Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine Jan/Feb 2023 - 48

PAINT AND COATINGS MANUFACTURING: PORTABLE MIXERS
MIXING
ON THE
MOVE
Key considerations for
selecting a portable mixer
BY EULIS ESTER
T
he needs of fluid-handling operations are as varied
as the kinds of liquids they handle. For those that
mix fluids together, some might require small-batch
blending while others need to mix large quantities.
Some operations need only gentle mixing while others may
require vigorous agitation.
Thankfully, there's a piece of equipment that can step up to
fulfill the needs of nearly any fluid-blending operation-the
portable mixer.
Portable mixers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with
each model designed for specific applications. Properly designed
and engineered mixers can provide the operator with many
years of trouble-free service in a wide variety of blending or
mixing operations. When configured and utilised properly, the
right mixer can handle a number of important tasks, including
suspending or dissolving solids, dispersing immiscible liquids,
blending fluids of varying viscosities and dispersing small
amounts of gases in liquids.
Finding the right mixer is for your operation is about
identifying the variables that should be considered before
choosing the mixing technology in order to optimise the mixing
or blending operation.
Fluid Viscosity
One of the first and most important things to consider when
selecting a mixer is the viscosity of the liquids being handled.
In fact, the type of mixer and its related components can only be
selected once viscosities of the fluids are known. Various mixers
can handle commodities with viscosities ranging from one to
more than 25,000 centipoise (cPs), including paints, varnishes,
polymers, textile dyes, pharmaceuticals, food products and soaps.
Portable Mixer Categories
Once the viscosity of the fluid in question has been determined,
the next consideration is the types of portable mixer categories.
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* Batch Size: For smaller mixing applications, the optimal style of
portable mixer is lab and pail. Lab and pail mixers are best suited
for, as their name suggests, mixing in small vessels for labs or
industrial applications where a liquid product is provided in a
pail. For industrial applications requiring larger containers or
higher mixing speeds, drum and tote-tank mixers are the most
commonly used. Tote (IBC containers) sizes can vary anywhere
from 832.8 liters (220 gallons) to more than 1,892 liters (500
gallons), whereas drum mixers are utilised with the 208-liter
(55-gallon) drums in which many industrial chemicals are
shipped. Most models of portable mixers are either gear-driven
with speeds of 350 or 420 revolutions per minute (rpm), or
direct-drive, with speeds of 1,750 rpm. Most can be fitted with
variable-speed drives or air motors that can provide variable
speed, if needed.
* Mounting: The ideal mounting configuration varies depending
on the application at hand. The three main types of mounting
configurations for mixers are c-clamp, flange mount and angle
riser. C-clamp mounts normally feature an adjustable angle of
entry controlled by a ball-and-socket design. Flange mounts
attach to a flange that is located on the lid of the drum, tote or
bulk tank. Angle risers provide a fixed 10-degree angle of entry
into the mixing vessel.
* Props: Like mounting configurations, there are three common
types of portable mixer propellers: 1.0 pitch, or marine prop;
Square Pitch; and Super Pitch. A 1.0 pitch is one of the most
effective pumping devices, while Super Pitch has a 1.5 pitch
that delivers high pumping rates at the tradeoff of a higher
horsepower requirement.
* Shafts: Ideal shaft length is determined by the positioning of the
mixer's propellers. A good rule to follow is to position the mixer
propellers one to two propeller diameters from the bottom of
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Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine Jan/Feb 2023

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