Quadro Ytron^®
Batch vs Single-pass?

Shear Performance and Productivity in a Single-Pass

Faster batch times. Higher capacities. Predictable, consistent quality. Easy-to-clean. These are the demands that today are challenging process engineers in large-scale manufacturing. However,traditional in-tank fluid mixing continues to impose limitations on productivity – causing bottlenecks that industry has reluctantly learned to live with or work around by introducing costly additional processes.

Conventional Hit-and-Miss Mixing Technology

This in-tank velocity profile of a conventional mixer shows high velocity at the impeller and low velocity throughout the bulk of the tank (blue and green areas). The result is random distribution of shear which is impossible to control. Quadro Ytron™ single-pass technology delivers uniform shear to all material in a predictable, repeatable and scalable process.

Traditional in-tank dispersion and emulsifying methods are, at best, hit-and-miss. Powders and immiscible liquids introduced into a vessel of liquid must find their way to the mixing impeller in order to be effectively sheared and dispersed. In theory, the vortexing created by a conventional impeller draws the powder down into the action zone. In reality, only a portion of the material introduced will reach the tooling for processing.

The result? Random, uncontrollable rates of shear. Some materials are continually recirculated back into the action zone – leading to over processing. Other components, most often in “dead zones” nearer the vessel walls and surface, remain virtually untouched. Not only does this incomplete dispersion promote waste as materials “raft” on the tank surface or build up on walls and baffles, it also encourages the creation of “fish eye” lumps.

It's easy to see why even the most powerful mixer often has limited impact. To compound the situation, traditional vortex-flow induction introduces unwanted air into the batch mix, further compromising the desired results. And because these results are the product of so many randomly impacting processing variables, batch-to-batch quality and consistency becomes wholly unattainable. Processors have traditionally attempted to overcome these problems by extending processing times or using more costly, higher horsepower mixers. However, these approaches can damage heat and/or shear-sensitive products.

The Quadro Single-Pass Breakthrough

With the Quadro Ytron line of mixers, dispersers and emulsifiers there's now a proven, viable alternative that removes these obstacles to greater efficiency. This unique in-line technology maximizes yields, creating high-quality dispersions and emulsions by applying the required shear to all the material in a quick, single-pass. And its wide range of tooling can be specifically tailored to the difficulty of the application.

Quadro Ytron's breakthrough single-pass process delivers high product quality that is predictable, repeatable and scalable. At the same time, it can dramatically reduce batch times and energy consumption by as much as 75%.

In-line processing offers a host of additional advantages. Powder wastage, air entrainment and batch-to-batch cross-contamination are virtually eliminated. Clean-up is fast and easy. What's more, Quadro Ytron technology is flexible enough that a single device can even process multiple applications feeding several batch tanks. No wonder single-pass processing is rapidly gaining momentum among leading processors. As pioneers in this revolution, Quadro offers the expertise, track record and advanced technology to meet the growing demand.