Trade Publication Article

Principles of Selecting Agitator Gear Drives

Fryers, William H, Benz, Gregory T

2026

Overview

Agitators are used in practically every industrial process that involves fluid handling. However, few chemical engineers understand what separates agitator gear drives -- the component that is most critical for ensuring the reliability and durability of the agitator system from standard commercial gear drives. Although most large agitator manufacturers make their own gear drives, some buy specialized '\"agitator service\" gear drives, which have larger internal shafting and more robust bearings than standard commercial gear drives. Other manufacturers still opt to use standard commercial gear drives, which require careful application. Companies in the chemical process industries have come to expect long life and high reliability from their agitators. For the most part, the major agitator manufacturers have delivered on that expectation. It is not unusual to have agitators in the field that have been running around the clock for 20 years or more without a rebuild. However, this has not always been the case.

• Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subject: Agitation / Agitators / Bearings / Chemical process industries / Design / Inertia / Reliability