What factors should be considered when selecting a heating emulsifier?

• Material Characteristics: Including viscosity, melting point, heat sensitivity, and phase composition. For example, heat-sensitive materials (such as some pharmaceuticals or biological active ingredients) require a heating system with precise temperature control and gentle heating to avoid component degradation; for high-viscosity materials, a high-power homogenizer and a jacketed heating system with good heat transfer efficiency are needed.
• Production Scale: Small-scale R&D or laboratory use can choose small-capacity equipment (5L-50L), while large-scale industrial production requires large-capacity tanks (100L-5000L) with high automation and continuous production capabilities.
• Heating Method: Choose the heating method according to the available energy sources and process requirements. Steam heating is suitable for large-scale production with stable steam supply and high heating efficiency; thermal oil heating is suitable for scenarios requiring precise temperature control (temperature range: 50℃-300℃); electric heating is easy to install and suitable for small-scale equipment or places where steam is not available.
• Emulsification Requirements: The required particle size of the emulsion determines the power and speed of the homogenizer. For example, emulsions requiring particle size below 1μm (such as pharmaceutical injectables) need a high-shear homogenizer with a speed of more than 10,000 rpm; ordinary cosmetic lotions usually require a speed of 5,000-8,000 rpm.
• Hygiene and Compliance Requirements: For industries such as pharmaceuticals and food, equipment must meet GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) requirements, including using food-grade or pharmaceutical-grade stainless steel, having a smooth inner wall (Ra ≤ 0.4μm) to facilitate cleaning, and being equipped with CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems.
• Automation Level: For large-scale production, choose equipment with automatic feeding, temperature control, emulsification timing, and discharge functions (controlled by PLC) to reduce manual intervention and ensure process consistency. Small-scale R&D equipment can use semi-automatic control to reduce costs.