Substrate
A critical component is the substrate or feedstock to be stirred and its properties. They affect the choice of the right propeller design, its revolutions, and the required motor power.
The dry matter content or the viscosity provides, among other things, information about the flowability of the feedstock. In the case of aggressive media, for example, stainless steel agitator components in the substrate must be used; otherwise, the agitator can be damaged. Long fibers require additional protection from abrasion-related damage. All of these factors must be taken into account. It is, therefore, essential to analyze what is being stirred:
- What type of feedstock is it? (corn, manure, wastewater, and others)
- Is the feeding method liquid or dry?
- What is the feeding amount and its intervals?
- At what interval does the substrate have to be stirred?
- How high is the dry matter content?
- What is the pH value?
- What is the viscosity?
- How long are the fibers?
- What is the substrate temperature?
- What is the density of the substrate?
The agitator types and their variants can be defined. The standard agitators, often used in practice, are submersible motor agitators, long-axis or rod agitators, and central agitators. There are also other types of agitators, such as paddle, reel agitators, and hydraulic stirring.
