Automated Process Optimization in a Novel Triple Shaft Mixer with Adaptive Mixing Modes

Abstract A novel multi‐purpose mixer was set up, which allows the change of the blade angle during the process and provides a flow field with respect to the needs of the mixing task. It features as well as a coaxial stirrer for highly viscous liquids and hence has three degrees of freedom. The stirrer considers the integration and validation of an optimization strategy for the autonomous identification of an optimum operating point based on automated tests. The validation was conducted in a mixing process with several process input parameters, which is commonly used in industrial applications. The power draw of the main stirrer was used as a optimization parameter, representing the power used for dispersing. The speed and direction of the main and secondary stirrers, respectively, as well as the angle of the stirrer blades, were used as input processes. The proposed control scheme automatically identifies and corrects drops in energy dissipation rates.