VAK KIMSA
The Importance of Viscosity Data In an Agitation Process
The Importance Of Viscosity Data In An Agitation Process
Many companies design or modify their agitation processes based on a single viscosity figure.
The result?
Oversized agitators that consume too much energy, or worse, undersized ones that won't move the product.
- Wasted time
- Product out of specification
- Wrong investments
The solution lies in understanding what the correct viscosity value is for sizing an agitator.
Having the tools to properly characterize it and design the agitation system you really need is the starting point. At Vak Kimsa, we have found that many agitation problems originate from poor characterization of this fundamental parameter.
Viscosity is not a single value: a common mistake is to treat viscosity as a constant. In reality, except in Newtonian products (such as water or mineral oils), viscosity depends on two critical factors: temperature and applied shear. This means that the same product can present very different viscosities depending on working conditions.
This variability is especially important in pseudoplastic or thixotropic fluids, where viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate. Therefore, measuring viscosity under static conditions or at incorrect speeds can lead to significant errors in agitator sizing.
What is the correct viscosity data?
Here lies the key to the problem: we need to know the product's viscosity at the actual working speed of the agitator. The solution is to perform viscosity curves that relate shear rate to the product's dynamic viscosity.
At Vak Kimsa, we offer our customers the possibility of carrying out these rheological studies.
Solutions to agitation problems: if your product is not moving correctly with the current agitator, don't give up. Now you know the importance of having reliable viscosity data.
With this information, we can offer you the best solution.
Read the full article!
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/importance-viscosity-data-agitation-process-vak-kimsa-sa-rlzqe
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