There’s quite a bit of science at play in a manufacturing facility. While the mixing and blending of ingredients is chemistry, the machines are governed by physics.

Calculating the right proportions of ingredients is mathematics. In fact, the whole process of mixing, manufacturing, blending, melting, and heating is science. In a similar fashion, a static mixer is also a product of physics. It works on the principles of physics.

Static Mixers are A Vital Element to the Operation

A static mixer is indispensable to every manufacturing unit. Whether it is a food and beverage plant or a petrochemical factory, they all have mixing and blending jobs. It could be mixing food colorings with fruit juice, or chlorine to water, or adhesive to chemicals.

For every mixing task, the static mixer can be a great help. Although static or motionless mixers have been around since the last forty years or so, they started getting popular only since the last few years because manufacturing plants are always looking for cheaper and more efficient ways to mix.

A static mixer is called motionless because it doesn’t have any moving part and doesn’t require electricity to function, yet it produces an equitable end homogenous product as its dynamic counterpart.

As a result, it is more affordable to purchase, own, and use. Because there are no moving parts, it is also much simpler to maintain a static mixer. Static mixers generally last longer than most other machinery because there are no parts that could get damaged in the long run.

Coming to how physics affects the function of a static mixer, the best example is the difference between laminar and turbulent flow. To properly blend liquids effectively, it is vital to know what these two types of flow are.

What are the Differences Between Laminar and Turbulent Flow?

Without going into the complicated details of physics, the simplest definition of laminar and turbulent flow is this: laminar flow is straight and smooth, usually in one direction, without any interference, whereas turbulent flow is not orderly, with each element interfering with one another.

The static mixer can achieve both laminar and turbulent flow, depending upon the type of fluids being mixed.

Laminar flow usually occurs when the fluid flows with low velocity, while turbulent flow takes places when the fluid flows with high velocity.

It is interesting to note that laminar flow happens when the low-velocity fluid flows in pipes with a small diameter, but turbulent flow only happens when the fluid is flowing through a large-diameter pipe at high velocity.

Komax Systems has static mixers that provide laminar flow or turbulent flow. For all of your industrial mixing needs, choose our static mixers for the best results.

Get in contact with us for a quote customized to your specific mixing needs!