Chemineer Impellers

If there were only one mixing job to do, only one impeller would be required. However, there is a very wide range of problems in agitation, and the best impeller for one application may not be the best impeller for another. The descriptions and discussions below are intended as a guide for impeller selection. Relative impeller sizes are compared to the P4 at equal horsepower and equal speed.

SC-3 Impeller
Size relative to P-4 1.2

Favorable Applications:

The Chemineer® SC-3 Impeller features an advanced design engineered for deep tanks. It produces flow characteristics of much larger impellers, without the added weight, or the resulting loss in pumping efficiency. The highly efficient SC-3 Impeller’s reduced weight allows for the use of longer shaft extensions for deeper tanks, and resolves associated critical speed limitations. The use of an SC-3 impeller can produce an overall agitator cost savings as much as 33%.

HE-3 Impeller
Size relative to P-4 1.3

Favorable Applications:

An extremely efficient turbulent flow impeller for blending, heat transfer and solids suspension. Most effective for Reynolds numbers over 50. Developed to minimize the creation of trailing vortices and incorporating the otherwise wasted energy into macro-flow.

P-4 or Pitched Blade Impeller
Size relative to P-4 1.0

Favorable Applications:

A reasonably cost effective impeller in both turbulent and laminar flow. Good impeller for applications where the viscosity changes over a wide range causing the flow regime to vary between turbulent and laminar flow. A reasonably cost effective impeller for solids suspension.

S-4 or Straight Blade Impeller
Size relative to P-4 0.84

Favorable Applications:

A cost effective impeller for operation very near the floor of a tank for agitating the heel in solids suspension applications. Also an effective impeller in laminar flow applications, especially when impeller Reynolds numbers drop below 50.

BT-6 Impeller
Size relative to P-4 0.88

Favorable Applications:

Highest gas dispersing capability available. Can disperse nearly six times the gas handling capability of the D-6 or Rushton impeller. Unloads less than the CD-6. In fact, the unloading is nearly all due to the change in effective density of the gassed liquid. The mass transfer capability is on the order of 10% better than the CD-6. Unlike many other gas dispersing impellers, the BT-6 is relatively insensitive to viscosity.

CD-6 Impeller
Size relative to P-4 0.83

Favorable Applications:

The CD-6 impeller is a second generation gas and immiscible liquid dispersion impeller. The CD-6 can handle about 2.4 times the maximum gas capacity of the D-6 impeller. The CD-6 is similar to the Smith impeller, but there are substantial power and dispersion capability differences. This impeller has been used at aeration numbers as high as 2.1.

D-6 or Rushton Impeller
Size relative to P-4 0.74

Favorable Applications:

Good cost effective impeller for low concentrations of immiscible liquid or gas. Two very strong trailing vortices are shed from each blade. These areas of high shear are responsible for breaking the larger droplets to smaller droplets. Maximum aeration numbers should be limited to 0.1.

Maxflo W Impeller
Size relative to P-4 1.1

Favorable Applications:

The Maxflo W impeller, with about 10% more effectiveness in pumping efficiency, is an improved version and full replacement impeller for the Maxflo T. Excellent in abrasive solids suspension, solids suspension in the presence of small amounts of gas introduced or generated in situ, and in boiling or near boiling applications.

Maxflo WSE
Favorable Applications:

A high efficiency, advanced side-entering hydrofoil impeller that produces maximum pumping action. It has more cavitation resistance than other designs through effective hydrodynamic design.

Maxflo Mark II & III Impellers
Size relative to P-4 1.4

Favorable Applications:

High efficiency, high solidity impellers for use in turbulent side entering applications. They are especially effective for fluids possessing a yield value, such as paper stock. The high solidity permits operation nearer the boiling point without cavitation.

JP-3 Impeller
Size relative to P-4 1.3

Favorable Applications:

A high efficiency turbulent flow impeller used on our smallest turbine agitators at direct drive motor speeds on our DT, BTNS and RBTNS agitator lines. The high solidity permits operation nearer the boiling point without cavitation.

Smoothline Impeller
Chemineer simplifies double impeller configurations for sanitary mixing processes with its patent-pending Smoothline impeller design. It is available for the HE-3, P-4, S-4 and Maxflo W impellers. Smoothline-style impellers disassemble to pass through manways on process vessels. Their FDA-approved Teflon gaskets between every joint prevent entrapment of process material. As an added benefit, they are easily compatible with single piece shafts thus ensuring optimum straightness, efficient energy transmission and superior mixing performance.
ChemShear Impeller
Size relative to P-4 1.1-1.3

Favorable Applications:

ChemShear Impellers are made in 4 different styles. Style 1 has the widest blades and style 4 the narrowest blades. Various processes require different ratios of shear and pumping. The wider blades pump more, and the narrower blades have the higher level of shear. They work well in applications which require moderately high shear but also some level of pumping. Many high shear devices are very low in pumping capability and require an auxiliary impeller to provide turnover. ChemShear impellers often overcome the need for an auxiliary pumping impeller. ChemShear impellers have been used in microencapsulation processes producing particles in the 2 micron range.

Double Helical Ribbon Impeller
Relative Impeller Size: On the order of 95% of the Tank Diameter

Favorable Applications:

Generally recognized as the best all around high viscosity, laminar flow impeller. It is the most efficient blender of all existing close clearance agitators. The double flight helical ribbon impeller is also good for heat transfer and blending of liquids and solids from the surface. Generally used for applications where viscosities are ordinarily greater than 30,000 MPa.

Single Flight Helical Ribbon with Screw
Relative Impeller Size: On the order of 95% of the Tank Diameter

Favorable Applications:

A reasonably efficient high viscosity, laminar flow impeller. Blend times are about the same to somewhat longer than the double flight helical ribbon impeller. The central screw can effectively pull down solids and liquids from the surface when the helical ribbon is pumping up. Generally used for applications where viscosities are ordinarily greater than 30,000 MPa. Heat transfer coefficients are only slightly less than the double helical ribbon impeller.

Anchor Impeller
Relative Impeller Size: On the order of 95% of the Tank Diameter

Favorable Applications:

The anchor impeller is the most economical laminar flow impeller. It is most effective in squatty batches where vertical pumping is not as important as in tall batches. Blend times are somewhat longer than helical ribbon type impellers. It is the easiest high viscosity impeller onto which scrapers can be mounted for very difficult heat transfer applications.

Screw (Auger) Impeller
Relative Impeller Size: Typically about Half the Tank Diameter

Favorable Applications:

A screw impeller produces effective high viscosity blending of shear sensitive polymers. This impeller provides good top-to-bottom turnover. Although blending is generally good, heat transfer is not as good as the close clearance high viscosity impellers. The screw impeller is suitable for fluids which are not too pseudoplastic with power law indexes less than 0.5.

Contact our Process Equipment Team:

Michael Bradley (External) – Mob: 086 047 6178

Internal Team

Ken Killoughy –  Tel: 021 461 7210

Ross O’Donovan – Tel: 021 461 7230

Vicki McGrath – Tel: 021 461 7207

Tel: 021 461 7200