Static Mixers
Static mixers are inserted into pipelines to allow the dosing or injection of various chemicals into the stream of liquid carried in a pipeline. GRP (FRP) piping is a very important part of the range of chemical-resistant products serving industry. There is a wide range of piping products based on unsaturated polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy and other thermosetting polymers and the sizes range up to about 4 metres in diameter. From a distance, most pipes look the same, so from a design standpoint, photographs of lengths of pipe may not be particularly interesting. Unlike steel and other piping made from metals, there is no simple welding process for joining, but there are various methods available, including adhesive joints, butting and wrapping, bell and socket joints and bolted full-face flanges. The use of flanges is essential when connecting to pumps, tanks and other equipment and the industry follows the diameters, drilling and bolt-hole sizes prescribed in various standards including ANSI, AWWA, ISO and others. When meeting dimensions of the steel flange design standards, the construction of pipe flanges from reinforced thermosetting resins is complicated by the lower modulus of elasticity, which requires a relatively thicker flange and particular attention to the construction and thickness of the hub area. Consequently, clearance for washers and nuts may be a problem. Static mixers are essentially short flanged spools of pipe, which range in size up to 3 metres in diameter and have been designed to operate at pressures up to 18 bars (1.8 MPa, 261 psi). They are flanged at each end and it is interesting to look at the photographs of the testing of of these units, which illustrate the bolted flanges. Note that several units may be tested simultaneously. With these flanges, it is very important that the correct tightening sequence is followed and torque measurements are made to attain the necessary loadings on the studs.
1200 mm Diameter Static Mixer
Diameter: 1200 mm.
Design Pressure: 4 bars (400 kPa, 58 psi).
Note the internal vane.
Testing of 1200 mm Diameter Static Mixers
Diameter: 1200 mm.
Design Pressure: 4 bars (400 kPa, 58 psi).
Note the hemispherical flanged heads used at each end for testing.
Testing of 1500 mm Diameter Static Mixer
Diameter: 1500 mm.
Design Pressure: 12 bars (1.2 MPa, 174 psi).
Note the hemispherical flanged heads used at each end for testing.
Testing of 250 mm Diameter Static Mixers
Diameter: 250 mm.
Design Pressure: 18 bars (1.8 MPa, 261 psi).
Note the hemispherical flanged heads used at each end for testing.
The static mixers shown above were manufactured by AceOn Manufacturing (M) Sdn. Bhd.