FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING A MIXER Safety: Determine how well the mixers design and construction comply

with safety regulations in your area and how the mixer can contribute Operating mode: Deciding whether your mixer will operate in batch or continuous mode depends on several factors. While your required production capacity is the first factor to consider, in general, the more demanding your mixing requirements, the more likely youll need a batch mixer. Consider these items when choosing the operating mode: Capacity: If your process will produce less than 1 ton of material, choose a batch mixer. Regulatory requirements: Youll need a batch mixer to comply with recipe-reporting rules in some industries, such as pharmaceuticals or foods. Flexibility and cleanability: If youll mix a sanitary product or make frequent product changes, choose a batch mixer. Its easier to empty and clean, and unlike a continuous mixer, it wont be connected to upstream or downstream equipment that also must be cleaned. Consider the mixers cleaning requirements: In some industries, a mixer requires only infrequent cleaning. In others, a mixer must be cleaned regularly to maintain high product quality or provide processing flexibility for multiple formulations. To choose a mixer for a frequent-cleaning application, focus primarily on how easily and quickly the mixer can be cleaned. Better yet, choose a mixer that can help you avoid or minimize mixer cleaning.

Consider the mixers operating cost: Pay attention to factors that will contribute to the mixers operating cost, and keep these in mind to select a mixer that will operate economically in your plant. The factors include: Power consumption. Maintenance costs. Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance downtime and subsequent production losses. Suppliers technical service capability and availability and spare parts availability. Cleaning costs. Quantity of waste product between batches.

FOAM REDUCTION DURING MIXING 1. Chemical defoamers: Chemical defoamers are additives that serve to prevent and destroy foam. Different applications require different levels and types or combinations of defoamers. The main disadvantages to using anti-foam agents are their high cost and, in some products, they are considered to be contaminants. For food processing Non-Silicone Defoamers may be used since they are food-grade.

2. Alternate useful techniques

i. When using a top-entering agitator to add powders into a foamy liquid, position the mixer blade off-center to decrease the vortex. Reducing the size of the vortex will minimize foaming and reduce the amount of air incorporated into the batch. ii. Processing under vacuum is a better solution. Vacuum mixing allows fullspeed agitator operation without entraining air. Always visually monitor the contents of the vessel as vacuum is applied. Use a sight glass to watch for changes in volume. Once an agitation phase is completed, reintroduce air into the chamber headspace gradually. iii. If practical, replace or supplement a top-entering agitator with an inline mixer piped for recirculation. The return line must extend below the liquid surface to help prevent foam generation. For recipes involving large amounts of solids, choose an inline rotor/stator mixer equipped for high speed powder dispersion.

PREVENTING FLOCCULATION Chemical Deflocculants

Operational Considerations Flocculation requires careful attention to the mixing velocity and amount of mix energy. To prevent the floc from tearing apart or shearing, the mixing velocity and energy input are usually tapered off as the size of the floc increases. Once flocs are torn apart, it is difficult to get them to reform to their optimum size and strength. The amount of operator control available in flocculation is highly dependent upon the type and design of the equipment.