Low Shear – High Volume Mixers with Counter-Current Technology.
Lancaster Products L-Series counter-current mixers are equipped with hi-torque, low shear, rotating plow blades. The L-Series mixer can come with muller wheels as an option, which combines a kneading, rubbing, or smearing action of a mortar and pestle along with the intensive mixing of the counter-current system. L-Series industrial mixers can be manual, fully automatic or a combination of both and can be used for research, testing or production.
Lancaster L-Series Mixers are ideal for:
- Low shear or low energy mixing
- Suitable for Shear Thickening or Non-Newtonian materials
- Mixing, slow or delayed chemical reactions
- Capacities from: 0.1 cu ft to 80 cu ft
TOOLING OPTIONS
Lancaster Products engineering staff can assist in selecting the appropriate mixing tools depending on the characteristics of the materials to be processed.
Low Shear tooling options include:
- Plow action alone, or plow with mulling wheels
- Fork tines or cutters can be substituted for plows
When mulling action is desired, the mulling wheels are adjusted above the mixing pan bottom to clear the largest grain size. This feature prevents particle size change or destruction.
HOW IT WORKS
The counter-current mixing action of the Lancaster Mixer is widely accepted as the most effective technique for consistent uniformity and thoroughness. Simply stated, counter-current action occurs when the pan rotates in one direction, while the mixing tools rotate in the other.
The rotating mixing pan conveys the material to the counter-rotating tool assembly. This results in countless cross-over of layers with maximum particle travel both vertically and horizontally, without depending on free fall.
Depending on the material and application, mulling can be an important addition to mixing. Equipping Lancaster Mixers with muller assemblies imparts a kneading and smearing action of a mortar and pestle needed for some applications such as foundry sands, along with the intensive mixing of the counter-current system.
LOW SHEAR MIXING APPLICATIONS:
Look to the Lancaster Products L-Series Mixer for advanced techniques for mixing solids or solids with liquids. Lancaster L-Series low-shear mixers can be adapted to process dusty, abrasive, corrosive, highly viscous or explosive materials and can be used for research, testing or production.
Lancaster Products L-Series counter-current industrial mixing equipment can handle materials from powders to pastes – regardless of differences in particle sizes, shapes, weights, and hardness.
L-Series Low-Shear Mixers
PC and LWD
30-DP, X-30-BH, and 1-DP Low Shear Mixer
L3, L4, L80, and L108
Lancaster Products
920 Mechanic Street
Lebanon, PA 17046
Local: 717.273.2111
Toll Free: 800.447.7351
© Lancaster Products
The Effect of Rotor Styles on High Shear Mixing
In addition to the rotating pan, all high shear mixers manufactured by Lancaster Products larger than a K3.5 have two independently motor driven mixing tools inside the pan which are responsible for proper mixing, pelletizing, and granulating of materials: the plow and the high speed rotor. The plow continually sweeps the entire surface of the pan bottom to prevent material from accumulating on the bottom and enhances the overall mixing action. However, the most important tool of all is the high-speed rotor, which rotates counter direction to the pan causing a shearing action inside of the mixing cavity. This high-speed rotor not only agitates the mixture, but significantly influences the control of the entire process. While there are just two main style of standard rotors, we can custom configure the rotor to optimize all mixing processes.
Infographic: Optimize Your Fertilizer Pelletizing Process
Traditional processes for manufacturing fertilizer require many steps and different types of equipment. It is common for systems to include multiple dryers, a mill/pulverizer for size reduction of dried material, pin mixer/pug mill for mixing of additives and raw materials, a pelletizer and multiple conveyors to facilitate the process. If this seems like a complex process that requires high levels of work, energy and maintenance, we agree.
Lancaster Products engineers can optimize existing complex fertilizer pelleting processes or design new streamlined systems to help you realize multiple benefits, including a reduction in physical footprint and an improvement in the characteristics and reproducibility of your pelletized product. By utilizing a Lancaster Products K-Series High Shear Mixer to replace a mill and disc pelletizer, you not only reduce system complexity but also gain the ability to begin processing with raw materials at higher moisture levels. The counter-current mixing action in a Lancaster Mixer allows for one-step mixing and pelletizing with rapid mix times.
