The Evolution From Small-Blade To Large-Blade Agitators

By Jared Wray, P.E., and Daniel Alper

To appreciate the importance of mixing, it helps to consider the array of products that require mixing as they are made or refined. Stirring with a stick may seem crude, but for an application like cooking, it is still a state-of-the-art mixing technology. As increasing volumes of material need mixing, larger and more automated mixing technologies are required.

From a simple blender to large truck-mounted concrete mixers, mixing has evolved rapidly. In particular, with changing environmental regulations and legislation, new products are constantly being created to supply energy-efficient mixing for water and wastewater applications. Throughout this evolution, submersible mixers have maintained market stability and have proven reliable in varied applications.

The first submersible mixers were manufactured in the early 1960s and were quickly implemented in wastewater treatment. They were soon used in the original step-feed nitrification/denitrification activated sludge process, introduced in the late 1970s.

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