A mixing tank is essential in processing systems if you need to mix multiple different ingredients in a low to medium-scale productions. Glass, hard rubber, and other metals are all acceptable materials for mixing tanks. Stainless steel is often used to make mixing tanks because of the metal’s durability, corrosion resistance, and cleaning ease. Even though copper’s propensity to react poorly with particular chemicals restricts its use, it is sometimes used in the construction of mixing tanks.
To fulfill the process requirements for products in the dairy, pharmaceutical, chemical, and other sectors, liquid-liquid, liquid-solid, and other liquid-solid combinations are frequently blended in a mixing tank. The individual components of the mixing tank are:
- The upper and lower heads
- Stirring paddle (dispersion disk or emulsification head)
- Support
- Transmission device
- Shaft sealing device
In addition, depending on the operation’s needs, it could contain a heating (or cooling) system, a set of gauges, or both.
- The stirrer does an excellent job of mixing materials, uses the least electricity, costs the least, is easy to run and maintain, and mixes materials well.
- The size and shape of the mixing vessel depend on the production scale, the mixing purpose, and the material’s properties. For example, if there are no special requirements, choose a vertical drum container with the correct height-to-diameter ratio. If the kettle needs to be heated or cooled, it must be placed outside the jacket structure.
Stirring Tank Operation
The material rotates both axially and radially as a result of the stirring paddle’s predetermined direction of rotation from the power unit. At the same time, the mixer may mix in various ways, including axial, circular, shear, and diffusion motions. It could quickly whirl and mix the ingredients.
Stainless Steel Tank Mixer Usage
In manufacturing, mixing tanks stir, mix, blend, and homogenize materials. Depending on the needs of the production line, their design structure and configuration can be standard or made to fit the line. In mixing tanks, you can get the effect you want by using feed control, discharge control, mixing control, and other manual or automated controls. The inside of a mixing tank comprises many different parts, such as the mixing tank body, the lid, the agitator, the support, the transmission device, the shaft sealing device, etc. Depending on the process’s needs, it can also have a cooling or heating system.
Depending on the application, carbon steel or stainless steel may be used for the tank’s body, lid, agitator, and shaft seal.
Flanges or welds may seal the lid and body of the stirring tank. The tank body and lid have pipe openings for various processes such as feeding, discharging, observing, measuring temperature and pressure, steam fractionation, safety venting, and venting.
A transmission mechanism (motor or reducer) is in the tank cover’s top portion and uses the transmission shaft to drive the stirrer within the tank.
Depending on your demands, a mechanical seal or packing, a labyrinth seal, or another shaft sealing mechanism is applicable. The agitator may be set up in a variety of ways, including spiral, slurry, anchor, and frame configurations, depending on the requirements of your manufacturing processes.
Most factories use a mixing tank to treat raw materials before they go into the factory. Raw materials in big containers are mixed in a big mixing tank to make a homogeneous mixture that makes a lot of different products. For example, a mixing tank is where flour, yeast, and water are mixed after being moved from various containers.
A mixer or beater device is in many different mixing tanks. Some of these tanks have paddles on the sides and look like enormous cement mixers. When the tank is in motion, the paddles scrape the ingredients from the bottom and reintroduce them at the top. Some mixers, like hand mixers, feature enormous beaters. As the beaters spin, they stir the ingredients and add air.
Tanks whose only function is to mix liquids often have pipes to and from the mixing tank. Liquid additives are pumped into the tank as needed. When the fluids in a tank achieve the appropriate consistency, they pass through a pipeline at the tanks’ bases to the next station for further processing. To maintain their cleanliness, many of these tanks have a connected line that constantly supplies fresh water. Typically, a small motor or system controls the suction in these pipes, which runs to each mixing tank.
Since many chemicals react when combined, it is impossible to keep them all together. You may purchase huge quantities of each component without worrying about risky chemical reactions by keeping the ingredients separate and putting them in a mixing tank when ready to use. This lowers your costs while making your workplace safer for your employees.
Mixing Tank Advantages
Stainless steel mixing tanks have several advantages. Some of them are the following;
Resistance to Corrosion
Stainless steel is well-known for its corrosion resistance. This is particularly handy when dealing with an acidic chemical. Beer, for example, may quickly rust other metals, giving undesirable metallic odors to it. Corrosion is harmful not only while producing beer but also when keeping it for an extended time. Stainless steel containers make a significant impact in this situation.
Effective
Tanks process a variety of materials before packaging. They are effective stirring and movement using an high-quality blending technique to enhance the mixing process. These stainless steel tanks, which need less effort and time, ensure a seamless production process.
Easily Cleanable
Stainless steels are simple to clean, in contrast to other metals. Additionally, it does not form deposits or patches when exposed to any metals, acids, or chemicals.
Efficacy and Cost
Even though stainless steel seems expensive, especially compared to plastic, it costs less in the long run. This is mainly because it is easy to take care of and doesn’t need unique cleaning products. It’s not easy to break like glass and lasts a long time.
More Reasons to Choose a Stainless Steel Tank Mixer
The ability of stainless steel to resist corrosion is only one of its many appealing features. This is important for storing alcoholic drinks as using other metal storage containers would hasten corrosion, provide a metallic taste, and degrade the wine’s quality.
Second, liquids stored in stainless steel tanks won’t develop a metallic flavor unless the tank is neglected often. Therefore, choosing a material that requires less maintenance and can be repeatedly cleaned without losing quality is crucial. Stainless steel tanks need less maintenance than other tanks because of their innate durability against corrosion.
Stainless steel is a particularly cost-effective alternative since it lasts longer, is simpler to clean, and is 26% less expensive than copper. So, stainless steel liquid mixing tanks are strongly excellent for long-term storage.