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Admix Fastfeed™ Powder Induction and Dispersion System

Fastfeed is a high performance ergonomic powder induction and dispersion system for dry ingredients into mix tanks.

The Admix Fastfeed is a high performance ergonomic feeding and dispersion of dry ingredients into mix tanks. The product powder induction and dispersion system consistantly delivers perfect product across any batch size from 1 - 180 kg/min. This integrated, skid-mounted inline powder induction and dispersion system is revolutionising batching and enabling processing to cut batch times in half, improve operator safety and ergonomics, reduce energy consumption up to 70% and eliminate dusting and reduce air entrainment. The Fastfeed offers benefits and features such as adjustable powder feed rates with regulating valves, produces completely dispersed, safety dump powder from floor level, standard hopper vibrator prevents bridging of powder and it can make any size batch (37.000 to 185.000 ltr), simply keep the inlet flooded from the mix tank.

How the Fastfeed improves operations

A specially designed powder suction pump and proven high-shear mixing technology means the Fastfeed delivers rapid, high-performance ergonomic powder mixing and dispersion of dry ingredients into mix tanks. It also offers:

  • Elimination of powder bridging in the hopper
  • Continuous powder mixing and suction so as viscosity and solids levels increase, the system never plugs or fouls
  • Deagglomeration and hydration of even the toughest gums

Powder feed rates are adjusted easily with regulating valves that can be automated to ensure that the proper concentration of dry materials are added quickly and effectively. Complete 100% dispersion of powders is guaranteed as the powder slurry mixture passes through the high speed, high shear DynaShear, where many applications are finished with one pass.

When full hydration of gums is required, the slurry can be recirculated through creating a perfect blend of fully functional ingredients in minutes that could typically take hours in a conventional batch tank. A single Fastfeed skid can also be used to feed multiple tanks for holding or suspending product prior to filling or packaging.

Specifications 

The Fastfeed is unlike other powder induction systems, which typically rely on an eductor, venturi or negative pressure generated by a high-speed mix head. With two models available, the Fastfeed uses a high performance powder suction pump that vacuum conveys powders or solids inline up to 500 pounds per minute, including hard to handle gums, starches and carbomers. Designed to allow for continuous powder delivery even as the viscosity and solids level increases.

Sizing and Engineering Data

MODEL Pump HP/kW Mixer HP/kW Hopper Skid Fittings Dimensions IN./MM (LxWxH)
FF-425 7.5 HP/5,5 kW @ 1800 RPM 7.5 HP/4 kW @ 3600 RPM 3.4 cubic ft 2 in. / 5 cm Ø inlet (2.5 in. / 6.35 cm optional)
2 in. / 5 cm Ø outlet
60x33x37 / 1524x838x940
FF-575 15 HP/11,5 kW @ 1800 RPM 20 HP/15 kW @ 3600 RPM 3.4 cubic ft 2.5 in. / 6.35 cm Ø inlet (3 in. / 7.62 cm optional)
3″Ø outlet
71x45x38 / 1803x1143x965

 

Performance Table for Fastfeed Models FF-425 and FF-575

Examples of Ingredient Types Powder Feed Rate (Lbs./Kg Per min.) Typical Maximum Concentration
FF-425 Model FF-575 Model  
Granulated (sugar / salt / phosphates) 200/90 400/181 70%
Dairy Powders (NFDM) 200/90 300/135 52%
Cocoa 90/40 135/60 35%
Soy, Carrageenan 75/35 160/72.5 10%
Cook Starches 110/50 165/75 45%
Natural Gums (i.e. pectin) and Stabilizers 30/13.5 60/27 6%
Carbomers, CMC 15/6.5 30/13.5 3.5%
Xanthan, Acacia, Guar Gums 15/6.5 30/13.5 3%

 

 

The Fastfeed combines the suction capability of a "vacuum pump" with the wetting out and shearing capabilities of a high-speed emulsifier, all within a user-friendly, ergonomic package.

        

  • Powder is fed into the hopper from bags or can be directly conveyed from the source through an optional wand attachment, bag dump or even a bulk delivery system
  • Powder bridging or ratholing is eliminated by the combination of the suction pump creating a constant vacuum within the flow stream, aided by a mechanical vibrator for more challenging ingredients
  • Once the powder is sucked in through the pump, instantaneous fluidization of the powder begins, and this slurry is quickly pumped through our DynaShear inline emulsifier, providing droplet and soft particle size reduction down to 4-5 microns upon exiting the unit
  • Powder feed rate is controlled through regulating valves on the inlet, ensuring that sticky gums, as well as free-flowing granules, disperse quickly and at the proper concentrations to prevent product slugs or premature hydration

Got a mixing challenge? Our application engineers can recommend a creative solution using the Fastfeed powder induction system. Get a free customized quote today.

 

Fastfeed case study: fast, efficient powder induction

Rick Earley - Tuesday, July 11, 2017

The Admix Fastfeed has helped hundreds of processors improve their operations. One such success story came from a beverage manufacturer that wanted to improve their batching processes.

The challenge

The processor’s protocol required carrying and dumping hundreds of pounds of powders from 50-pound bags. These ingredients were dumped into a conventional “premix” in a tank batch mixer on an elevated batch deck.

The client needed to produce products faster, use less energy, and improve operator ergonomics while maintaining the same quality of products.  They also wanted to reduce product loss from producing diverse products in batch sizes varying from 100 to 30,000 gallons. Ingredients included gums, stabilizers, plant proteins, vitamins, minerals, sweeteners, energy drink components, nutraceuticals, preservatives, acids, whey and milk protein isolates, whey and milk protein concentrates, milk powders, and assorted flavorings. The gamut!

The solution

Our representatives performed a thorough batching audit and offered the Fastfeed inline powder induction and dispersion system as a solution to their batching concerns. The Fastfeed is a fully integrated system featuring a two-stage rotor/stator high-speed disperser and a powerful powder suction pump. This combination of high liquid flow and controlled vacuum induction instantly and completely wets and disperses powders inline at the particulate level. This results in no unmixed ingredients ever reaching the downstream blend tank, with emulsions in the 3-5 micron range routinely produced.

After the Fastfeed was installed, operators could induct, wet, disperse and hydrate all powdered ingredients in a single pass at induction rates over 450 pounds per minute. Highly used powders could be inducted from bulk sacks while the balance of powders added from 50 pound bags, both from the safety of floor level. The operators also recognized the benefit of inducting liquid flavor concentrates and purees from pails, drums, and totes without the need for an additional pump.

How are they doing now?

Today, downstream strainers and filters are no longer required as smooth, lump-free product is delivered with every batch run. Batch-to-batch inconsistencies from different operators dumping powders into mix tanks at varying rates have also been eliminated.

Now the client produces any batch size required, plus batch times have been reduced by 50%, 70% less energy is used, and dusting from dumping powders into open top mix tanks has been eliminated. Since all mixing is now accomplished inline without the need for time-consuming recirculation loops, product air entrainment is also drastically reduced.

Importantly, the Fastfeed met the client’s goal of achieving a return on investment in less than one year.

Is the Fastfeed right for your process? Get a quote or learn more about our trial program today!

 

 

 

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