Liquefier Blender Overview
A Crucial Tool in the World of Efficient Mixing and Processing
Throughout this guide, we will explore the liquefier blender’s role in dissolving solids with precision and ensuring complete product hydration. We will examine the food industries that employ this machine, and delve into the wide spectrum of impeller designs and their specific applications. Finally, we'll navigate through popular models and offer valuable insights for both purchasing and selling. By the end of this overview, you will have gained valuable insights that will allow you to buy or sell a liquefier with confidence.
We'll Cover the Following in This Guide:
- What Is a Liquefier Blender?
- How and Where Customers Use This Machine?
- Liquefier Advantages
- Where to Find in a Production Line?
- Common Liquefier Models
- Different Liquefier Impellers
- Key Considerations When Purchasing a Liquefier
What Is a Liquefier Blender?
A liquefier is a high-shear mixer crafted for dissolving solids or semi-solids, where factors such as time, temperature, and complete hydration are important.
These machines possess the ability to dissolve and disperse a wide array of food products, transitioning them into solutions rather than mere suspensions through the power of agitation.
How Customers Use This Machine
Liquefiers are being used in the food industry to manufacture some of the following products.
- Ice Cream Mixes
- Candies
- Canned Condiments
- Sauces
- Salad Dressing
- Fillings
- Instant Breakfast
[Sources: Webstaurant Store and Walmart]
Advantages of Liquefiers
The main benefit of a liquefier lies in its capability to thoroughly blend soluble products. It’s able to do so by utilizing a bottom-entering agitator shaft with an impeller to create high circulation rates and high shear rates.
The advantage of a bottom-entering shaft is its ability to achieve greater efficiency compared to top-entering shafts. This efficiency stems from the impeller’s close proximity to the bottom of the tank, where it is fully immersed in the liquid, ensuring optimal performance.
Additional Equipment
If you are considering purchasing a liquefier blender, you may also require certain upstream and downstream equipment to ensure a smooth production line. It's worth noting that the list provided below is not comprehensive and there may be additional equipment that could enhance your operation.
Upstream
- Storage Tanks and Ingredients
- Pumps
Downstream
- Filler
- Labelers
Popular Manufacturers
- EnSight Engineering Creative Solutions
- Bematek
- Wabash
- Walker
- SPXFLOW
- Flex-Mix Liquiverter
Common Terminology of Popular Breddo Models
Breddo LDT & LDTR Models
L: Likwifier
D: Direct Drive
T: Tank
R: Round
Below is a demo video of a Breddo LDT model.
Breddo LOR & LOS models
L: Likwifier
O: Belt Drive
R: Round
S: Square
Below is a demo video of a Breddo LOS model.
Breddo LORSS model
L: Likwifier
O: Belt Drive
R: Round
SS: Side Scrape
Below is a demo video of a model with a side scrape.
[Source: EnSight Solutions, LLC]
Different Liquefier Impellers
Impellers play a crucial role within liquefiers as they are responsible for blending, agitating, and mixing. When selecting a liquefier with a certain impeller design, it’s important to consider the properties of the materials being processed, the desired mixing intensity, and the overall process requirements.
Here are some common impeller types:
Radial Flow Impeller: This type of impeller directs the flow of material radially outward from the impeller shaft. It is effective for low-viscosity liquids and promotes efficient mixing in the radial direction.
Axial Flow Impeller: Axial flow impellers create fluid movement parallel to the impeller shaft. They are suitable for applications where gentle mixing or pumping is required.
Propeller Impeller: This impeller resembles a boat propeller and is commonly used for blending and agitation in large tanks or vessels. It provides good mixing and circulation in low-viscosity liquids.
Turbine Impeller: Turbine impellers have multiple flat blades and are versatile for various mixing tasks. They offer a balance between flow and shear and are used in a wide range of applications.
Anchor Impeller: Anchor impellers consist of a central shaft with curved blades that sweep the vessel's walls. They are ideal for viscous materials, such as pastes and gels, and are used for effective scraping and mixing.
Paddle Impeller: Paddle impellers have flat, paddle-like blades that move material horizontally and radially. They are suitable for mixing viscous and shear-sensitive materials.
Helical Ribbon Impeller: This impeller features a helical ribbon blade that promotes vertical and axial flow. It is used for mixing powders, granules, and cohesive materials.
Emulsifying Impeller: Emulsifying impellers are designed to create fine emulsions by breaking down droplets of one immiscible liquid in another. They often have high shear capabilities.
High-Shear Impeller: High-shear impellers are designed to produce intense turbulence and shear forces, which are useful for processes such as emulsification and dispersion.
Gate Impeller: Gate impellers consist of two or more flat blades arranged vertically, resembling a gate. They are used for gentle mixing and heat transfer in applications like crystallization and heat-sensitive processes.
Disperser Impeller: Disperser impellers have a single blade that rotates at high speeds to break down solid particles or agglomerates in liquids.
Questions to consider before buying or selling
Buying
- Does the unit have a manufacturer's tag?
- Does the unit have a jacket tag?
- What’s the National Board Number?
- Capacity of the liquefier?
- The OD/ID of the tri-clamp fittings?
- Does it have a side scrape?
- Is there a CIP spray ball?
- What’s the motor horsepower?
- What is the machine’s electrical requirements?
- Last product ran?
Selling
- What is your desired capacity?
- What jacket do you require?
- Do you need a side scrap?
- Motor horsepower needed?
- Do you require additional upstream or downstream equipment?
Summary
Liquefiers are specialized high-shear mixers engineered for precise dissolution of solids and semi-solids, especially when considering factors like time, temperature, and complete hydration. Their proficiency in dispersing a wide array of food products ensures comprehensive blending, going beyond mere suspension.
Click here to view our inventory of liquefier blenders.
If you’re interested in one of these units, contact our sales team to find the machine that’s best suited for your needs.