FBM Series Gentle Batch Drum Mixer
The FBM Series uses counter-spiral drum batch mixing to achieve uniform blending at ratios up to 10,000:1 without particle breakage or metal contamination. Chamber volumes scale from 0.75 m3 (laboratory) to 50 m3 (production), with discharge residue below 0.1%. Optional inert gas sealing, in-drum liquid spray, and load-cell weight control make it the standard blending solution for battery anode and cathode materials, spherical graphite finishing lines, and other morphology-sensitive powders.
- battery anode material blending equipment, counter-spiral drum batch mixer, gentle non-destructive batch blender, graphite powder batch mixer, inert gas powder blending system, large-scale powder blending machine, lithium cathode material processing, near-zero residue discharge mixer, particle morphology-preserving mixer, silicon anode blending machine
Specifications
| Model | Scale | Total Chamber (m³) | Max Working Volume (m³) | Power (kW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FBM-0.75 | Lab | 0.75 | 0.375 – 0.45 | 3 |
| FBM-5 | Production | 5 | 2.5 – 3 | 11 |
| FBM-10 | Production | 10 | 5 – 6 | 30 |
| FBM-20 | Production | 20 | 10 – 12 | 45 |
| FBM-30 | Production | 30 | 15 – 18 | 75 |
| FBM-40 | Production | 40 | 20 – 24 | 90 |
| FBM-50 | Production | 50 | 25 – 30 | 110 |
Custom models available on request.
Operating Principle
The FBM drum sits on four support wheels mounted on a common base frame. Both the inlet and discharge ports are positioned on the horizontal rotation axis at opposite ends of the drum — loading and unloading occur at the same floor level, which eliminates elevated feed platforms and reduces facility height requirements.
Inside the drum, two sets of fixed blades create opposing material flows during rotation. Forward spiral blades welded to the inner drum wall carry material in one direction; hollow reverse spiral blades, supported on spoke-frame assemblies, push material the opposite way. The two streams collide and diverge in mid-air along the full drum cross-section, producing convective mixing without mechanical shear or grinding contact.
During discharge, the drum reverses rotation. The same blade geometry that drives mixing now channels all material toward the discharge port. A dual-seal outlet valve — combining a pneumatic seal with a nitrile rubber seal — prevents powder leakage during the mixing cycle and releases cleanly during discharge, leaving residue below 0.1%.
Key Features
- Near-zero discharge residue. Residue below 0.1% per batch — compared to 1–5% typical of ribbon blenders. The reverse-rotation discharge cycle leaves no material dead zones.
- Zero magnetic contamination. No metal-to-metal contact in the material flow zone. No wear debris introduced from paddle edges or shaft seals.
- Mixing uniformity at ratios up to 10,000:1. Counter-directional aerial convection distributes minor components throughout the batch without high-shear agitation.
- Particle morphology preserved. Drum speed 3.9 – 11.6 r/min — well below the threshold for particle fracture. Suitable for granules, flakes, coated particles, and fragile composites.
- 5-year maintenance-free interior. No internal wear components in the material flow zone. Full cleaning access via manhole when required.
- Low civil construction cost. Same-level inlet and outlet on the horizontal axis: no elevated loading platform or pit excavation required.
Optional Configurations
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Liquid Spray | Nozzles inject liquid onto powder during drum rotation. Spray parameters configured per liquid viscosity, temperature, and volatility. |
| Inline Classification | Drum sieve attached to the discharge port separates powder by particle size or morphology during unloading; upper and lower fractions discharged separately. |
| Anti-Adhesion Mode | Intermittent drum rotation prevents material from sticking to the inner wall. Machine mounted on fixed frame for stationary operation. |
| Load-Cell Weighing | Integrated load-cell base enables batch weight control and batch-to-batch repeatability. |
| Inert Gas Operation | Drum used as gas-tight enclosure with positive-pressure inert gas purge. Front and rear ports equalized in pressure. Suitable for oxidation-sensitive materials. |
| Heating | Hot air duct and electric heater designed to target material temperature. Configuration depends on material thermal requirements. |
Experiment Results
Spherical & Flake Graphite Composite Blending — Mixing Uniformity Verification
Two graphite morphologies with distinct particle characteristics were blended in proportion:
| Material | Morphology | D50 (raw) | Key Property |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spherical Graphite (1CY-7H) | Spherical granules | ~10.2 – 11.3 µm | High purity, compact morphology |
| Flake Graphite (HRG) | Irregular flakes | ~12.9 – 15.1 µm | High aspect ratio, layered structure |
Result: SEM images at 500× and 1000× confirm both morphologies are uniformly distributed throughout the blend with no segregation. The composite blend D50 stabilized at approximately 12.37 µm and remained consistent across all measured mixing durations, demonstrating that uniform mixing is achieved early and maintained without further particle size change.
Mixing Time vs. Blend D50
| Mixing Time | Blend D50 (µm) |
|---|---|
| 20 min | 12.38 |
| 40 min | 12.37 |
| 60 min | 12.39 |
| 80 min | 12.36 |
| 100 min | 12.42 |
| 120 min | 12.38 |
The flat D50 profile across 20 – 120 minutes confirms two properties: mixing uniformity is established within the first cycle, and the gentle drum action produces no progressive particle breakage over extended run times.
Applications
- Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Materials
Batch blending of artificial graphite, natural graphite, MCMB, and silicon-carbon composite powders; inert gas option for SiOₓ and nano-silicon materials. - Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Materials
Zero-contamination mixing of NMC, LFP, LCO, and NCM powders where magnetic cleanliness is critical. - Graphite Finishing Lines
Production-scale batch blending for spherical graphite product lines; multiple drum units deployed in parallel for high-throughput output. - Pharmaceuticals
Uniform API and excipient blending; liquid spray option supports wet granulation preparation in a single vessel. - Ceramic and Magnetic Materials
Gentle mixing of morphology-sensitive powders where preserving particle shape and coating integrity is required. - Lead-Acid, Zinc-Manganese, and Alkaline Manganese Battery Raw Materials
High-ratio batch blending of electrode powder formulations with repeatable batch-to-batch consistency.
Enquiry
Tell us your material, target particle size, and throughput. We will advise on
model selection and run a trial on your own powder before you commit to equipment.
Yibin Andy Wei — Application Engineer
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Yibin Andy Wei
WhatsApp: +1 380 900 2442
Call Us or Fill the Form
- Jessie Yao
- +86-510-83390800
- +86 18921109791(Wechat)
- [email protected]
- C2, Quantum Industrial Park, Qianzhou Street, Huishan District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu, China