Baffles

BAFFLES

Baffles in glass lined reactors
In addition to the turbine, the optimum design of the baffle used for the agitating task plays a prominent role. The purpose of the baffles is to convert the tangential flow produced inside the reactor by the rotating agitator into an axial flow, and thus to avoid vortex formation.

PADDLE-TYPE BAFFLE
Over the course of years, many different baffle shapes have been developed, however, only the paddle-type baffle has proven successful and has been standardized as DIN 28146.

The classic, which has proven its efficiency for many years:
e.g., when reducing foam, whirling up solids, in the case of considerable differences in density between fluids to be mixed.

C baffle
In the field of baffles, the ProSol agitating system offers a trend-setting baffling innovation - the new Pfaudler C baffle.C-Baffle

A characteristic quantity describing the efficiency of a baffle is its coefficient of resistance cw. Pfaudler developed a baffle with a cw value that is about 75% higher than that of a paddle-type baffle (2.3 compared to 1.3). This higher cw value - and thus the improved baffling efficiency - is achieved by a C-shaped cross-section of the baffle (patent pending). The baffle is installed in a position where the flow enters the concave surface of the C baffle. The design was determined by the requirement to fulfill the technical conditions of the process, but also by the following aspects:

  • The C-baffle should be capable of being installed in a flange and as a gland-sealed component.
  • The C-baffle had to have the same mechanical strength and at least the same vibration properties as previous baffle designs

This specific geometry of the baffle and the fulfillment of the glassing requirements by the geometry design resulted in a significant increase in the baffling efficiency compared to a paddle-type baffle.

One fundamental property of the new C-baffle is the fact that it can be easily installed in existing reactors. In addition, a temperature sensor can be integrated.

BaffleRing
For reactors in AE design (two-piece reactors consisting of a lower body and a lid) with a nominal capacity of up to 1,000 liters, Pfaudler offers the BaffleRing.Baffle-Ring

The BaffleRing is simply clamped in between the main flange of the reactor and carries two C baffles. The “fully baffled” condition is thus obtained inside the reactor. Extremely short mixing times, a homogeneous mixing result and optimum product quality are achieved by very simple means!

The BaffleRing can be equipped with various probes (temperature, glass monitoring) and can be retrofitted to existing two-piece reactors whenever necessary!

The fixing elements were designed to offer access to the concave inner surface of the baffle ring’s C baffle from above. As a result, it is possible to pour media directly onto the concave surface of the C baffles through a short inlet tube, and to mix them optimally with the reactor contents. This also provides for direct scale-up, because the C baffles of large glass lined apparatuses also have a nozzle on the concave surface of the C section. In addition, a spot where contamination potentially accumulated was eliminated.

BAFFLERING MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL
Pfaudler has now developed a BaffleRing made of stainless steel especially for easy retrofits to existing two-piece reactors made of stainless steel (to comply with customers’ requests).Baffle-Ring

The BaffleRing is placed on the main flange of the reactor’s lower body and clamped in place by the bolts used to fix the reactor lid. The two C-shaped baffling instruments reaching into the reactor provide for maximum apparatus fitting.

This BaffleRing (patent application pending), whose structural dimensions are similar to those of the proven glass lined design, now also ensures an optimum agitating effect through maximum baffling in reactors made of stainless steel.

QUATRO-PIPE
The baffle that can do more!

The Quatro-Pipe offers the unique advantage of combining up to four important functions in a single reactor nozzle:

  • Flange-type baffle: The Quatro-Pipe has all the properties of a baffle and the same flow-disturbing effect. It can be removed without accessing the reactor
  • The Quatro-Pipe is also a dip pipe, e.g., for removing product or gas dispersion
  • Probe: By fusing-in sensors, the Quatro-Pipe becomes a probe, e.g. for measuring temperature, monitoring the glass in order to detect glass damages at an early stage, etc.
  • Sampling system: The Quatro-Pipe can be easily converted into a continuous sampling system by fitting an internal PTFE tube and an external structure.

Application technology

WE CONSIDER YOUR PROBLEMS OUR PROBLEMS

Whenever you have any questions concerning the agitating and mixing or measuring technology, you can fully rely on the application technology support provided by Pfaudler. We work out individual solutions to your concrete challenges or queries. Comprehensive analyses and tests in our test lab provide the first results - field tests on location ensure absolute functional reliability of your process.