In the drilling industry, mud agitators are essential for mixing drilling fluids in different tanks.

Mud agitators design

Mud agitators maintain drilling mud properties and suspend solids through the use of gearboxes and motors. The gearbox connects the agitator shaft with the output shaft of the gearbox to achieve stirring. The reduction ratio determines the reduction speed of the motor, which in turn determines the speed of the mixer shaft.

mud agitator

Therefore, in the design phase, the correct choice of deceleration ratio and mixing speed is crucial. It is always a good idea to ask the manufacturer or supplier for help.

To ensure good performance and a long service life for your mixer, factors such as motor characteristics and transmission type must be considered. Additionally, some important factors to consider include variable frequency motors, explosion-proof motors, right-angle or vertical gearboxes, and requirements for specific types of gears.

Shaft and impeller design of mud mixers

In addition, there are several important factors to consider when designing the mud mixing shaft and impeller. These include the length and diameter of the shaft, how the shaft connects to the transmission output shaft, and the location of the impeller.

The length of the shaft is usually determined based on the depth of the tank and the customer's needs, with a recommended clearance of 3 inches from the bottom of the tank. Connection options such as bolts and couplings are used to secure the impeller shaft to the transmission output shaft.

By mounting the impeller and bushing to the shaft, more flexible impeller designs are possible, including assembly using universal plates. Different designs, such as inclined blades, vertical blades and corrugated blades, can accommodate the lift impeller via pin holes and a fixed center circle on the shaft. Customers can customize the mud mixer design according to their specific working conditions.

What factors will affect mud agitators design?

Additionally, choosing the right product requires consideration of factors such as motor power, shaft length, and supplier or  manufacturer information. Customers can ensure they receive a mixer that suits their needs.The quality and performance of a blender determines its effectiveness.

If you have any questions about mud mixer operation, selection, sizing or purchasing, contact professionals like AIPU Solids Control. Our expertise and attention to detail will help provide the best solution for your mud mixer requirements.

Mud agitators are the equipment to stir drilling fluids. The drilling fluids are in the active tank, in the reserve tank, and the mixing tank. For all these tanks, we need to fit agitators to maintain drilling mud property and suspend solids properly

Mud agitators design

We all know mud agitators are assembly with gearbox and motor. This part is the power module. Agitator shaft connected with the gearbox output shaft to realize agitation. The shaft speed is the rotation rate of the motor after reduction. That means, agitator shaft or the gearbox shaft speed is a reduced one at a certain ratio

Mud agitators

So when we design the mud agitator, the reduction ratio is an issue to take into consideration. However, how to design it properly? How to select the proper reduction ratio? For example, the motor speed is 1480rpm we need agitator speed to be around 70 rpm, then the gearbox ratio should be 1480/70=21.1:1. Then, how to know we need an agitator speed of 70rpm?

In our previous post, there is professional information about agitator sizing. Including how to calculate TOR. It's related to tank size, mud property. The easy and simple way to get proper design agitator is by referring to existing guidance drawn by professionals. We can ask the manufacturer or the supplier of agitators.

Besides the design of agitator speed, there are designs on different components. Such as motor features, do we need a motor with an invertor or not, do we need an explosion proof motor or not, do we need a right angle style or a vertical style. For the gearbox, do we need a worm wheel and worm rod or a helical bevel gearbox?

Above information is the part of power module. Further information of below is regarding the shaft and impeller.

Shaft and impeller design of mud mixers

For the shafts, we consider the length, diameter, connection way, elevating type or not. The length of shaft defines by tank depth, and client's requirement. Usually, it's 3'' higher above the tank bottom.

Worm and wheel geared agitators

Regards to the connection, we can mount impeller shaft to gearbox output shaft by bolts and coupling. Of course, the coupling type is more stable and reliable. However, such design costs higher.

At the end of shaft connecting to impeller, we can weld them together or use the bolts to mount impeller and bush out of shaft. There 2 options, one is impeller is an assembly, the other one is impeller blade can be mounted to a common plate when user need.

For both of the options, we can put impeller centre circle on shaft bushing by bolts. If user requests elevating impeller, we'll design the impeller shaft with pin hole to hold the certain level impeller by retaining centre circle.

About the impellers. There are canted blades, vertical blades, and the blades with winkle or corrugation. Some clients request rather special design, such as general style of impeller like a fun impeller or a positive triangle. Of course, such design is according to actual working condition, too.

What factors will affect mud agitators design?

Just now, we have talked many about agitators design. Do you have any comments? During your operation, selection, sizing or purchase on mud agitators, if you faced any problem? How do you solve them?

In daily selection of agitators, we usually consider motor power, shaft length, other information is given by supplier or manufacturer. Only if you have a very specific requirements, such as replacing existing one, otherwise, just tell supplier the working condition you'll get a proper agitator.

Yes, you are right. The supplier you selected must be professional enough. No matter how, the more details you give to suppliers the more proper equipment you will get. Finally, no matter how to design agitator, its quality and performance is the essential factor to evaluate it.

Please feel free to contact AIPU solids control for your optimal solutions.