Solids mixing equipment, classification

There are no standard engineering classification methods for mixing equipment, and often, quite different types of mixers can fulfill the same mixing task. Nevertheless, we can subdivide mixers used in processing into three broad categories particulate solids mixers, laminar distributive mixers, and laminar dispersive mixers. This classification, on the basis of application, is supported by the nature of the primary mixing mechanism taking place in them. 

Conveyor-Belt Devices The metal-belt type (Fig. 11. 55) is the only device in this classification of material-haudhug equipment that has had serious effort expended on it to adapt it to indirecl heat-transfer seiwice with divided solids. It features a lightweight construction of a large area with a thin metal wall. ludirect-coohiig applications have been made with poor thermal performance, as could be expected with a static layer. Auxihaiy plowlike mixing devices, which are considered an absolute necessity to secure any worthwhile results for this seiwice, restrict applications. 

Mixed-Suspension, Mixed-Product-Removal Crystallizers This type of equipment, sometimes called the circulating-magma crystallizer, is by far the most important in use today. In most commercial equipment of this type, the uniformity of suspension of product solids within the crystallizer body is sufficient for the theory [Eqs. (18-34) to (18-36c)] to apply. Although a number of different varieties and features are included within this classification, the equipment operating with the highest capacity is the kind in which the vaporization of a solvent, usually water, occurs. 

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