May 2011 Newsletter

The May 2011 Sharpe Newsletter, "Sharpe Points" is now available for direct download!

Mixer Replacement in Pictures

Retrofitting older mixers in the field with newer, more efficient and cost-effective mixer designs has long been a strong suit of Sharpe Mixers.

Case in point, these old mixers were likely installed in the 1950's (best guess) and had long exceeded their life cycle.  In fact, the gearboxes were now obsolete and parts no longer available.

The customer contacted Sharpe to see what we could offer as an update.  Application engineers from Sharpe flew to the customer's facility, examined their application requirements, and offered a proposal best suited to their needs. 

One of the biggest selling points of Sharpe Mixers was the technology of our Hyflo impeller design and the improved mixing it would offer.   With their increased impeller efficiency, Sharpe would be able to offer smaller, more efficient and cost-effective mixer drives.

After shipment of the mixers, Sharpe engineers flew back to the customer's facility for start-up. 

The first task was the removal of the old tank and mixers. The tank is made of wood rather than metal due to the high salt content.

Once the old tanks were dismantled and stacked for disposal.  Once this was completed, it was time to install the new replacement tanks.

The new tanks were a noticeable improvement over the old! This is one of three new tanks.  The application process requires three tanks per series.  This installation was for the first series, with more to follow.

Next it was time to install the mixers.  The HYF-218 impellers were lowered in with cranes first.

The impellers and shafts were followed by the drives.  This is our N-Series mixer drive, our most popular heavy duty mixer.

Note the impeller's close proximity to the tank walls.  The mixers are in crystalization tanks.  They mix a saturated solution of salts and run them though cooling coils.  The application is material suspension and heat transfer.

A steady bearing is used to secure the mixer shaft and limit shaft runout.

The customer was so pleased with the results that they have placed orders for two more series of mixers, the next of which will be shipped in the coming days.

How can we help you with your mixer needs?  Contact us today and let us know!

Excluder Seals

Buna excluder seal kits are available in many sizes.

Excluder seals are a type of lip seal that actually rotates with the shaft. The skirt extends out and slightly downward to seal small tank openings.

Sharpe Mixers' excluder seal kits have really gained in popularity over the last couple of years, especially in the food industry. Seals are are available in almost any size from 1.0" to 6.63" as a standard. They are available in both Buna N and Viton material.

Sharpe excluder seal kit

Buna excluder seal kits are our most popular, and suitable for most applications. They are stocked and available for quick shipment (excluding large quantity orders).

Viton excluder seal kits are designed for higher temperature applications, and can ship in 1-2 weeks.

For more information, visit our web site at http://www.sharpemixers.com/!

Sharpe Sanitary Mixer in the News!

Sharpe sanitary portable mixer.

Our sanitary mixer design has been getting a lot of attention lately, and rightly so!  Starting at only $1,595.00 and available from stock, our all stainless portable mixer is perfect for blending juices and adding ingredients to sauces such as meat or poultry, yogurts, and a wide range of other products.

See the recent press release on the KING 5 News web site, or learn more details directly from our web site.

Want us to size a mixer for your specific needs?  We can do that too!

Stainless Steel Mixers Upgrade for USDA – FDA – 3-A Acceptance

Sharpe Mixers is working with the USDA and 3-A to be sure our all stainless steel mixers are acceptable for use in plants that comply with USDA, FDA and 3-A standards.

One of the issues they address is nameplates. The typical nameplate is a stainless steel plate, with pertinent information embossed on the plate. The nameplate is then attached to the mixer drive with rivets.

This creates a possible space behind the nameplate which may be difficult to clean with CIP or COP procedures.

Nameplate data can be laser or chemical etched directly on the mixer, in lieu of adding a physical nameplate.

This is called electrochemical marking.

Sharpe Mixers has purchased a Lectroetch VT15A power unit.

It operates a process that utilizes enzymes and electrical current to etch the surface.

The procedure for creating a “nameplate” is as follows:

Apply the stencil.

Apply enzyme solution.

Apply current and rub the saddle across the stencil to etch the surface.

Neutralize.

Repeat process for addition of order specific information, Model and serial number.

“All Stainless Steel” mixers are now supplied with this “clean” nameplate.

Submitted by Fred DeCicco

Side-Entry Impeller Positioning



Side-Entry drawing by Geoff Graham

 How do we achieve maximum mixing in a side-entry application? It's not by chance, or trial and error. Rules definitely apply here. Let's take a look:

The rule of thumb for positioning a side entry impeller is a minimum of 1/3 the impeller diameter off the wall.

• H = Distance off wall

D = Impeller diameter

“Suction” area = pD x H

“Discharge” area = pD²/4


Suction = discharge in order to avoid “starving” impeller flow.

pD x H = pD²/4
H = D/4

So, for a flat wall H is constant.

For a curved wall, H is going to vary. 1/3 D is pretty close to ¼ D, and as it is slightly longer, more forgiving of wall curvature, etc.

Sharpe Mixers has been sizing side-entry mixers for for many years. These industries include asphalt mixing, pulp & paper, waste water, petroleum, storage tanks and more. How can we assist you? Let us know what your needs are and we can size a side-entry mixer for you today!

Submitted by Steven F. Drury, P.E.

Industrial Laundry Wastewater Treatment

Ever been to a process plant where personnel wear uniforms?

Ever seen uniform rental trucks driving to and from those plants?

All those uniform rental companies washing all those dirty clothes.

And what happens to all the waste water from all those laundries?

The EPA requires that all industrial laundry wastewater be pre-treated before being discharged to the municipal treatment plant.

The wastewater must have pH adjusted; dirt, oil and grease removed.

A common pre-treatment operation consists of two equalization-pH adjustment tanks followed by DAF, Dissolved Air Flotation, to remove dirt, oil and grease.

The equalization-pH adjustment tanks are in the 5,000 – 10,000 gallon range.

Each is equipped with top entry mixer.

The DAF system uses polymer as a coagulant aid. The polymer is usually mixed ahead of the DAF using a gear drive portable mixer.

Sharpe Mixers has been working with one of the world’s largest uniform rental companies for over 10 years, supplying the mixers for their waste treatment plants. We have shipped mixers to their plants all over North America and the United Kingdom.

So, next time you see a uniform rental company truck driving down the road, follow it back to the laundry and see what they are doing for pre-treatment of their industrial laundry wastewater.