PHARMX granulators are equipped with a mixing bowl which contains both a bottom-driven mixing impeller and side-mounted chopper. The bowl geometry is optimized to permit operating ranges from 30-90% of full capacity. Powders are added to the bowl by manual addition, vacuum loading, or through a contained drum/tote feeding port. The mixing process is started using manual controls or through an automated control system.

Granulation Process

The granulation process begins by dry blending using the impeller. The PHARMX impeller utilizes blades mounted tangentially to the center hub with enlarged blade tips. The tangential mounting eliminates build up of product where the blade mounts to the center hub. The enlarged blade tips lift the material into a vortex.

Once the product is blended, liquid is added manually or automatically using a peristaltic pumping system or pressurized container. A pressure atomized spray nozzle distributes the liquid in the bowl to prevent wet spots.

After the liquid is added, the chopper (which is located in the side wall of the bowl) is started to shear the product and break down lumps. The tulip shaped chopper design on the PHARMX has a large amount of surface area spinning at high tip speeds, providing efficient granulating action.

The product is granulated until the desired granule size and density is achieved. End point detection is done via power or torque measuring of the main drive system.

When the granulation is complete, the product can be dried in the bowl using vacuum drying with gas assist (if so equipped) or the product can be discharged and dried in a MAGNAFLO fluid bed dryer. For many products, wet milling of the product with a GRANUMILL and vacuum conveying into the fluid bed dryer provides several advantages including: Automated material transfer, uniform sizing of product before drying for faster drying times and more spherical particle shape which flows better.