Principles of Paddles:
Paddle mixers operate on the principle of convective mixing.
The paddles move through the material, pushing and folding it to achieve thorough mixing.
This type of mixing is gentle and suitable for materials that are sensitive to shear.
Construction:
Paddles: Large flat or curved blades mounted on a central shaft.
Shaft: Central shaft that holds the paddles.
Drive System: Motor and gearbox to rotate the shaft and paddles.
Vessel: U-shaped or cylindrical container that holds the material to be mixed.
Support Frame: Sturdy frame to hold the vessel and drive system.
Working:
Materials are loaded into the vessel.
The paddles rotate, moving through the materials and creating a mixing action.
This rotation lifts and folds the materials, ensuring thorough mixing.
Mixing continues until the desired homogeneity is achieved.
The mixed product is discharged through a bottom valve or port.
Uses:
Food Industry: Mixing dough, cereals, and dry powders.
Pharmaceuticals: Blending powders and granules.
Chemical Industry: Mixing fine chemicals and dry materials.
Merits:
Gentle mixing action, suitable for delicate materials.
Simple design and operation.
Can handle a wide range of viscosities.
Low energy consumption.
Demerits:
Less efficient for very fine powders or materials with significant density differences.
May not provide adequate mixing for high-shear applications.
Limited to batch processing.