Resodyn RAM5 User manual

RAM5 Acoustic Mixer
Installation and Operation Manual

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 2www.resodynmixers.com
Table of Contents
Safety, Support and Warranty Information..............................................3
General Safety Considerations .................................................................................................3
Warnings and Cautions.............................................................................................................3
Manual Format and Applicability...............................................................................................3
Important Safety Notes..............................................................................................................4
Trouble Shooting and Service...................................................................................................4
Warranty....................................................................................................................................5
Introduction................................................................................................6
ResonantAcoustic® Mixing (RAM) Overview............................................................................6
System Overview .....................................................................................10
Electrical Enclosure.................................................................................................................10
Acoustic Enclosure..................................................................................................................11
Resonator................................................................................................................................11
Installation................................................................................................12
Specifications...........................................................................................14
General Items..........................................................................................................................14
Performance............................................................................................................................14
Vessel, Vessel Holder, Adapter...............................................................................................14
Electrical..................................................................................................................................14
Controls...................................................................................................................................15
Operation – Quick Start...........................................................................16
Setup.......................................................................................................................................16
HMI Operation.........................................................................................................................16
Completion..............................................................................................................................19
HMI Overview and Configuration............................................................20
Main Screen............................................................................................................................20
Setup, Configuration and Troubleshooting Screen .................................................................22
Alarming..................................................................................................................................24
Log Files..................................................................................................................................25
Troubleshooting.......................................................................................27
Care and Maintenance.............................................................................29
Hydraulic System ....................................................................................................................30
Mechanical System.................................................................................................................38
Cooling System Overview.......................................................................................................41
Electrical/Controls System ......................................................................................................43
RAM5 General Maintenance Procedures................................................................................47
Required Fluids.......................................................................................................................49

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 3www.resodynmixers.com
Safety, Support and Warranty Information
Every effort has been made to assure that the RAM5 is easy to use, reliable and safe. This
section will outline general safety considerations and define caution and warning symbols used
in this document.
General Safety Considerations
For safe operation, the RAM5 should be operated only within the limits outlined in the system
specifications. Specifically the following classification defines acceptable use for the RAM5:
Indoor Use Only.
Main supply voltage fluctuations are not to exceed ±10% of the nominal supply voltage.
This equipment is suitable for continuous operation.
Warnings and Cautions
Throughout the manual, the following symbols are used to identify warnings and cautions:
The caution symbol indicates a potential hazardous situation which
could result minor injury or damage to the product
The high voltage symbol indicates the possibility of electrical
shock.
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) sensitive components
Manual Format and Applicability
The RAM5 mixer is a highly customized industrial machine. This manual is supplied as a
“generic” RAM5 document that covers base features of the every machine (except where
noted). Training documentation and a Supplementary Information is provided with every RAM5
that covers features beyond that of the standard RAM5 and specific to each machine.

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 4www.resodynmixers.com
Important Safety Notes
Only trained and qualified personnel should open access panels or electrical enclosure door.
This equipment must only be operated by trained and qualified personnel.
Mixing operations can generate heat and internal pressure depending on material and mixer
accelerations. Do not mix material longer than what has been characterized as safe.
Do not attempt to run the machine without a mix container holder, equipment damage may
result.
Do not use sharp objects on the touch screen.
Do not disable or tamper with any safety items on the RAM5.
Do not load mix container with more than 80 lbs. of material.
Be cautious of pinch points on mixer lid.
Trouble Shooting and Service
The RAM5 systems should only be operated when it is in good working condition. If the system
shows any signs of visible damage or fails to operate as outlined in this manual, the system
should not be operated.
For operational errors and troubleshooting, refer to the Troubleshooting section.
If necessary, contact your Resodyn Acoustic Mixers customer service representative for
additional technical support.
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers Customer Service:
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail:
[email protected]
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers
130 North Main, Suite 630
Butte, Montana 59701

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 5www.resodynmixers.com
Warranty
1. LIMITED WARRANTY:
Seller warrants that for a period of one (1) year from the date of Seller’s shipment of
Product to Purchaser or 2000 hours of machine time, whichever occurs first, its Product
is free from defects in material and workmanship. Some newly manufactured Seller
Products may contain, and Seller Service may use, remanufactured parts which are
equivalent to new in performance. The warranty period for the Product is a specified,
fixed period commencing on its date of shipment, or the date of installation if installed by
Seller. Seller does not warrant that the operation of Products will be uninterrupted or
error free.
If Seller receives written notice of defects from Purchaser during the warranty period,
Seller will, at its option, repair or replace the affected Products.
The warranties provided herein will apply only to those Products and integral
components thereof that are identified by a unique Resodyn part number and for any
Service provided by Resodyn employees or their authorized agents. Seller does not
warrant any third party Products or Service even if included with other Resodyn Branded
Products or Service. Furthermore, Seller provides all such third party Products and
Service AS IS. However, the original manufacturers or suppliers may provide their own
warranties as specified in the documentation accompanying such third party Products
and Service.
The above warranties do not apply to defects resulting from:
a.) Improper or inadequate maintenance by Purchaser.
b.) Unauthorized modification.
c.) Improper use or operation outside of the Specifications for the Product.
d.) Abuse, negligence, accident, loss, or damage in transit.
e.) Improper site preparation.
f.) Unauthorized maintenance or repair.
THE ABOVE WARRANTIES ARE EXCLUSIVE AND NO OTHER WARRANTY,
WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, IS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. TO THE EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, SELLER SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
TITLE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT.
In no event shall Seller be liable for any consequential damages or damages of any kind
or nature alleged to have resulted from any breach of warranty.

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 6www.resodynmixers.com
Introduction
This user’s guide describes the RAM5 ResonantAcoustic® mixer and explains its operation.
This chapter provides an overview of the RAM5 and contains general information important to
correct use.
ResonantAcoustic® Mixing (RAM) Overview
The RAM technology approach for acoustic mixing works on the principle of creating micro-
mixing zones throughout the entire mixing vessel as well as macro (bulk) material flow fields.
This approach differs from conventional mixing technology where mixing is localized at the tips
of the impeller blades, at discrete locations along the baffles, or by co-mingling products
induced by tumbling materials. This new technology provides faster, more uniform mixing
throughout a vessel than can be created by conventional, state-of-the-art mixing systems. RAM
technology has an added advantage that it does not use impellers or other intrusive devices to
mix, and does not require unique vessel designs for a broad range of mixing applications.
RAM technology is compatible with many types of materials, which include liquid-liquid, liquid-
solid, gas-liquid, and solid-solid systems. The technology can be utilized to mix low viscosity,
highly viscous and non-Newtonian systems, as well as solid-solid systems in the same types of
vessels, without changes to impeller design, baffles, or other complicated, intrusive
components, such as injectors and nozzles.
RAM technology is designed to operate at mechanical resonance. At this operating condition
the RAM technology results in a near lossless transfer of the mixer systems’ mechanical energy
into the materials being mixed. This is created by the propagation of a pressure wave in the
mixing vessel. This condition is achieved by matching the mechanical operation of the mixer
with the properties and characteristics of the range of materials to be mixed. The operating
characteristics of the mixer are automatically sensed and controlled to keep the system at the
mixing acceleration established to provide the best mixing performance.
Achievement of these mixing conditions requires a methodology that is patented and unique to
RAM and RAM control technology; unachievable by any other mixing technology in the industry.
For example, in conventional mixers the mechanical systems are typically designed to
specifically avoid operating at resonance. This condition can quickly cause violent motions,
which leads to catastrophic failure of the system. However, when designed correctly a
mechanical system operating at resonance enables even small periodic driving forces to
produce large amplitudes of vibration that can be harnessed to produce useful work. For RAM,
this operating methodology is enabled through a system designed to conserve energy by
balancing kinetic and potential energy in a controlled resonant operating condition.
In the RAM systems, the potential energy is stored in the springs and the kinetic energy is kept
in the plates, or masses, that are coupled to the springs. The masses oscillate in a vertical

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 7www.resodynmixers.com
motion, Figure 1. The
resonant frequency is
defined as the frequency at
which the mechanical
energy in the system can
be conserved between
potential energy stored in
the springs and as kinetic
energy in the moving
masses.
For the RAM technology, it
is the mixing system as a
whole that is operated at
mechanical resonance,
which is nominally at 60 Hz.
The exact frequency of
mechanical resonance
during mixing is only affected by the payload vessel (plus contents). The mix vessel contents
are termed the “Mixture”.
The resonant mechanical system is the “Mixer”. The mixer operates on mechanical resonance.
The mixture affects the mixers mechanical resonance frequency, by 1) the amount of material in
the mixing vessel, 2) how well the material couples to the vessel, and 3) how much energy the
mixture absorbs during mixing.
The amount of mixture mass affects the operating frequency because, as the payload mass
increases, the operating frequency decreases. Conversely, a lighter mass will produce a higher
operating frequency. The vessel weight, volume of contents, and specific gravity, are all
components of the “static” payload mass. If the mixture mass is fully coupled, i.e., riding along
with the vessel and not mixing, the resonant frequency will drop to the same frequency as if a
mass of equivalent weight as the mixture was added to the mixer. Conversely, if the material is
fully decoupled, i.e., not mixing, then the resonant frequency will become very close to that of an
empty vessel. However, for all conditions of coupling between the two extremes, the resonant
frequency will change depending on the amount of coupling.
Payload damping affects the amount of input force (intensity) required to accelerate the
payload. Damping is a difficult number to predict for materials. However, a general
understanding of what influences the amount of damping, and how damping affects the system
has been compiled, which will serve as talking points in this discussion. The primary factors
that affect damping are: 1) viscosity; 2) head space (amount of air or void in the mixing
container above the mixture), 3) internal mix vessel pressure (vacuum, partial vacuum, ambient
pressure, or pressurized); 4) temperature, and 5) vessel acceleration. Higher damping imposed
by the materials being mixed requires higher input forces (intensity) to achieve a specific
acceleration on the payload vessel. Damping is defined as the energy going into the mixture
during mixing.
Figure 1: Simplified representation of the mass, spring and damper
(mixing media) system that is in resonance.

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 8www.resodynmixers.com
Payload acceleration is a measure of the amount of acceleration imparted onto the mixture
vessel. It is measured in units of g. One g= 9.81 m/s2. Through mixing trials and experience,
the amount of acceleration required for a specific process will be determined. Higher damped
mixed materials, i.e., higher viscosity materials, will typically absorb more energy during mixing
than lower damped materials, i.e., low viscosity materials. As such, higher damping materials
typically require higher intensities to achieve the same payload acceleration compared to the
lower damped materials. The RAM5 mixer is controlled by setting the desired acceleration and
the mixer automatically controls the frequency and intensity.
The principle of
Resonance in
ResonantAcoustic®
Mixing is illustrated in
both Figure 1 (above)
and Figure 2.
ResonantAcoustic®
mixers are comprised of
multiple masses and
multiple springs, known
as a three-mass system,
that are simultaneously
moving during mixing.
The basic behavior of
the mixer is best understood by considering the simplified case shown in Figure 1, above.
The diagram in Figure 1, above, shows a mass moving with some velocity. In order to slow
down the mass (decelerate) there needs to be an applied external force. When the mass
decelerates, the lower velocity results in the mass having lower kinetic energy. Figure 1 shows
that a spring can store potential energy when an applied external force compresses, or
stretches the spring. The energy stored in the spring is greater when the deflection is large, and
reduces to zero when the spring is not distorted. The lower left diagram in Figure 1 provides a
representation of a spring-mass system. In this case, the “mixing” function is modeled as a
damper, which absorbs energy when the system is in motion. A second order non-homogenous
differential equation that describes the forces present during oscillation is shown in Figure 1,
lower right. This equation shows the relationship between the forces due to the moving masses,
the deflected springs, and the mixing process. The expression shows that these forces are
equal to the mechanical force driving the system.
The differential equation is repeated in Figure 2, and is coupled with the diagram to the left, as a
means to illustrate when resonance occurs. At a particular oscillation frequency, the resonant
frequency, the stored forces in the springs are directly offset by the inertia forces of the masses,
and cancel over one period of oscillation. Thus, the system can oscillate without the need for
charging the spring, or providing energy to the mass during the cycles. The plot on the left side
of Figure 2 graphically illustrates that for frequencies below resonance, energy is lost in
charging the springs, and above resonance energy has to be added to maintain the inertial
Figure 2: Differential equation and plots of oscillation amplitude and
power vs. frequency showing the benefit of resonance.

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 9www.resodynmixers.com
energy. The result of operating at resonance, as shown by the red and green curves, is that the
amplitude of the oscillations reaches a maximum, while the power required is at a minimum.
The power consumed by the system is transferred directly into the mixing media.
With the system oscillating at resonance, the acceleration of the load-plate imparts a boundary
condition on the vessel contents that is transmitted through the vessel contents as a pressure
wave. Energy used in creating the mixing movement will add to the damping of the overall
system, and the material contents will add to the mass. However, the amount of energy that
must be transferred into the materials in order to satisfy the boundary condition will be
dependent on a combination of many material and vessel geometry constraints. Some of these
constraints are: the height of column of material to be moved (vessel fill height), the
compressibility of the material, and its stickiness, or coupling of the material to the vessel walls,
material density, vessel geometry, internal vessel pressure, vessel percent fill, and mixing
regime.
Figure 3 displays the
resonant response of the
RAM mixer to variations in
a payload. The solid
black line represents a
payload that has been
accelerated to 100 g. Its
response is slightly over
61 Hz. Next, assume that
the payload mass is
constant but the payload
damping has increased.
The dashed gray line
shows how the same
input force (intensity) will
accelerate the payload to
lower accelerations (40 g).
The frequency drops
slightly from 61 Hz
because the mixture is
absorbing more acoustic
energy. If the same configuration is operated without any mix material, the dotted black line
shows a resonant shift to a higher frequency, slightly lower than 64 Hz. The shift is due to a
lower payload mass.
During the mixing operation, the mix media may transition through different regimes. A regime is
defined as mixing with a defined flow pattern. A regime change typically causes the materials
coupling with the payload vessel to change. Because a change in the coupling causes a shift in
the resonant frequency, a resonant tracking feature termed “Smart Mixing Technology” (SMT) is
included. SMT controls the mixer frequency and acceleration, which keeps the mixer operating
on the resonant peak at the desired preset acceleration.
Figure 3:Resonant response of the mix media

RAM5 Installation and
Operation Manual, Rev. 12.11.2012
Resodyn Acoustic Mixers, Inc 10 www.resodynmixers.com
System Overview
The RAM5 is a
ResonantAcoustic®mixer for
industrial applications. Figure 4
illustrates the main external
features of the RAM5. The
machine is composed of three
main components, which include
the Electrical Enclosure, Acoustic
Enclosure, and Resonator
(mixer).
Electrical Enclosure
The Electrical Enclosure, shown
in Figure 5, houses all of the
main electrical power and control
components. External features of
the electrical enclosure includes
the main power disconnect
switch, human-machine-interface
(HMI) computer, emergency stop
button, and lid open/close
pushbuttons.
The disconnect switch shuts
power off to the entire machine
and is defeatable and lockable.
The HMI computer and
pushbuttons located on the side
of the Electrical Enclosure serve
as the primary operator station.
The two-hand control
pushbuttons are used to open
and close the mixer lid. The HMI is a touch screen computer (Hazardous Location RAM5’s do
not have a touch screen) that allows the operator to enter desired mix parameters and monitor
machine operation and status.
The handle on the Electrical Enclosure allows access to the electrical components inside of the
enclosure for maintenance and inspection purposes. Note: This handle requires a key to
operate and gain access to the enclosure.
Only trained and qualified personnel should open Electrical
Enclosure doors.
Figure 4: RAM5 Mixer External Features
Figure 5: RAM5 Electrical Enclosure
Electrical Enclosure
A
coustic Enclosure
Resonator
(
under lid
)
Enclosure
Door Handle
Power Disconnect
HMI Computer
and Pushbuttons