Case Study: Mixing

Introduction

Throughout industry components are mixed in stirred vessels. The challenge is to determine exactly how well the ingredients are being mixed.

Factors such as the composition and nature of the ingredients, the position, speed and design of the stirrer and the structure of the vessel all contribute to mixing effectiveness. Stirred tanks are widely used in the chemical process industries. Any reduction in mixing effectiveness:-

may increase the mixing time
with consequential reduction
in capacity
increase the energy consumption
reduce the yield and quality of the downstream processes.

The challenge was to improve understanding and detailed knowledge of the mixing and hence improve performance and availability. Often the structure is complex and the nature of the ingredients and the operating conditions make visual inspection either impossible or hazardous.

This case study covers: