Ultra High Shear Mixing Technology0 pages

Ultra High Shear Mixing Technology Since most industrial processes dont take place in a beaker, we must always consider the real-world behavior of high-shear batch mixers in large vessels. Thinking on a molecular level, we ask, ғHow many times does each particle or droplet pass through the high shear zone? Backing up to see the process from a wider perspective, we ask, ԓHow consistent are my results? How uniform is the distribution of particle or droplet sizes in my batch? In many applications these are critical questions because they can profoundly influence the properties of your end product. The daily challenge in high-shear rotor/stator (HSM) mixing is to reach the target droplet or particle size and achieve a satisfactory particle-size distribution in the most cost-effective manner. This requires a careful balance of rotor/stator design, cycle time at a required batch size, capital cost, and per-cycle operating costs. Any batch mixing process ԗ whether the process goal is particle dispersion, particle-size reduction or emulsification generates a Gaussian distribution of results. The greater the ratio of product volume to HSM throughput, the broader the distribution will be. Of course, the goal is usually to produce the narrowest distribution possible with an equipment solution that meets the site-specific process and business requirements. The question is simply, דWhat is the most effective, economical, and practical way to produce the required particle - or droplet size distribution? At mixing equilibrium we have reached the target average particle size. Additional processing will gradually narrow the distribution curve, but extending the process for this purpose alone almost always amounts to a substantial waste of time and energy. An alternative strategy is to increase the size of the HSM. This will increase the ratio of HSM throughput-to-product- volume and narrow the curve. But this will also increase both the initial capital investment and the ongoing energy costs. The attractiveness of this solution depends heavily on the value of the product being manufactured, its competitive strength, and the overall business case for investing heavily in equipment. >