MIXING

TYPES OF MIXING
Solid-solid
Solid in liquid
Liquid in liquid

DEFINATION
Process that tends to result in a randomization of
dissimilar particles in a system

FACTOR AFFECTING MIXING

Particle size and particle size distribution
Particle shape
Surface area
Density
Surface polarity, surface charge and absorbed moisture
Flow properties of powder bed
Surface conductivity

MIXING MECHANISM
Convective mixing
Shear mixing
Diffusion mixing

SEGREGATION MECHANISM
Difference in the size, density, shape and other
properties
Due to high forces of cohesion or adhesion
between particles

MIXERS
Tumbler mixer

Shape: V-shaped, Cylindrical, cube or hexagonal

Mechanism: Tumbler motions
Factor affecting mixing

Rotational speed
Size and shape of the tumbler
Type of material being mixed

MIXERS
Ribbon blade mixer

FLUID MIXING
Mechanism

Bulk transport

The movement of relatively large portion of the

material being mixed from one location to
another.
Paddles, revolving blades or other devices are
used

FLUID MIXING
Mechanism

Turbulent mixing

Direct result of turbulent fluid flow, random

fluctuation of the fluid velocity at any given time
Composite of eddies of various sizes
Size distribution of eddies within in a turbulent
region is refers to as the scale of turbulence
Intensity, velocity with which eddies moves

FLUID MIXING
Mechanism

Laminar mixing

Encountered when highly viscous fluids are

being processed or when stirring is relatively
gentle

FLUID MIXING
Mechanism

Molecular diffusion

dm/dt , rate of transport of mass

A, area of interface
dc/dx, concentration gradient
D, diffusion coefficient

FLUID MIXING
Time dependence

FLUID MIXING
Equipments
Commonly consists of two primary
components
A tank, to hold the material
A means of supplying energy to the system
Impellers, air stream and liquid jet

FLUID MIXING
Impellers
Characterized by
Type of flow pattern they produce
Radial, axial and tangential
Shape of the blades

FLUID MIXING
Propeller
Used in high speed with a liquid of low viscosity
Induce axial flow
Intense turbulence

Turbine
Blades are set at 90 degree to the shaft
Induce radial tangential flow
Radial flow is due to centrifugal forces

FLUID MIXING
Paddles
Operated at low speed, 50 rpm or less
Large surface area as compared to the
tanks
Suitable for the mixing of viscous liquids.
Induce tangential flow

FLUID MIXING
Air jets
Subsurface jet of airs and other gases
Liquid should be low viscosity, nonfoaming,
unreative, nonvolatile
Jets are arranged so that bouncy of the
bubbles lifts liquid from the bottom to the top
of the mixing vessel
Intense turbulence is the main mechanism of
mixing

FLUID MIXING
Fluid jets

FLUID MIXING
Baffles
Promote bulk transport by intermingling of
the material from the remote location in the
mixer.

FLUID MIXING
Mixer selection
Physical properties of the material to be
mixed density, viscosity and miscibility
Economic consideration like time required
and power consumption
Cost of equipment and its maintenance

FLUID MIXING
Monophase systems
Viscosity and density of the liquid is
important
Liquids of low viscosity- air jet, fluid jet or
high speed impellers
High viscosity fluids like thick creams,
ointments and pastes- turbine of flat blade
design

FLUID MIXING
Polyphase systems
Low viscosity liquids- high pressure
homogenizers
High viscosity- paddle mixer
Very high viscosity fluids- roller mixer

FLUID MIXING
Scale up of mixing process
Variables that must be considered
Dimensions of ht mixers and its mechanical
components
Location of the mechanical components
within the mixer
Impeller speed, fluid density and viscosity
Height of the fill of the mixer

FLUID MIXING
Scale up of mixing process
Mixing systems is characterized by three parameters
Reynolds number

v= velocity of the fluid

= density
= dynamic viscosity and L= dimension of length

High Reynolds number- turbulent flow

Low Reynolds- laminar flow

FLUID MIXING
Scale up of mixing process
Mixing systems is characterized by three
parameters
Froude number

Power Number
P = Power input