Magnetically agitated tank
MAG reactor
Preparation and mixing in sterile processes, with no shaft passing through the vessel
Tanks and reactors
RLQ reactor
Mechanically agitated tank
Mixing, dissolution and homogenization with the impeller each product requires
AISI 316L stainless steel tank with mechanical agitation, 50 to 5,000 L, with impellers to suit the application and ASME BPE design, for pharma and cosmetics.
- Line
- Agitated tanks · AISI 316L stainless steel
- Series
- RLQ
- Manufacturing
- Argentina · metal fabrication plant
Description
The RLQ reactor is a pharmaceutical stainless steel reactor with mechanical agitation, for demanding mixing, dissolution and homogenization processes in the pharmaceutical, biotech and cosmetics industries. It ranges from 50 to 5,000 L working volume.
The vertical-shaft agitator sits on a sanitary agitator mount and has single- or two-stage impellers—Rushton turbine, pitched blade, hydrofoil, radial-flow VRT, marine, helical ribbon or anchor, depending on the application—a high-efficiency gearmotor and a variable-speed drive. On request, it is fitted with a balanced mechanical seal for operation under vacuum and under pressure. With pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature sensors, peristaltic pumps for dosing and PLC automation, it can also be configured as a bioreactor.
Product-contact parts are AISI 316L, with the interior polished to Ra ≤ 0.4 µm, chemical passivation and full-penetration TIG welds. It is designed to ASME BPE 2022 criteria, operates from −1 to 3 bar and is suitable for CIP and SIP. It is built with a half-pipe jacket and load cells to suit the process, and is supplied with no automation, with simple controllers or with full PLC automation. We manufacture it at our stainless steel fabrication plant.
Impeller to suit the application
Rushton turbine, pitched blade, hydrofoil, VRT, marine, helical ribbon or anchor, in one or two stages, on a sanitary agitator mount.
Seal for vacuum and pressure
Optional balanced mechanical seal, with a high-efficiency gearmotor and a variable-speed drive.
AISI 316L with Ra ≤ 0.4 µm
Product-contact parts in AISI 316L polished to Ra ≤ 0.4 µm, passivated, with full-penetration TIG welds.
Half-pipe jacket
With coils on the bottom, for steam, hot water or thermal oil, and sealed ceramic blanket insulation clad in AISI 304.
Custom instrumentation
Beam load cells, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and level sensors, and peristaltic pumps for additives.
Three levels of automation
No automation, simple controllers or full PLC automation.
Technical specifications
Request the PDF catalogConstruction
| Product-contact parts | AISI 316L |
|---|---|
| Structural components | AISI 304 |
| Interior finish | Ra ≤ 0.4 µm, with chemical passivation |
| Welds | Full-penetration TIG |
| Electropolishing | Optional |
Design and operation
| Design criteria | ASME BPE 2022 |
|---|---|
| Working volume | 50 to 5,000 L |
| Working pressure | −1 to 3 bar |
| Cleaning and sterilization | CIP / SIP |
Agitation
| Type | Mechanical, vertical shaft on a sanitary agitator mount |
|---|---|
| Impellers | Rushton turbine, pitched blade, hydrofoil, VRT (radial flow), marine, helical ribbon or anchor, in one or two stages, depending on the application |
| Drive | High-efficiency gearmotor with variable-speed drive |
| Seal | Balanced mechanical seal for vacuum and pressure, optional |
| Baffles | Sanitary, optional |
Head and shell
| Top head | Fixed or flanged, with a lifting system and swing bolts |
|---|---|
| Openings | Charging ports, sight glasses, clamp connections or sanitary ports, CIP spray ball, dip tube and interior lighting |
| Discharge | Sanitary bottom tank valve |
| Side connections | Clamp or sanitary port for level, PT100 or other instruments |
Options
| Jacket | Half-pipe with coils on the bottom, for steam, hot water or thermal oil |
|---|---|
| Thermal insulation | Sealed ceramic blanket with AISI 304 cladding |
| Weighing | Beam load cells for gravimetric formulation |
| Level | By differential pressure |
| Sensors | pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and level |
| Dosing | Peristaltic pumps for additives |
Automation
| Levels | No automation · simple controllers · full PLC automation |
|---|
Documentation
| With every unit | Material certificates, CAD drawings, calculations, welding procedures per ASME IX, hydrostatic tests, roughness measurement, user manual and technical training |
|---|
Quality and compliance
- Designed to ASME BPE 2022
- Material certificates and calculations
- Welding procedures per ASME IX
- Roughness measurement
- Hydrostatic tests
Impeller types
The arrows show the direction of the flow each impeller generates. We select it with your process data: the product, its viscosity, whether the culture is shear-sensitive, whether it needs high oxygen transfer, and the batch volume.
Applications
- Mixing and dissolution in pharmaceutical processes
- Homogenization of cosmetic products
- Biotech processes and bioreactors
- Formulation with temperature and weight control
Industries
Pharmaceutical and biotechFrequently asked questions
Which impeller does it use?
It depends on the product and the process: a Rushton turbine for bacteria and yeasts, a hydrofoil for animal cells, a pitched blade or marine propeller for mixing and formulation, and an anchor or helical ribbon for very viscous broths, in one or two stages. Tell us what you will mix, its viscosity, whether the culture is shear-sensitive and the batch volume, and we will define the agitation.
Can it be used as a bioreactor?
Yes. With pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature sensors, peristaltic pumps for dosing and full PLC automation, the RLQ is configured as a bioreactor on the same construction: AISI 316L with an interior Ra ≤ 0.4 µm, ASME BPE 2022 design, suitable for CIP and SIP.
Can it operate under vacuum or pressure?
Yes. The vessel is designed to operate from −1 to 3 bar, and the agitator can be fitted with a balanced mechanical seal for vacuum and pressure.
Mechanical or magnetic agitation?
Mechanical agitation lets you choose the impeller type for each product and is the one used in demanding mixing, dissolution and homogenization processes. Magnetic agitation has no shaft passing through the vessel and is chosen for sterile processes: it is what the MAG reactor uses. If you are unsure, we will define it with you based on the process.
What control options does it have?
It is supplied with no automation, with simple controllers or with full PLC automation, and accepts load cells, differential-pressure level control, pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and level sensors, and peristaltic pumps for additive dosing.
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Shall we quote the RLQ reactor?
Tell us the fluid, the flow rate and the operating conditions. We reply with the model, the ordering code and the technical documentation.