Gravity blenders: Storing and blending in one step
Gravity blenders mix free-flowing dry materials as they flow by gravity through storage vessels during handling. This article describes types of gravity blenders, including their design and operation, and various gravity blending applications. Other information covers installing a gravity blender, evaluating its performance, and maintaining it.
A gravity blender combines two or more materials that have different characteristics to create a new product or smoothes out process variations, such as changes in chemical composition and particle size and shape. A gravity blender also performs other functions, such as storage and loading. By providing blending during handling -- for example, as a storage bin is filled or discharged -- rather than as a separate step before loading or packaging, a gravity blender can improve a plant's process efficiency, saving capital and energy costs, time, and space.