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245 Industrial Street Bakersfield, California (661) 327-9606 FAX: (661) 327-1740 1-800-542-6664 EMAIL: craigwnc@lightspeed.net

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WESTERN MIXERS designs and markets a full line of liquid blenders and support equipment. With years of experience working with liquid mixers, Western Mixers has fabricated the best portable, maintenance free liquid mixers on the market today.

WESTERN MIXERS Manufactures three stamdard models which cover all types of liquid blending. The type of product being blended, the quantity put thru and budget constrains determine which model of mixer is best suited for an application.

Prices range from $7,500.00 to $80,000.00 depending on the type of mixer and accessories required.

Mixing ability ranges from 1000 gallons per hour of an 8-8-8 material to 26 tons every 40 minutes.

First, particles hitting the blade are broken apart and then in the intense turbulence surrounding the blade, particles hit one another at terrific speeds and are further broken up. This intense turbulence at the blade and extending out 1 or 2 inches is known as the zone attrition.

Beyond the immediate turbulent sone, the material is throughly mixed and particles dissolved or dispersed by the laminar flow set up the blade. This flow is separatedat the vessel's wass insuring complete circulation.

The blade should be about 1/3 the diameter of the tank. The blade normally is about one diameter off the tank bottom. Maximum depth of the material should not exceed three times the diameter of the blade. Minimum depth above the blade normally should not be less than the amount below the blade.

Round or square tank? Round tanks almost always give better dispersion because they have no so called "dead areas" in the corners.

To obtain the best results with the turbulator, use the smallest diameter blade with the smallest vanes which will give a good vortex when located from one to one and one-half blade diameters from the bottom of the tank.

When a choice exists between using a smaller vane, it is usually best to use the larger diameter blade.

In general the blade is run at rim velocities of 2500 to 5000 feet per minute. Experience by the operator will be the best key as to what speed to try first on materials handled in your plant and laboratory.

Rim velocity = Blade Diameter x RPM x 3.1416

If there is an excessive vortex, the blade may be lowered. If the action is slow the blade may be raised to, two and one-half diameters to obtain a good flow providing the amount of material over the blade is greater than the amount beneath. At this point, good action is usually assured in the bottom of the container.

When adding materials to the tank for a test, always introduce the liquid phase first. In most cases, the machine should be started and the solid phase added. However, on some formulations such as enamels, best results may be obtained by adding the vehicle to the tank and then add all pigments before turning on the motor.

The optimum action in the turbulator is a combination of rotary and radial flow. A particle starting at the out edge of the container should travel to the center of the vortex in less than 360 degrees.

Contents and Design © Watermarks Designs: Cecily Waterman & Arthur Busbey. Contents solely owned by Watermarks Designs and may not be changed, modified or removed without their express consent.