Agitator With Axial And Radial Rotor Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agitators for mixing and moving substrates in containers are inefficient, leading to high energy consumption despite occupying only a fraction of the container volume.
Innovation Solution
The agitator design features rotor areas with different conveying effects, including axial and radial directions, with stirring blades that change orientation along a helical line, optimizing substrate flow and mixing efficiency while minimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional agitators are used to mix substrates in containers, then mixing function is provided, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is designed with differentiated rotor areas having distinct conveying effects - some areas create axial flow while others create radial flow. This local variation in flow generation optimizes mixing efficiency in different zones of the container without requiring uniform high-power input across the entire rotor, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stirring blades are designed with variable orientation along the axial length, creating dynamic flow patterns that adapt to different operational conditions. The blades transition from radial orientation at one end to axial orientation at the other end, enabling the rotor to generate both radial and axial flow components dynamically, improving mixing efficiency while optimizing energy utilization.
2Volume of moving object
If rotor occupies small fraction of container volume, then device complexity is reduced, but substrate flow outside rotor range is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing rotor volume to enhance substrate flow, the invention creates three-dimensional flow patterns by combining axial and radial flow components from different rotor areas. This multi-dimensional flow generation extends the effective mixing reach throughout the entire container volume, ensuring adequate substrate flow outside the rotor's physical range while maintaining a compact rotor design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges axial flow and radial flow mechanisms within a single rotor structure. By integrating both flow types in different rotor areas, the system achieves comprehensive substrate circulation throughout the container, effectively extending the mixing influence beyond the rotor's physical boundaries without increasing rotor volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design achieves effective mixing and movement of substrates across the entire container volume with reduced energy consumption, even when the rotor occupies a small fraction of the container volume, by utilizing centrifugal force and reversing rotation to generate counter flows.
Implementation Method 1
by utilizing centrifugal force and reversing rotation to generate counter flows
Data Source
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AI summary
A stirrer (1) for mixing and moving substrates (30) in the form of liquids or liquid-solid mixtures located in a container (3), comprising at least one rotor (2) having one or more stirring blades (25), arranged in the container (3) and mounted in at least one rotor bearing (22.1, 22.2), which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (20), and comprising a drive (28) driving the rotor (2), wherein each rotor (2) of the stirrer (1) occupies only a fraction of the volume of the container (3) containing the substrates (30) to be mixed and moved, and wherein a substrate flow can also be effected outside the range of motion of the rotor (2) or rotors (2) in the container (3) by means of the stirrer (1).The agitator (1) is characterized in that the rotor (2), viewed along its axis of rotation (20), is configured with at least two rotor sections (2', 2") with different conveying effects on the substrate (30), wherein a first rotor section (2') is configured with a predominantly axial conveying effect in the direction of the axis of rotation (20) and a second rotor section (2") is configured with a stronger radial conveying effect transverse to the direction of the axis of rotation (20). A container (3) with such an agitator (1) is also disclosed.