More about Static Mixers

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Typically set inside a pipe or other confined area, a static mixer is a specially designed shape that causes materials passing through it to mix. When used for a homogenous solution, they help even its continuity by smoothing lumps, clusters and other inconsistencies. They can also be used to blend different liquids or substances into a single solution, or to transfer heat between materials. A main advantage of static mixers is that they contain no moving parts; this makes them exceptionally durable and minimizes a number of potential problems associated with equipment containing many moving parts. The mixing motion of the static mixer is instead generated by the flow of the liquid or substance pass through them; however, this also results in a loss of pressure through the static mixer.

Despite the loss of pressure, static mixers offer a number of benefits, including relatively simple installation, high efficiency and minimal impact on facility space. Due to their many advantages, static mixers are used in a number of applications, including wastewater treatment, paper making, pharmaceutical mixing, and food processing. Determining what type of mixing apparatus to use, however, depends on the materials being mixed as well as the rates that they will pass through the mixer. Static mixers can be used to mix multiple fluids, fluids and gases, multiple gases, and multiple solids, but the shapes used vary between these applications.

Static mixers are available in a wide range of materials, such as carbon and stainless steel, PVC and PTFE. Structures similar to static mixers are also used for other applications, including gas dispersion, heat exchanging and channel mixing. In general, static mixers used for two types of mixing applications, turbulent and laminar flow mixing. Various designs, such as stacked mixing elements or opposing plates, are used to enhance effectiveness.