Contemplating a Process Change?
Posted by: Ed Gamber
Typically industrial mixing equipment is manufactured to mix a specific combination of products, in a specific tank configuration, at a specific horsepower and RPM.
If you make a change in the process or move equipment into a different tank configuration, it is important to do a check with your mixer manufacturer for them to do a series of process and mechanical design calculations to determine if your mixer will perform favorably in its new environment or if adjustments are necessary.
Even with a seemingly minor change, the outcome is not always obvious. For example, lowering the liquid level in a tank or processing smaller batch sizes can greatly increase the bending loads on the agitator shaft and effect the life of the mixer drive. This is just one example. There are many others.
Trained application engineers and sales representatives should welcome discussion of your specific mixing application needs. The time and cost of an analysis will be repaid with longer mixer life and performance, along with a reduction in maintenance and downtime.
About the author: Mr. Gamber has been engineering for Philadelphia Mixing Solutions for 25 years and heads the Design Engineering group. Ed holds a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Tags: process