Types Of Agitators

Outline:
 Introduction
 Types Of Agitators
 Selection Criteria For Agitators
 Power required For Agitation
Introduction:
 Agitator: An agitator is something which is used to
stir liquid or mixture of liquids.

 It can be used in various operations, in a pharma

industry it can be used in multiple operations like
reactions, drying, filtration, etc.

 Agitation is the process of keeping a mixture that has

been mixed in the proper mixed state required for the
'end' product.
Types of Agitators
 Paddle Agitators
 Anchor Agitators
 Radial Propeller Agitators
 Propeller Agitators
 Turbine Agitators
 Helical Agitators
(1) Paddle Agitators: This is one of the most primary types of agitators
with blades that reach up to the tank walls. Paddle agitators are used
where an uniform laminar flow of liquids is desired.

(2) Anchor Agitators: This simple agitator consists of a shaft and an

anchor type propeller and can be mounted centrally or at an angle. It is
mainly used in reactors.
(3) Radial Propeller Agitators: Radial
agitators consist of propellers that are
similar to marine propellers. They
consist of two to four blades that move
in a screw like motion, propelling the
material to be agitated parallel to the
shaft.
(4) Propeller Agitators: A propeller
agitator is shaped with blades tapering
towards the shaft to minimize
centrifugal force and produce maximum
axial flow. Propeller agitators are
popular for simple mixing jobs.

(5) Turbine Agitators: Yet another type of process agitator is the turbine
agitator. Turbine agitators can create a turbulent movement of the fluids
due to the combination of centrifugal and rotational motion.
(6) Helical Agitators: These agitators have blades with a twisted
mechanism, just like the threads of a screw. The curves result in a
vigorous motion of the fluids to be agitated. Helical agitators are most
useful for mixing viscous liquids.
A simplified brief description has been tabulated below:
Agitator Type Applications Advantages Disadvantages

Paddle * Heavy duty, * Power

* Apt for Slow Consumption
* Mixing of Solids, operation, is very high,
* Slurry Mixing, * Can have 2 or 4
* Inefficient
blades
Mixing
Turbine
* Generates high
* Liquids and Gas reactions,
Radial Flow, * Not preferred for
* Highly used during
* Highly used for solvents with high
Reaction and Extraction
dispersion viscosity
Operations.
operations

* Have to use in addition

* Uniform mixing * Not preferred
to other agitators.
Screw type of High viscous for im-miscible
* Mostly used in Food
masses. solvents.
processing.
Agitator Type Applications Advantages Disadvantages
Helical Blade
* Most Probably * Can handle Visco
* Low possibility for
used in -elastic liquids
*Ribbon Type Radial mixing
Paint industry. efficiently
*Helical Screw

* Increase possible heat

* Required high
transfer rate in
* Highly used in Efficiency Gear
reactors,
Anchor Pharma Industry for box,
from reactor heat
Several Operations * Required high
transfer surface
Power.
to Mass.

* Not preferred
* Highly used for * Provides efficient
when both liquids and
Gate blending Mixing and agitation
gases combine
Operations control,
involves

* Need to be operated
* Suitable for GLR's, at high speed to
ANFD's, can handle * Will increase the avoid solid settlings
Propeller
Corrosive materials homogeneity. in reactors.
with Glass lining.
Selection Criteria For Agitators:
 There is not necessarily any direct relation between power
consumed and amount or degree of mixing.

 mainly depends on the viscosity of fluid.

 When the mixing time is critical, the best mixer is the one that
mixes in the required time with the smallest amount of power.

 For mixing reagent in a feed tank or blending product from

different batches in a storage tank, a relatively small size mixer
might be used, even if several minutes are required for complete
mixing.
POWER REQUIRED FOR AGITATION:
 The power consumed by a mixing impeller can be studied by
experimentation guided by dimensional analysis.Considering
diameter of mixer, D as the basis, the power, P consumed by the
mixer is a function of:
P= f(N,D,gc ,μ,g,ρ) ------------------ (1)

By taking account of the shape factors eq. (1) can be written as

Np = f(Re, Fr, S1, S2………Sn) ------------------ (2)

 Using dimensional analysis

------------------ (3)
Where, S1 = ,

S2 = , etc,.

•The three dimensionless group are:

• Npo = Power no. =

• Nre = Reynoldys no. =

• Nfr = Froude no. =

Where,
P = Power consumption, kW
ρ = Fluid density, kg/m3
μ = Fluid viscosity, Nsec/m2
 N = Agitator speed, sec-1
D = Agitator diameter, m
g = Gravitational acceleration, m/sec2
gc = Newton’s low proportionality factor
 The froude no. is significant only when wave motion or
vortexing on the surface of the liquid takes place and only when
NRe > 300. For baffled tanks or for side entering propellers or
for NRe <300, froude no. is insignificant.
 For unbaffled tank:
Eq. (3) can also be written as:

= φ = f(Nre, S1, S2………Sn).

m=
Where
φ = Power function
m = Exponent
a,b = Constant depends on the type of mixer.
 For NRe>300
6 Blade turbine a = 1, b = 40.0
3 Blade propellers a = 1.7, b = 18.0

For Ex,.
If we increase rpm and viscosity of fluid by 2 times then, the
power required is increased by 8 times.
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