Agitators

Today, the major concerns of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries are improving performance and reducing production costs. Agitation, mixing and heat transfer are all directly linked to this problem.

The constant improvement of glassing techniques makes it possible to optimize the profiles of agitator blades in glass-lined steel. Our research and
development teams have perfected a formulation
which offers optimal resistance to highly corrosive processes, impact and abrasion, and facilitates cleaning.

One-Piece Construction Agitators

GlasLock Agitators

OptiFoil Agitator Blades

Agitator Comparison Chart

One-Piece Construction Agitators

Product Description

One-piece construction agitators have a restricted field of application because they need a large opening to be installed, and encounter additional issues including sealing problems, difficulty cleaning, and mandatory dismantling of the drive for any maintenance. Still, there are certain applications in which this design is sufficient.

Options

Range of blade designs including impeller, turbine, anchor and frame
Chevron Agitators available for conical vessels

Not sure what agitator is right for your application? See our agitator comparison chart or let DDPS customize your agitation system with an agitation simulation to ensure optimization of your reaction process.

GlasLock Agitators

GlasLock Advantages

GlasLock glass-lined steel agitators maximize process flexibility by allowing blades to be installed, removed, and changed to various pitches, depending on what works best for the application at hand. From a maintenance perspective, GlasLock blades are desirable because individual blades can be replaced if they become damaged, not the entire agitator; hence, the mechanical seal isn’t disturbed and repair costs are minimized. GlasLock blades are especially ideal for installation through the manway of a closed-welded GL reactor; their properties are beneficial in CTJ and SA reactor series as well. Additional advantages of this unique blade system include:

Improved product yield and quality
Reduced batch time and cost
Improved heat transfer efficiency by up to 30%
Interchangeable with competitive agitators (for DTW, RW and SRW drives)
Simple installation with easy to use tools, no hazardous cryogenic fluids to handle

GlasLock Features

GlasLock blades are lined with 3009 glass for superior corrosion resistance. They are available in a variety of blade designs to meet various process requirements.

Options

Single or Multiple Tiered Shafts
Range of blade designs (see below)
Chevron Agitators available for conical vessels

OptiFoil® Agitator Blades

OptiFoil, the newest design of GlasLock blades, combines the advantages of HydroFoil blades and Trapezoidal blades for optimized mixing. The hydrofoil profile improves on the pumping effect given by the standard flat blades of the GlasLock agitation system. The bends and twists of its construction are specifically adapted to crystallization and suspension processes. Trapezoidal blades have been designed to mix very low product volumes and facilitate the final emptying of the reactor by reducing the gap between the blades and the bottom of the reactor. OptiFoil takes the features of these two designs and brings to the market a solution that ensures a high axial flow for suspension processes and also facilitates the operation of minimum volumes. The following chart lists the minimum mixing volume that OptiFoil can accommodate in a range of vessel sizes at the designated liquid levels:

Minimum Mixing Volume (gal)
Size (gal)      V1                V2
500               14.9               41.1
1,000            14.6               61.5
2,000          20.9               77.4
4,000          22.3             140.1

The pitch angle of these blades gives a smoother contact with the product than the vertical trapezoidal blades, and is specifically recommended to avoid the alteration of fragile crystals. OptiFoil is ideally suited for reactors involving homogenization and suspension, as well as heat transfer, crystallization, and dispersion. Its axial/radial flow is advisable for virtually every process. OptiFoil will also mix higher viscosity liquids than standard flat blades. Built specifically for use in glass-lined steel vessels, OptiFoil blades are available in one-piece or GlasLock construction and can be made in a variety of sizes to match your vessel size and process. The blades can also be retrofitted into existing GlasLock agitator shafts, updating current equipment to state-of-the-art technology.

Not sure what agitator is right for your application? See our agitator comparison chart or let DDPS customize your agitation system with an agitation simulation to ensure optimization of your reaction process.

Agitator Comparison Chart

Today, the major concerns of the chemical and pharmaceutical industries are improving performance and reducing production costs. Agitation, mixing and heat transfer are major factors in maximizing the efficiency of a process. The various blade designs in our agitator product range have undergone significant research and testing, making it possible to use a scientific approach to agitation and heat exchange techniques that will optimize your process. The chart below illustrates the different types of blades available and the characteristics of each.