PMA™ Standard and Advanced High Shear Granulators
Using proven standard components, Aeromatic-Fielder™ can supply both
simplicity and flexibility in plant design. User-selected process options,
cleaning equipment, control systems and PAT technologies combine in a system to
meet process requirements exactly. This approach ensures that qualification and
validation procedures are kept to a minimum.
Through-the-wall configuration
Through-the-wall offers
the best option in terms of cleanliness, maintenance and ATEX. By keeping the
motors out of the process room, you are preventing risk of contamination coming
from these difficult to clean items. Maintenance is carried out from the
technical area, minimising the need for the maintenance engineer to work in a
GMP area. This makes the job easier and again reduces the risk of
contamination. For ATEX, the design allows us to classify the technical area as
safe. This avoids the need for costly flameproof motors, making the upgrade for
working with solvents much easier. The frame mounting provides a standard
format for the machine, allowing it to be constructed and installed using the
same structure. This structure may be raised using standard modules to achieve
the customer’s desired height. For some installations it is also possible to
mount control panels on the structure, allowing qualification of the complete
system prior to shipping, significantly reducing the installation time on
site.
Impeller & Chopper options
Standard PMA
impeller:
Standard impeller designed for use with the conical bowl of
the PMA high shear granulator.
U-Shaped chopper:
Standard
chopper for use with the conical bowl of the PMA high shear granulator.
M8 impeller:
Innovative swept-back design; for improved
mixing characteristics, faster processing and a more clearly defined end-point.
Multi-bladed chopper:
Flush mounted, multi-blade design
improves binder solution dispersion and product movement at slow speeds.
Filtration
Material filter & shroud
Production filtration is achieved using an easily removable material filter
that can be cleaned and re-used. For vacuum and CIP applications stainless
steel may be utilised.
Discharging
Through-the-wall mill
Product can be discharged from
the high shear granulator directly into a receiving container, or via a sizing
mill. This breaks down the granules to produce more even sizing for subsequent
processing.
The PMA-Advanced™ features a through-the-wall hinge-mounted
sizing mill, directly connected to the discharge port, using inflatable seals.
For maintenance, cleaning and product changeovers, the seals are deflated and
the mill hinged away from the port, allowing full access. The TTW mounting
ensures the motor and controls are kept away from the clean process area.
In addition to the standard mill, CIP and Pressure Shock Resistant options
are available, matching the containment and safety credentials of the main
machine.
Concealed hinge mechanism
The cover is mounted on a
concealed hinge mechanism allowing the cover to be lifted with the minimum
effort, but keeping the counterweight in the technical area. This leads to a
more GMP
design, reducing surfaces, making cleaning easier. On equipment
supplied with the Pressure Shock Resistant design option the hinge interlocking
system is power assisted to provide safe and comfortable opening to the bowl
cover.
Loading
Gravity loading
Simple open
/ close ports may be mounted on the cover and used to dispense product into the
mixing bowl. For potent powders, split-valve technology provides full
containment
during loading. The PMA-Advanced™ can also be delivered with a
cone loading port, allowing for the removal of the powder loading ports from
the cover, but giving permanent connection to a Gravity Loading Station, but
also continuous access to open the cover.
Vacuum loading
Rapid loading can be achieved using vacuum
technology. Aeromatic-Fielder’s innovative killed-vacuum technique makes for
easy operation and maintenance, and only requires a standard-sized filter.
Binder solution addition
Nozzle
A range of
nozzles are available to give the optimum binder liquid droplet size for an
even distribution throughout the powder mass.
Pump
The
binding solution required for granulation may be pumped into the mixing bowl
using a mechanical or peristaltic pump to deliver the binder liquid to the
spray nozzle. Special pumps are available for the dosing of high viscosity
binders.
Pressure pot
Alternatively a pressure pot offers fast,
high-pressure delivery of the binder solution, for excellent dispersion of
liquid via the binder nozzle spray system. These systems are chosen typically
for
small scale, R&D-sized granulators.
Standard Platform Designs (optional)
Two standard
platforms are available to integrate with the PMA-Advanced™. The "Medium"
platform provides room adjacent to the bowl for the operator to carry out all
filling and cleaning operations. The “XL” platform additionally provides space
for other items / operators on the platform and also provides sufficient space
to allow the operator interface to be mounted at the platform level. Due to the
clean lines of this design the bowl / cover area can be easily accessed using
mobile steps. Additionally we can offer bespoke platform design and
construction services to provide the optimum integration within the available
plant area.