Laboratory and industrial stirrer
Industrial stirrers and overhead stirrers for laboratory are used in industries manufacturing a product by synthesis or mixing. This equipment can be found in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics industries, etc…
Agitation is achieved by bringing the final phase into motion. The mass can be composed of different substances. The purpose of the operation is then to homogenise it or to connect reagents in order to make them react more efficiently. Otherwise, the mass may already be homogeneous and the stirring operation enables a heat transfer or a maintenance of solid particles in suspension.
The choice of agitator depends on the phases to be stirred (single phase or multi-phase): liquid, solid or gaseous. Depending on the type of phase and the viscosity of the mixture, the agitator can be called by different names: mixer, stirrer, kneader, etc.
How a stirrer works?
There are different types of mixers and stirrers available on the market: mechanical, static, rotating tank, by propulsion of a jet of liquid thanks to a pump, generated by a gas.
Liquid agitators can be located vertically from the top, horizontally and more rarely on the bottom of the tank.
An agitator is composed of a motorisation, a shaft guide mechanism, a shaft and an agitator device. Made of stainless steel (inox), agitators are essential for the production of finished products in many industrial sectors.
In the chemical industry, tanks / vessels / blenders with agitators are used in the production of liquid, pasty or viscous products.
In the paper sector, where the quality of the paste and its homogenisation directly determine the quality of the finished product, the conception of suitable tanks is a real necessity.
In the food industry, for example, tanks are essential for the manufacture of dairy products, alcohols, fruit juices, etc. The mixing stage is performed by avoiding any alteration in the texture or quality of the ingredients.
In the animal feed industry, the objective is to ensure that the balance of the product mix is well respected.
The different agitator shaft and device
Axial flow impellers
- Classic / three-blade propeller
- Marine propeller
- Double flow propeller
- Pitch blade turbines
Note: these impellers, more commonly known as propellers, create an axial flow in the tank. Propellers are generally used to homogenise mixtures with low to medium viscosity. They are used for suspending solids, for crystallisation or for creating liquid-liquid dispersion.
Radial flow impellers
- Rushton disc turbine
- Dispersion / dissolution disc (liquid/solid)
- Flat blades no disc turbine
- Rotor / stator for emulsion
Note: These impellers are more simply called turbines. They are used in processes such as fermentation, gas-liquid chemical reactions or in the manufacture of emulsions (liquid/liquid).
Tangential flow impellers
- Barriers impellers
- Anchor with or without scrapers impellers
- Helical tapes and screws impellers