MIXING AND AGITATION INTRODUCTION Agitation is a mean whereby mixing of phases can be accomplished and by which mass and

heat transfer can be enhanced between phases or with external surfaces. In its most general sense, the process of mixing is concerned with all combinations of phases of which the most frequently occurring ones are 1. Gases with gases. 2. Gases into liquids: dispersion. 3. Gases with granular solids: fluidization, pneumatic conveying ,drying 4. Liquids into gases: spraying and atomization. 5. Liquids with liquids: dissolution, emulsification, dispersion 6. Liquids with granular solids: suspension. 7. Pastes with each other and with solids. 8. Solids with solids: mixing of powders. Circulation and shear of the liquid in a vessel can be accomplished with external pumps and appropriate location of suction and discharge nozzles, but a satisfactory Combination of vertical and lateral flows is obtained more economically by internal impellers, baffles, and draft tubes. Here, we focus mainly on different types of impellers and baffles facilitating mixing. IMPELLERS DEFINITION The purpose of mixing impellers is to transfer the energy provided by the motor to the product in the most efficient way in order to produce the desired effect in the least amount of time. Also called agitator blades, each mixing impeller type converts the energy given to it in a different way. TYPES A rotating impeller in a fluid imparts flow and shear to it, the shear resulting from the flow of one portion of the fluid past another. Limiting cases of flow are in the axial or radial directions so that impellers are classified conveniently according to

which of these flows is dominant. By reason of reflections from vessel surfaces and obstruction by baffles and other intemals, however, flow patterns in most cases are mixed. Because the performance of a particular shape of impeller usually cannot be predicted quantitatively, impeller design is largely an exercise of judgment so a considerable variety has been put forth by various manufacturers.

1) FLAT PLATE IMPELLERS Flat plate impellers with sawtooth edges are suited to emulsification and dispersion. Since the shearing action is localized, baffles are not required. Propellers and turbines also are sometimes provided with sawtooth edges to improve shear. PROPELLERS: A propeller is a type of fan that transmits power by converting rotational motion into thrust. A pressure difference is produced between the forward and rear surfaces of the airfoil-shaped blade, and a fluid (such as air or water) is accelerated behind the blade. Propeller dynamics can be modeled by both Bernoullis and Newton's third law. A propeller is often colloquially known as a screw.

WORKING OF PROPELLER: For more specifics on how propellers push air or water in the opposite direction that you want to travel, examine Bernoulli's Principle and Newton's Third Law of Motion. The Third Law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When the propeller exerts force onto the water or air, the water or air pushes back with equal force and propels the vessel forward. Bernoulli's Principle states that as the velocity of a fluid is increased, the pressure exerted by the fluid simultaneously decreases. The propellers cause the air or water behind the vessel to move fast and decrease the pressure of the air or water and allow the boat or plane to move forward.

Characteristics: Are self cleaning in operation. Can be used at a wide range of speeds. Give an excellent shearing effect at high speed. Do not damage disperse particle at low speed. By offset mounting vortex formation is avoided.

TURBINES: A turbine is a rotary mechanical device that extracts energy from a fluid flow and converts it into useful work. A turbine is a turbomachine with at least one moving part called a rotor assembly, which is a shaft or drum with blades attached. Moving fluid acts on the blades so that they move and impart rotational energy to the rotor. Early turbine examples are windmills and water wheels. TYPES: Steam turbines: are used for the generation of electricity in thermal power plants, such as plants using coal, fuel oil or nuclear power. They were once used to directly drive mechanical devices such as ships' propellers Bladeless turbine: uses the boundary layer effect and not a fluid impinging upon the blades as in a conventional turbine. Water turbines

Pelton turbine, a type of impulse water turbine. Francis turbine, a type of widely used water turbine. Kaplan turbine, a variation of the Francis Turbine.

CHARACTERISTICS: Are excellent for providing circulation. Are normally mounted on a vertical shaft with the stuffing box above the liquid. Are effective in fluids of high viscosity. Are easily fouled or plugged by solid particles . Are expensive to fabricate. Are restricted to a narrow range of speed. Do not damage dispersed particles at economical speed.