PROPELLERS

ASSIGNMENT

HASNAIN SALEHEEN | Pharmaceutical Engineering- 1 |

BASIC INFORMATION

So before we start we need to know a bit about propellers. What

they are? What do they do and why they are so important in
Pharmaceutical Sciences!
It is basically a mixer which mixes liquids using blades or
impellers. Usually they consist of a shaft which is connected to a
motor. The actual mixing of the process is done by mixing one
immiscible liquid to another miscible liquid to form the true
solutions. Different blades and impellers show different shear force
and the propellers utilizes this difference in shear force to mix
liquids together.

EQUIPMENT DESIGN

Shaft
Hollow Shaft motor interconnect
Aluminum Housing
1/4 to 10 horsepower
Stainless steel motors

PAGE 1

Now lets have a look at the actual construction of the propeller.

CONSTRUCTION
It has vessels and propellers. It has angled blades, which
cause the fluid to circulate in both a radial and an axial
direction.

An off-center mounting in most cases prevents the formation

of a vortex however vortex can form when the centrifugal
force causes it to back up around the sides of the vessel.

Formation of vortex also means increased speed of rotation

which helps in sucking air into the fluid which causes
frothing and even oxidation.

Another used method to suppress the formation of vortex is

to is to fit vertical baffles into the vessel.
The ratio of the diameter of a propeller stirrer to that of the
vessel is commonly 0.1-0.5, and it typically operates usually
at speeds of 1-20 rps.

PAGE 2

MECHANISM
The main principle on which the propeller mixer works on is
shearing force.

WORKING

Propeller mixer works mainly as the fan. It usually works at high

speed which is up to 8000 rpm that gives a very satisfactory end
result most of the times. As we have already talked about during
the process of mixing process sometimes air get trapped in the
liquids causing formation of vortex. To avoid this phenomena
certain small changes can be made to the shaft position. A few can
be-

Use of baffles

Offset from center

Mounted at an angle

Entering from the side of the vessel

PAGE 3

TYPES
There are mainly two types of propellers out there. These areVertical or aircraft propeller and
Horizontal or inclined propeller or marine propeller.

Vertical or aircraft propeller

It consist of three blades which are of 4 ft long and the impellers

rotate at speed of 1500 rpm.

Horizontal or inclined propeller or marine propeller

The shearing action of the propeller is really significant at high

speeds.
Speed Range - 400 - 1800 rpm
Speed Range - 400 - 1800 rpm
As we can see speed range can vary depending on the diameter.

PAGE 4

PHARMACEUTICAL
APPLICATIONS
Propellers are generally used in mixing the liquids up to
2000cp

It is also used in mixing of suspensions with particles size up

to 0.1 to 0.5 mm.

ADVANTAGES
All sides of mixing is possible.

DISADVANTAGES
The propeller mixer is high cost.

PAGE 5

REFERENCES
Bibliography
Cheremisinoff, N. P. (2012). Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment
Technology.
Michael E. Aulton, K. T. (2013). Aulton's Pharmaceutics: The Design and Manufacture
of medicines.

PAGE 6