Industrial Mixing is an art, and over the past hundred years or so, advancements in technology have revolutionized the way we mix raw and composite materials to make the products used by many industries such as the food and pharmaceutical industries.
If you have ever used an electrical whisk to create cake frosting, you may have noticed how the basic process works.
In the industrial world, mixing is broadly similar, but there are a few critical differences, including how the mix is removed or discharged from the mixer.
In today’s blog by Roto-Disc, we explain some of the essential aspects concerning the mixer discharge process and the equipment used to accomplish this task.
The Mixer Discharge Process:
Unlike household mixers/blenders, industrial mixers are too large to be turned upside down to get the finished mix out. Therefore, most industrial blenders are manufactured with one or more discharge openings at the mixer’s base or trough.
Shut-off (open/closed) valves are usually installed at the discharge opening(s) of these mixers. These valves are typically closed while the mixer is mixing and opened to discharge the finished mix.
The mixer is often running while discharging to push the material through the discharge opening(s). The discharge rate time is when the mixer is emptied and made ready for another mix.
Mixer Discharge Rates
Durable mixers with fast discharge rates are what manufacturers need to optimize their mixing process. Additionally, the discharge valves should be designed to minimize dead-space, which is the area around the discharge that the mixer cannot reach.
Material in the dead-space is not fully mixed, and is considered by the industry to be ‘off-spec’. Finally, discharge valves should not bind up or trap material since this can lead to lost product and risk of contamination with future batch mixes.
Ideal Mixer Discharge Valves
Spherical valves are ideal for mixer discharge since there is nothing in the flow-stream when they are open, unlike other valve styles. This means material is processed out of the mixer more quickly.
Also, the dome of the valve takes up most of the dead space, thereby reducing the area for the unmixed product. The wiping action of the dome against the seat wipes the dome-face clean with each cycle which prevents binding.
Finally, the design eliminates internal crevices, which reduces the chance for cross-contamination. Durability is essential when considering a mixer discharge valve. Roto-Disc’s robust design avoids seat-wear and lasts much longer than other valve styles.
Contact Roto-Disc for More Details
Get in touch with the Roto-Disc team to learn more about our industrial equipment and cost-saving custom-design valves. We design specialty gravity flow pressure vacuum system valves suited for your business needs. For more information, contact Roto-Disc today.
