Agitator

AL-JUBAIL PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY, L.L.D.P.E.
PLANT, KEMYA
BASIC TRAINING MATERIAL – MECHANICAL
AGITATORS
AGITATORS
1.1 Agitators are used for mixing of substances in the reactor/vessel. The agitators are stirred in
vessels by rotating impellers. By stirring a variety of process functions are carried out like
(1) blending miscible liquids (2) contacting or dispersing immiscible liquids (3) dispersing
a gas in liquid (4) promoting heat transfer between the agitated liquid and a heat exchange
surface (5) suspension or dispersion of particulate solids in a liquid to produce uniformity
or to promote mass transfer or to initiate and assist chemical reaction (6) reduction of
particle agglomerate size.
For vigorous agitation of thin suspensions the baffles which are flat vertical strips set
radially along the tank wall.
1.2 Agitators classification:
a. Based on angle of blades

i. Axial flow impellers: In which the blade makes an angle of less than 90 deg. with the
plane of rotation. Propellers and pitched blade turbine blades are axial flow impellers.
ii. Radial flow impellers: Radial flow impellers have blades which are parallel to the axis
of the drive shaft. The smaller multi blade ones are known as turbines, the larger slow
speed impellers are known as paddles. Turbine impellers come in a variety of types such as
curved blade and flat blade.
b. Based on blade type:

i. Propeller type: Propellers are often used for agitation of smaller capacity of vessels and
in small diameter of vessels and when power is required less than 3 hp. Propeller mixers
may be clamped on the side of an open vessel in the angular, off center position or bolted
to a flange or plate on the top of a closed vessel with the shaft in the same angular, off
center position
AL-JUBAIL PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY, L.L.D.P.E.PLANT, KEMYA
AGITATORS
ii. Pitched blade turbine type: Pitched blade turbine are used on top entering agitator
shafts instead of propellers when a high axial circulation rate is desired and power
consumption is more than 5 hp. A pitched blade turbine near the upper surface of liquid in
a vessel is effective for rapid submergence of floating particulate solids.
iii. Flat blade turbine: The diameter of turbine is normally between 0.3 and 0.6 of the tank
diameter. Turbine impellers come in a variety of types such as curved and flat blade. A
paddle agitator has diameter usually greater than 0.6 of the tank diameter and turns at a
slow speed
AGITATORS
iv. Curved blade turbine: Cured blades aid in starting an impeller in settled solids.
v. Anchor type: These are close clearance stirrers: The anchor agitators are used in the
fluid systems when there is a chance of stagnant fluid will be found next to the
vessel walls in parts remote from propeller or turbine impellers. This happens with
pseudoplastic fluid systems. The fluid flow is principally circular in the direction of
rotation of the anchor. Whether substantially axial or radial fluid motion also occurs
depends on fluid viscosity and the design of the upper blade supporting spokes.
Anchor agitators are used particularly to obtain improved heat transfer.
AGITATORS
c. Based on mounting position:

i. Top entering type: The top entering agitators some times positioned in the angular,
off-center position. This results in a strong top to bottom circulation.
ii. Side entering type: Propellers may also be mounted near the bottom of the cylindrical
wall of a vessel by side entering. The side-entering agitators are used to blend low
viscosity fluids or to keep slowly settling sediment suspended in tank
AGITATORS
1.3 Operation principle: The agitator will fixed on the vessel by bolting the agitator-
mounting flange with vessel flange. When the motor is operated the motor revolutions are
reduced in gearbox and torque is increased. With the increased torque the drive shaft
through extension shaft rotates the impeller blades. The rotation of the impeller blades
results agitation / mixing the product in the vessel.
1.4 Parts of Agitator:

1. Impeller (500)
2. Extension shaft (404)
3. Drive shaft (403)
4. Gear drive (200)
5. Flexible motor coupling (110)
6. Pedestal assembly (1100)
7. Mounting flange (1250)
AGITATORS
AGITATORS
Questioner:
1. Agitators are used
a. To mix the solids in solids
b. To mix the liquids in liquids
c. To mix the solids in liquids
d. Either to mix the solids in liquids or to mix the liquids in liquids
2. Agitator carries out the function of
a. Blending miscible liquids
b. Dispersing a gas in liquid
c. Suspension or dispersion of particulate solids in a liquid to produce uniformity
d. All of these
3. Baffle helps
a. For vigorous agitation with agitator
b. For mixing without agitator
c. Both of these
d. None of these
4. Baffles are set
a. Along the vessel
b. Across the vessel
c. Either of these depending upon the design
5. In axial flow agitator
a. The blade angle is less than 90 deg. with the plane of rotation
b. The blade angle is 90 deg. with the plane of rotation
6. In radial flow agitator
a. The blade angle is less than 90 deg. with the plane of rotation
b. The blade angle is 90 deg. with the plane of rotation
7. The smaller radial flow agitators are called as
a. Turbines
b. Paddles
c. None of these
8. The bigger radial flow agitators are called as
a. Turbines
b. Paddles
c. None of these
9. The propeller type agitators is used
a. In smaller capacity vessel
b. In smaller diameter vessel
c. The required power is less
d. All of these
10. When high axial circulation rate is required, which type of agitator is used
AGITATORS
a. Propeller type
b. Pitched blade type
c. None of these
11. When there is a chance of stagnant fluid will be found next to the vessel walls, which
type of agitator is used
a. Propeller type
b. Anchor type
c. Turbine type
d. None of these
12. When the application is to keep slowly settling sediments to be suspended in tank,
which type of entering type agitator is preferred
a. Top entering
b. Side entering
c. None of these
13. Which type of agitator near the upper surface of liquid in a vessel is effective for rapid
submergence of particulate solids
a. Pitch blade agitator
b. Propeller agitator
c. Anchor agitator
d. None of these
Answers:
1. d 2. d 3. a 4. a 5. a
6. b 7. a 8. b 9. d 10. b
11. b 12. b 13. a

Agitator

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AL-JUBAIL PETROCHEMICAL COMPANY, L.L.D.P.E.

1.2 Agitators classification:

a. Based on angle of blades

b. Based on blade type:

c. Based on mounting position:

1.4 Parts of Agitator:

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