EDA Inc.
Engineering and Design Associates, Inc.
1033 Carter Street
Folsom California 95630 USA
(916) 941-5376 e-mail
1033 Carter Street
Folsom California 95630 USA
(916) 941-5376 e-mail
Return to EDA Home Page
EDA sells and services a line of rotary agglomerators.
O'Brien Agglomerators are inexpensive to purchase, easy to operate and repair. They have been used successfully in detergents, organic and inorganic powders, food products, agricultural products, waste reclamation, dedusting, coating and much more. An overview of how O'Brien Agglomerators work is here.
O'Brien Agglomerators are different from all other agglomerators because:
These agglomerators have a unique internal recycle system that produces individual agglomerates. Each agglomerate will contain the ingredients in the intended formula percentages. For example, say a product is to contain 1% of a minor ingredient. Each individual agglomerated particle will contain 1% of that ingredient.
The key here is to provide a well mixed product without intensive mixing. Other mixers or agglomerators must use high speed mixing (Schugi) to produce a uniform mix. This high shear breaks the particles down as they mix. They then must use an expensive fluid bed dryer to do the technical agglomeration. Conveniently for these equipment companies, they sell both the agglomerators and the expensive fluid bed agglomerators/dryers.
Another unique key feature of the O'Brien Agglomerator is its long residence time. Residence time is how long the powder remains well mixed and exposed to the binding liquid. The longer the residence time, the more uniform in formula and particle characteristics the individual particles will become. Even in a high production rate situation, residence times in an O'Brian is very long. It is not uncommon for a production agglomerator to produce 10,000 lb/hr yet still have a residence time of 20 minutes. Other agglomerators, such as the pan or pin agglomerators, provide very short time for the agglomeration. Often only seconds. Hardy enough time for proper agglomeration to occur. This is why they don't often produce a quality product.
Long residence times provide wide particle characteristics control in addition to the uniform ingredient distribution. Other physical properties that can be controlled include particle size, density, porosity, consistency and others.
The O'Brien is very versatile. The same equipment can be operated in a "batch mode" or "continuous mode". The batch mode allows a company to prove the product and build the business. Then later, as demand increases, the same asset can be operated in a continuous mode to greatly increase throughput to meet increased sales needs.
Agglomerators are proven in the following areas:
EDA can provide all engineering, supervision for installation, operation and maintenance.
Pictures of some production scale agglomerators here.
EDA has developed a new smaller O'Brien Agglomerator that can fit on a normal laboratory bench, yet produce data to directly scale up to production units. These inexpensive agglomerators are used for research, sample runs, product or process viability and quality control. More on the EDA Benchtop Agglomerator here.
Contact: Jim Mahar
1033 Carter Street
Folsom CA 95630
USA
916-941-5376
email:jpmahar@eda-inc.net
Return to EDA Main Page
EDA sells and services a line of rotary agglomerators.
O'Brien Agglomerators are inexpensive to purchase, easy to operate and repair. They have been used successfully in detergents, organic and inorganic powders, food products, agricultural products, waste reclamation, dedusting, coating and much more. An overview of how O'Brien Agglomerators work is here.
O'Brien Agglomerators are different from all other agglomerators because:
- They are inexpensive to purchase. A basic one-drum unit sells new for about $150,000 USD.
- They are easy to understand and operate. No need for specialized technicians or sophisticated maintenance help.
- They are low maintenance and have a long asset life. O'Brien Industrial Equipment Co. first produced agglomerators in the 1960's. Every unit ever made is either in operation, or capable of operation. A used/rebuild O'Brien Agglomerator (when they become available from third parties) are truly "as good as new" and at a considerable savings. Call EDA for availability. Rebuilding services if needed.
These agglomerators have a unique internal recycle system that produces individual agglomerates. Each agglomerate will contain the ingredients in the intended formula percentages. For example, say a product is to contain 1% of a minor ingredient. Each individual agglomerated particle will contain 1% of that ingredient.
The key here is to provide a well mixed product without intensive mixing. Other mixers or agglomerators must use high speed mixing (Schugi) to produce a uniform mix. This high shear breaks the particles down as they mix. They then must use an expensive fluid bed dryer to do the technical agglomeration. Conveniently for these equipment companies, they sell both the agglomerators and the expensive fluid bed agglomerators/dryers.
Another unique key feature of the O'Brien Agglomerator is its long residence time. Residence time is how long the powder remains well mixed and exposed to the binding liquid. The longer the residence time, the more uniform in formula and particle characteristics the individual particles will become. Even in a high production rate situation, residence times in an O'Brian is very long. It is not uncommon for a production agglomerator to produce 10,000 lb/hr yet still have a residence time of 20 minutes. Other agglomerators, such as the pan or pin agglomerators, provide very short time for the agglomeration. Often only seconds. Hardy enough time for proper agglomeration to occur. This is why they don't often produce a quality product.
Long residence times provide wide particle characteristics control in addition to the uniform ingredient distribution. Other physical properties that can be controlled include particle size, density, porosity, consistency and others.
The O'Brien is very versatile. The same equipment can be operated in a "batch mode" or "continuous mode". The batch mode allows a company to prove the product and build the business. Then later, as demand increases, the same asset can be operated in a continuous mode to greatly increase throughput to meet increased sales needs.
Agglomerators are proven in the following areas:
- Detergents, organic and inorganic fertilizers, inorganic chemicals of all types.
- Sports drink mixtures, animal feed and a wide variety of other food product.
- Increase particle size almost any powder from very fine dust-like material (-200 US Mesh) to 1/4" diameter bead and larger. All that is necessary is a liquid binder.
- Reactive and non-reactive powders and liquids.
EDA can provide all engineering, supervision for installation, operation and maintenance.
Pictures of some production scale agglomerators here.
EDA has developed a new smaller O'Brien Agglomerator that can fit on a normal laboratory bench, yet produce data to directly scale up to production units. These inexpensive agglomerators are used for research, sample runs, product or process viability and quality control. More on the EDA Benchtop Agglomerator here.
Contact: Jim Mahar
1033 Carter Street
Folsom CA 95630
USA
916-941-5376
email:jpmahar@eda-inc.net
Return to EDA Main Page
