Agitator Types

Agitators come in many sizes and shapes. There are two types of agitators – mechanical and electronically controlled. In the first article, we will cover mechanical process agitators.

The basic types of mechanical agitators are:

  • Paddle Agitators
    This is one of the most primary types of agitators with blades that reach up to the tank walls. Paddle agitators are used where an uniform laminar flow of liquids is desired.
  • Anchor Agitators
    This simple agitator consists of a shaft and an anchor type propeller and can be mounted centrally or at an angle. It is mainly used in reactors.
  • Radial Propeller Agitators
    ARadial agitators consist of propellers that are similar to marine propellers. They consist of two to four blades that move in a screw like motion, propelling the material to be agitated parallel to the shaft.
  • Propeller Agitators
    A propeller agitator is shaped with blades tapering towards the shaft to minimize centrifugal force and produce maximum axial flow. Propeller agitators are popular for simple mixing jobs.
  • Turbine Agitators
    Yet another type of process agitator is the turbine agitator. Turbine agitators can create a turbulent movement of the fluids due to the combination of centrifugal and rotational motion.
  • Helical Agitators
    These agitators have blades with a twisted mechanism, just like the threads of a screw. The curves result in a vigorous motion of the fluids to be agitated. Helical agitators are most useful for mixing viscous liquids.

    Choosing an agitator depends upon the specific gravity and viscosity of the products to be mixed. Agitators need to be designed, engineered and manufactured to suit individual applications. Core knowledge of fluid mechanics is essential for choosing the right type of agitators.

Articles