Powder mixers

Alfa Laval Hybrid Powder Mixers

Alfa Laval powder mixers increase mixing efficiency and productivity while reducing total cost of ownership. A single electric motor drive enables the high-shear mixers to blend a wide variety of product formulations. The mixers draw powder into the unit while simultaneously pumping the resulting powder-liquid mixture at pressures of more than 4 bar. When used with a rotary jet mixer, the powder mixers may also be part of an efficient Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) system. Powder mixers are available as stationary or mobile units.

• Increase mixing efficiency and energy efficiency while reducing total cost of ownership
• Boost yield thanks to quick and efficient blending of wet and dry ingredients into a homogeneous mixture
• Increase process and product flexibility, easily handling various formulations with different viscosities, densities, and volumes
• Cut process time, emissions and installation, energy, raw material, and maintenance costs
• Improve process flexibility by leveraging the mixing and cleaning capabilities in a single unit
• Fast return on investment and low total cost of ownership due to less waste and a more sustainable use of resources

How does a powder mixer work?

A two-stage inline powder mixer comprises a two-stage pump with a rotor-stator, a funnel, and an injector. The high-shear mixer is typically integrated into a circulation loop and connected to a batch tank. In the first stage, the powder mixer circulates the liquid ingredients through the tank. Powdered ingredients are then added through a funnel. A valve under the funnel opens, and the injector positioned under the valve creates vacuum conditions in the funnel outlet, drawing the powder into the rotor-stator and pre-blending it with the liquid. The rotor-stator creates the main shear, efficiently blending powder and liquid into a homogeneous mixture.

In the second stage, the pump’s impeller creates the final shear and transfers the mixture into the tank under high pressure. A portion of the mixture is recirculated back to the first phase. The liquid flow in the injector creates vacuum conditions, continuously drawing powder into the liquid. After mixing is completed, the powder mixer may be used as a discharge pump or a Cleaning-in-Place (CIP) recirculation pump to clean the tank when used with a rotary jet mixer.