National Oilwell Varco
The Chemineer RL-3 impeller (photo) has been specifically engineered to prevent fibrous material buildup on the rotating impeller. This rag-shedding impeller also provides a strong axial flow for efficient blending and solids suspension. The design allows for a safer process and lower maintenance costs by eliminating frequent handling of the agitator by maintenance personnel, says the manufacturer. Fibrous material handling and disposal are also eliminated, improving solids suspension and blending uniformity in the basin. The loads on agitator system components, such as gears, bearings, motor, shaft and impeller blades, are significantly diminished. These features work together to not only reduce downtime, but eliminate manual process changes. Impeller sizes range from laboratory-scale to over 200 in. in diameter. Existing agitators can be quickly and easily retrofitted with the RL-3 impeller using simple hub-to-shaft connections. — National Oilwell Varco, Houston