Centrifugal Mixer
In modern Edible Oil Refinery Plant operations, the efficiency of chemical refining heavily depends on how intimately reagents (acids, caustic soda, and water) are mixed with the crude oil. The SEPARATECH Centrifugal Mixer (often referred to as a dynamic or high-shear mixer) is precision-engineered to deliver intense kinetic energy and homogenization, transforming separate liquid phases into a highly dispersed, uniform micro-emulsion.
By drastically reducing the droplet size of chemical additives, our centrifugal mixing technology maximizes the interfacial contact area. This guarantees rapid, complete chemical reactions during the degumming and neutralization stages, ultimately reducing reagent consumption and minimizing valuable neutral oil losses.
CM multipurpose centrifugal mixer is a special type of centrifugal mixer that is used to mix two or more liquids with different densities and viscosities in a continuous process. It is a high-speed, high-shear mixer that is used in the edible oil refining process.
The CM centrifugal mixer has a removable hood and a centripetal pump for liquid discharge. The purpose of the CM centrifugal mixer is to achieve a homogeneous and stable mixture of the liquids, which can improve the quality and yield of the edible oil products. The function of the CM centrifugal mixer is to create a high shear force between the liquids by rotating them at a high speed in a cylindrical chamber. The shear force breaks up the droplets of the liquids and distributes them evenly throughout the mixture. The CM centrifugal mixer can handle a wide range of densities, viscosities, temperatures and flow rates, making it a versatile and efficient device for edible oil refining.
The Science of High-Shear Dynamic Dispersion
Unlike standard static pipe mixers that rely solely on fluid velocity, the SEPARATECH Centrifugal Mixer utilizes an active motor-driven high-shear mixer rotor-stator architecture.
As the crude oil and chemical reagents are pumped into the cylindrical housing, they are instantly drawn into the center of a high-speed rotating impeller. The intense centrifugal force accelerates the fluids outward, forcing them through narrow radial clearances. This mechanical shearing action breaks down the reagent droplets to the micron level (often ~2 to 5 microns), ensuring every single molecule of impurity is aggressively targeted and agglomerated for downstream centrifugal phase separation.
The CM centrifugal mixer from SEPARATECH works on the principle of centrifugal force. The mixer consists of a cylindrical housing with a rotating impeller at the center. The impeller is fitted with a number of vanes that create a high-shear vortex within the housing. The oil and liquid solution are fed into the housing at the top and are quickly drawn into the vortex. The high shear forces of the vortex break down the liquid solution and disperse them throughout the oil.
1. Feed; 2. Mixer bowl; 3. Centripetal pump; 4. Discharge; 5. Rotate spindle
6. Housing; 7. Drain;
Critical Applications in the Refining Process
The continuous dynamic mixing provided by our equipment is indispensable across three critical chemical refining stages:
- Acid Degumming (Phosphoric / Citric Acid): Achieves rapid dispersion of acids into the crude oil to successfully hydrate non-hydratable phospholipids (gums), turning them into heavy, removable flocs.
- Alkaline Neutralization (Caustic Soda): Disperses specific concentrations of lye (NaOH) into the oil to neutralize Free Fatty Acids (FFA) without creating localized “hot spots” of excessive concentration, thereby preventing the unwanted saponification of valuable neutral oil into soapstock.
- Water Washing: Intensely mixes hot condensate water into the neutralized oil to dissolve and wash away trace soap particles, ensuring the oil is completely pure before entering the vacuum dryer and bleaching tower.
Key Engineering Features & Advantages
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Control: The rotational speed of the spindle can be precisely adjusted via the main PLC control panel. This allows operators to fine-tune the shear intensity based on the specific type of crude oil (e.g., high-gum soybean oil vs. palm oil) and the current process stage.
Heavy-Duty Hygienic Construction: The mixer bowl, impeller, and all wetted contact parts are fabricated from premium food-grade SS304 or SS316L stainless steel, polished to eliminate dead zones and prevent bacterial or chemical residue buildup.
Advanced Mechanical Sealing: Outfitted with double mechanical seals and a specialized cooling fluid circulation system to ensure zero leakage and long-term continuous operation under process temperatures.
Low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Because the intense shearing action accelerates and completes the chemical reaction instantly, refining plants can significantly lower their daily dosage of expensive phosphoric acid and caustic soda.
Technical Sizing & Capacity Matrix
| Designation | Capacity (T/d) | Power (Kw) |
|---|---|---|
| CM40 | 100 | 3 |
| CM80 | 200 | 5.5 |
| CM100 | 500 | 11 |
Optimize Your Refining Yields with SEPARATECH
Upgrading the mixing technology in your plant is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to improve downstream centrifugal separator performance, lower soapstock entrainment, and increase your overall refined oil yield.