Devices with no moving parts installed inside the pipe, driving mixing by successive splitting, rotation and recombination of the flow. Mixing energy comes entirely from the head loss the internal elements impose on the fluid — no motor, seal or bearing.
Characteristics
- Applications: continuous in-line mixing, additive dilution, homogenization of products with small viscosity difference.
- Common geometries: alternating helical elements (Kenics), crossed-bar elements (SMX), flat-blade elements (SMV) for gases.
- Central trade-off: mixing quality × head loss. More elements = better mixing + higher pumping energy.
Reliability: fouling and deposits between elements, corrosion-erosion in particulate service, integrity of the joint with the body (welded or bolted). High service life — maintenance is dominated by periodic internal inspection rather than replacement.