operating cost.
Table 1 shows a few examples where multiple mixing steps were successfully consolidated into a single mixer. In each case, the simplified mixing operation gained tremendous competitive advantage for the manufacturer.
Table 1. Examples of multiple mixing steps consolidated with a single mixer.
Figure 1. Multishaft mixer equipped with three independently driven agitators: three-wing anchor, high-speed disperser and high-shear rotor/stator mixer. This configuration is well-suited for medium- to high-viscosity applications such as slurries, pastes and suspensions up to several hundred thousand centipoise (cP). All graphics courtesy of Charles Ross & Son Company
Figure 2. Planetary disperser used for highly filled viscous products up to around 2 million cP. The rectangular stirrer blade and high-speed disperser revolve around the batch while rotating on their own axes at variable speeds.
Figure 3. A batch-style, ultra-high shear mixer capable of reducing measured particle size comparable to one or two passes through a media mill
Figure 4. All-stainless steel laboratory double-planetary mixer. When equipped with high viscosity ("HV") Blades (US Patent No. 6,652,137), a double-planetary mixer as shown can efficiently handle thick formulations up to 6 million cP or more. This mixer type is also recommended for many shear-sensitive and abrasive materials.
Figure 5. Inline rotor/stator mixer designed for high-speed powder induction
Figure 6. How a powder induction mixer works: The liquid stream (blue) enters the mixer and immediately encounters the powder addition. Drawn by a powerful vacuum generated by the ported rotor, powders (yellow) are injected directly into the high-shear zone and dispersed instantaneously. The resulting mixture (green) is expelled centrifugally through the stator openings at high velocity.
Conclusion
It is important to note that mixing results are always formulation-dependent. Whenever practical, perform simulation trials using your own raw materials to confirm a new mixing strategy. Ask your mixer supplier about testing and demonstration services or rental equipment, which you can use for trial production runs in the convenience of your own plant.
Lastly, a mixer’s control system plays an important role in optimizing overall efficiency. A well-specified control system minimizes human errors, improves batch-to-batch consistency and lessens downtimes. Recipe controls also enable automatic data logging. Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) packages support complete traceability and make it easier to pool statistical information on workloads, bottlenecks and maintenance history. Source both mixer and controls from the same vendor to ensure seamless execution.
Christine Banaszek is the sales manager at Charles Ross & Son Company, manufacturer of specialty mixing and blending equipment. As an application engineer at the corporate headquarters in Hauppauge, New York, she has worked at the Ross Test & Development Center and published many articles and white papers in mixing and blending technologies, applications and best practices. She holds a degree in chemical engineering.
