Mixing apparatus with stationary shaft

A mixing apparatus, comprising:

• a motor mounted to a mounting plate;
• a fixed conduit connected to mounting plate;
• a rotating shaft having a first end and a second end that is disposed within said fixed conduit that rotates within said fixed conduit wherein said first end is connected to said motor;
• and
• an impeller connected to said second end of said rotating shaft.

A method for treating a material, comprising:

• placing the material to be treated in a vessel;
• and
• disposing a rotational shaft within a fixed conduit connected to the vessel;
• rotationally driving the rotational shaft having an impeller blade attached thereto, the impeller blade comprising:
• a central disk portion having a center axis;
• at least a pair of extensions extending from the central disk portion;
• and
• at least two leading edges defined by the outer periphery of the central disk portion, each leading edge spanning from one extension to an adjacent extension, and each leading edge having at least a portion at which the radius of the leading edge from the center axis increases to form a continuous increasing radius curve.

A mixing system for mixing a fluid or the like in a vessel, comprising:

• means for placing the material to be treated in a vessel;
• and
• means for disposing a rotational shaft within a fixed conduit connected to the vessel;
• means for rotationally driving the rotational shaft having an impeller blade attached thereto, the impeller blade comprising:
• a central disk portion having a center axis;
• at least a pair of extensions extending from the central disk portion;
• and
• at least two leading edges defined by the outer periphery of the central disk portion, each leading edge spanning from one extension to an adjacent extension, and each leading edge having at least a portion at which the radius of the leading edge from the center axis increases to form a continuous increasing radius curve.