(B)LENDER

 

Industrial Blender

 

What is a blender?

                                          

Diagram of a ribbon blender

 

Bearing resemblance to the ones we make drinks or smoothies in at our home, industrial blenders are large scale machines implemented in industries, capable of blending large batches of products to be manufactured. Industrial blending is used in a multitude of industries, and for a wide variety of reasons. Blending and mixing can be used to improve the quality of products, evenly coat particle materials, disperse liquids, or fuse materials.

 

The food industry uses blending to transform raw ingredients into foods people can eat. Blending and mixing are important for food manufacturers so they are able to ensure that their products are exactly the same every time—consistency is key! After all, great recipes are only as good as their execution. If a recipe is not blended or mixed properly, taste, texture, color, and appearance of the final product can all be affected.

 

In the chemical process, blending can be used for combining organic and inorganic chemicals, adjusting pH levels and viscosity of substances, homogenization, multi-component or liquid-powder blending, and liquid compounding. Just like in the food industry, chemical manufacturers must make sure formulas are accurate and the blends are controlled to avoid unwanted chemical reactions and variation.

 

Blending can occur numerous times in the manufacturing process when new substances need to be added to the product in the making. Once blended, the end product can be packaged or processed further.

 

Working of an industrial blender:

Industrial blenders are generally made of stainless steel, although other materials such as cast iron, aluminum, tin can also be used. Generally, industrial blenders are composed of mixing blades, impellers, ribbons, or propellers that are motor- driven. There are various types of blenders which are designed while keeping in mind, the nature of the substances they blend i.e., some are well-suited for

wet ingredients while some are for dry. The blenders are given different names that help us to distinguish one type from the other. The blender that is composed of two screw-like blades which are concentric on a single shaft, but opposing in orientation: one helix is counter-clockwise, while the other is oriented clockwise are called as ribbon blenders. This works in a similar way as paddle blenders that push ingredients while mixing them. Vacuum blenders have vertical or horizontal construction. This type utilizes both internal heat and vacuum pressure to blend the mixture. This type is also used as a dryer as it removes moisture during mixing.

 

Let us now discuss about the various types of industrial blenders that are commonly used in brief detail.

 

Different types of blenders: 

1.      Paddle mixers

2.      Ribbon blenders

3.      Static mixers

4.      Conical blenders

5.      Vacuum blenders

 

Paddle mixers:

                                      

A type of agitator, a paddle mixer, is used when you are operating dry materials instead of the liquid kind. This machine is created with broad paddles attached around a rotating axis to mix correctly the materials used. Unlike the other machines, this industrial mixer’s motion is efficient, which helps create less resistance.

 

Ribbon blenders:

When it comes to mixing free-flowing solids, ribbon blenders are the ideal type that you can use because of its blade’s sharpness compared to the other mixers. Ribbon blenders are pretty much the same as your home blender. You can blend both solid and liquid materials, and the ribbon blender will do the rest for you.

 

Static mixers:

                                          

Static mixers do not have moving parts and are designed similarly to that of a ribbon mixer. The mixer works by getting the water flow through, and once it gets through the obstruction, the liquid will stop flowing and be forced to blend and mix. Because this machine is used in batch processing that have a continuous flow of items, static mixers are more efficient than batch mixing. A device that uses a simple way of mixing that enhances uniformity without using any moving parts, servicing, or power.

 

Conical blenders:

                       

The spiral mixing blade of the conical mixer initiates a three-dimensional flow of the mixing goods; creating a helical upward movement on the periphery and downward flow in the centre. This blender guarantees very good mixing results and complete discharge. It can be used as powder blender for dry powder, wet suspensions as well as liquids, paste and dough. The vertical mixer can be designed for compliance with FDA and 3-A Sanitary Standards to be used as a sterile mixer and reactor which also meets EHEDG requirements.

Vacuum blenders:

 

 

                                          

Vacuum blenders are industrial mixing equipment that creates a sealed vacuum in which to blend the materials under different pressure conditions; may be heated to perform industrial vacuum drying functions.

 

References:

 

1.    Amixon.com

2.    Wikipedia

3.    Cnpk.org

4.    Statiflo.com

5.    Howardchem.com

Written by :- Priyanshu Das