The German mixing and dispersion technology specialist ystral extends its machine portfolio with the YSTRAL Coflow, a continuously operating powder wetting and dispersing machine. The inline disperser, which was first presented to the trade fair audience at this year’s ACHEMA in Frankfurt, Germany, is suitable for a broad range of applications in different industries.
With the YSTRAL Coflow, powdered solids are inducted, mixed, and dispersed into liquid streams in a controlled way and in proportion to quantity via volumetric or gravimetric solid dosing systems. The powders and liquids are combined in a premixing zone, and fine dispersion then occurs via a rotor-stator system, whereby the dispersing tools can be designed with different slot widths depending on the application. “The product then experiences an increase in pressure via an inducer installed between the premixing zone and the rotor-stator zone,” says Uwe Klaumünzner, Expert Process and Application Engineering at ystral. “This change in pressure then causes the separation of the air that was introduced with the powder, resulting in a lower residual air content in the product. Additionally, this inducer is used as an axial pumping stage, enabling the processing of more viscous products and pumping them from the dispersing stage.”
Suitable for a broad range of applications
The focus here is on products which are produced in large series or are to be manufactured in perspective in large volumes. If post-dispersion is required, an inline dispersing machine can be installed downstream of the Coflow. In the chemical industry, the YSTRAL Coflow is suitable for the production of adhesives, coatings, polyester resins, or silicone sealants. Amongst others, in the food sector, the continuously operating powder wetting and dispersing machine is a suitable solution for pre-products for dough production, milk and milk substitute products, as well as the production of edible collagen shells, mayonnaise, or dressings.
“Compared to a classic batch process in the vessel, the YSTRAL Coflow enables fabrication with a significantly smaller system footprint, faster lead times, improved OEE values, and a higher degree of automation, while the cleaning of such a system is much easier due to the smaller product-wetted surface,” says Raoul Pila Nunninger, Head of R&D at ystral and Project Manager for the development of the YSTRAL Coflow. “Furthermore, the machine is characterised by a lower energy requirement – particularly for lower viscosities, the Coflow only has low power consumption.”
