IBC Mixer / Drum Mixer - Electric or pneumatic 1

[mrtangent2]

I am after users experience on IBC mixers / drum mixers. Ive seen air and electrical ones.

Are users that have them in place - seen for occasional usage ones any major draw backs with IBC air driven mixers?

I believe its all down to impeller design and tip speed etc that sets mixing with really no draw backs for air driven systems.

 

[pierreick]

Hi,
You may want to consult those guys:

IBC Mixers and Agitators

Euromixers Award Winning range of IBC mixers / agitators " Quickly re-mix product that has settled in transport of storage"

www.euromixers.co.uk

My only concern will be the viscosity of your product.
Pierre

 

[MintJulep]

Air is an expensive power source.

Avoid it unless it's necessary.

 

[mrtangent2]

@MintJulep

when you say expensive.. to qualify this.. what rough range are you after..

we have large supply.. in general are we taking 10 m3/hr, 50m3/hr or 1000 m3/hr..

we have excess capacity..

 

[LittleInch]

Indeed you might, hence it makes sense for you, but take 1kW of electrical power and then convert that to air driven power and you're a long way from one kW by the time you've compressed the air, cooled it, had friction in the pipes getting it there and then at the exhaust of the machine you still have energy in the air which just goes poof. And that's before you take into accounts any leaks etc.

A quick google shows that average overall efficiency of an air system is between 10 to 20% (Wow). So take your electricity cost per kWh and multiply by 5 or 10 and that's your air kWh cost.

Now that might well be acceptable to you if the other advantages of an air system such as being available and not needing new wiring / switchboards etc, explosive atmosphere, very intermittent usage, cheaper (?) motor, easier plug in operation etc out weigh the increased operating costs.

 

[MintJulep]

average overall efficiency of an air system is between 10 to 20% (Wow).

Big air compressors take electricity and convert most of it to waste heat. As a byproduct they produce some compressed air, contaminated with oil and water.

Run that byproduct through a refrigerated air drier that uses more electricity to produce waste heat, some oil contaminated water and clean, compressed air.

Add in maintenance costs, and disposal cost of the waste oil from the compressor and oily water.

If air has some specific advantage, such as explosion proof, or you're working in a wet environment then use air. But if it doesn't give you some clear advantage, then I'd choose electric.

 

[mrtangent2]

we are a large complex so we already have instrument air and nitrogen so its low risk for us.. and its only a peroidic mixing.. say 1 day per week or a selective customer.

 

[seuenergy]

For economic evaluation, it should base on your plant's utility conditons.
One concern from my side is safety. if the materail is flammable, please take care of explosion prevention. It is better to do mixing in proper designed vessel not in IBC.

 

[pierreick]

seuenergy,
For your safety concern, IBC must be grounded and selected accordingly.
Pierre