Marine

The marine propeller is the most common type of mixing impeller. Because the design has its roots in the marine propulsion industry, it is the most effective axial pumper at higher mixing speeds. It’s most commonly used with direct drive mixers operating 900-1800 RPM. This impeller fits the most common shaft sizes (5/8″ to 1-1/4″) and comes standard in investment CAST 316 Stainless Steel. The Power and Flow numbers shown above reflect 1.0 pitch/diameter ratio. Fusion also offers 1.5 pitch/diameter ratio upon request.

Power Number (Np) = 0.34
Flow Number (Nq) = 0.5

PF3 Hydrofoil

The modern design of this impeller provides excellent pumping ability with a strong axial flow. While useful in most applications, this design excels in thinner fluids that are susceptible to settling and provides the MOST pumping per unit of torque (more bang for your buck). This impeller is available as a welded or bolted assembly. The PF3 impeller can be fabricated to fit ANY shaft diameter and comes standard in 316 Stainless Steel, but 304 Stainless Steel, Aluminum, and Carbon Steel versions are also available. Various surface finishes are available. Fusion also offers high-viscosity designs (10,000 cP +) for special applications requiring axial flow in thick fluids.

Power Number (Np) = 0.3
Flow Number (Nq) = 0.5

Pitch Blade Turbine (PBT)

This impeller is the workhorse of the mixing industry. The simple design of this impeller provides a combination of both radial and axial flow, generates high shear levels, and provides excellent mixing ability while providing easy cleanup. Because of the simple design, it’s also very cost effective in large applications and high viscosity applications. While useful in most applications, this design excels in heavy mixing. The PBT impeller can be fabricated to fit ANY shaft diameter and comes standard in 316 Stainless Steel, but 304 Stainless Steel, Aluminum, and Carbon Steel versions are also available. Various surface finishes are available.

Power Number (Np) = 1.27
Flow Number (Nq) = 0.79

Rushton

The Rushton impeller, named after its designer, is one of the first mixing impeller designs to be documented. The classic design of this impeller provides a simple radial flow pattern that moves material from the center of the vessel outward where it flows along the outer walls of the tank. It’s most commonly used in reactor tanks, two phase mixing (liquid/gas), and any application requiring INTENSE mixing. This impeller can be fabricated to fit ANY shaft diameter and comes standard in 316 Stainless Steel, but 304 Stainless Steel, Aluminum, and Carbon Steel versions are also available. Various surface finishes are available.

Power Number (Np) = 5.75
Flow Number (Nq) = 0.72

Cowles / Sawblade

The Cowles/Sawblade design of this impeller provides mixing by generating high shear levels. This design is most commonly used in applications where the high shear levels are needed to prevent clumping. The Cowles/Sawblade is suggested for use in wetting out powders, dispersing fine solids, and creating emulsions. This impeller can be fabricated to fit almost any shaft diameter and comes standard in 316 Stainless Steel, but 304 Stainless Steel versions are also available. 304 Stainless Steel Sawblades can be hardened for abrasive mixing applications. Various surface finishes are available.

Power Number (Np) = 0.45
Flow Number (Nq) = 0.26

Bio Prop / Marine

The Bio Prop was developed by Fusion engineering and our key biotech distributors to serve the sanitary and biotech markets. This new design provides excellent pumping ability while providing easy cleanup. The most important characteristic of this impeller is that it provides similar performance to the marine propeller, but it’s fabricated from mill stock. Impellers from polished mill stock do not have the casting porosity commonly found in Marine style impellers. This impeller can be made to fit ANY shaft diameter. It comes standard in 316 Stainless Steel, but can also be fabricated in numerous other alloys as well. Various surface finishes are available.

Power Number (Np) = 0.4
Flow Number (Nq) = 0.45

Retreat

The unique design of this impeller provides a simple radial flow pattern that moves material from the center of the vessel outward where it flows along the outer walls of the tank. An added benefit to this design is that it provides radial flow with a significantly low amount of shear, making it perfect for shear sensitive fluids. Due to the skewed blade design, the Retreat also resists build-up of fibrous solids on the blades. This impeller can be fabricated to fit ANY shaft diameter and comes standard in 316 Stainless Steel, but 304 Stainless Steel, Aluminum, and Carbon Steel versions are also available. Various surface finishes are available.

Power Number (Np) = 2.52
Flow Number (Nq) = 0.74

Fusion Tote Folding Impellers

The Folding Impeller is most commonly used in applications where access to the vessel is limited, such as drum mixers and tote mixers. The folding design allows the impeller and shaft to be inserted and retracted through the entry hole of the vessel to be mixed. The Folding Impeller provides a combination of both radial and axial flow, generates high shear levels, and provides excellent mixing ability while allowing easy mixer installation and removal. The Folding Impeller comes standard in 316 Stainless Steel, but 304 Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Solid Teflon, and Carbon Steel versions are also possible. Various surface finishes are available too.

Power Number (Np) = 0.5
Flow Number (Nq) = 0.5

Custom Impellers

Custom impellers can be produced to your exact specifications supporting your specific tank geometry and protected proprietary processes. We can also design and produce replacement impellers, or modified and hybrid versions of other designs in a variety of materials, including 304 Stainless Steel, 316 Stainless Steel, Hastelloy, Aluminum, or Carbon Steel.