A continuous mixer that has many features
Gebr. Lödige Maschinenbau
The continuous Ploughshare mixer KM (photo) is suitable for processing powdery, fibrous or granular solids, as well as liquids and pastes. Granulation processes can also be carried out with the continuous mixer. The mixer is based on a patented, mechanically generated, turbulent fluidized-bed process. During this process, the Ploughshare shovels rotate close to the wall in a horizontal, cylindrical drum. Their peripheral speed and geometric shape are rated such that they take the mixing components off the drum wall and toss them into the free-mixing compartment from the product bed. Due to the continuous mixing of the entire product, intensive blending is thus achieved. Transport of the product is ensured by the special shape and arrangement of the mixing elements. Excellent homogeneity and consistent reproducibility of the final product are achieved during short mixing or retention times of only 25–60 s. The smallest model has a drum capacity of 5 L and a throughput capacity of 0.25 m3/h, depending on retention time and filling level. The largest machine built to date has a drum capacity of 57,000 L, and has been in operation at an Indian steelworks since 2015. There, it mixes and granulates the sintering material needed in the blast furnace for pig-iron production, and can handle more than 1,350 metric tons of raw sintering mixture per hour. Hall 1, Stand 517 — Gebr. Lödige Maschinenbau GmbH, Paderborn, Germany