Is Your Impeller Still Up To The Task?
Posted by: Wojciech Wyczalkowski, Ph.D.
The impeller is just one component of your mixing system. Some would argue it is the most important component  because it has the greatest effect on process performance and product quality.
No doubt when you first got your mixing equipment, you made sure the impeller design was appropriate to the application. But if there have been any kind of changes in what you are mixing, it is a good idea to take another look at your impeller. Even though the application is the same, if any materials or other elements in the process change, it is always a good idea to evaluate the impact of those changes and determine if your impeller is still the correct to get the results you need. In more than 90% of cases, a process change requires a change in impeller to maintain the correct product quality and yield and avoid costly side effects like increased batch times and higher energy use.
The time and cost of an analysis and new impeller is less than that lost by poor quality, reduced yield, or disposal of a single bad run.
About the author: Dr. Wyczalkowski has been with Philadelphia Mixing Solutions for over 18 years. He has a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. He holds several mixing related patents.