Mixing of Powder, Pastes and Batters

The Mixing of dry powders is normally carried out as a batch process in either vertical or horizontal mixers. Vertical mixers have a movable bowl in which the contents are mixed by mechanical agitation. Paddle agitators are commonly used and the shape of the impeller frequently conforms to the vessel walls. Planetary motion devices are commonly used in vertical mixers in which the agitator revolves in circle in addition to rotating on its own axis. This ensures that the entire mixer volume receives beating action and that there are no dead spaces.

Horizontal mixers are widely used for doughs in which gluten development is desirable. The mixers have a jacketed U-shaped trough. Water flowing through the jacket enables heat removal.