New Hygienic Diaphragm Valve Meets Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic & Food & Beverage Standards
Bürkert Fluid Control Systems has recently launched the latest incarnation of its diaphragm valve body that has been manufactured using hydroforming technology to deliver a number of benefits
Designed for use in hygienic process applications, the new tube valve body meets the latest standards for pharmaceutical, cosmetic as well as food and beverage industries.
Fluid control systems within hygienic applications demand high standards in terms of cleanability which can be affected by a number of design characteristics.
The base material is normally 316L stainless steel which requires an excellent surface finish in order to maximise the efficiency of the clean-in-place (CIP) process that is used to sterilise the process pipework. Coupled with excellent thermal properties, the design of process valves has become a complex process.
Bürkert has delivered the next evolution of valve manufacture by patenting a new procedure to create process valves using hydroforming technology. This has significantly reduced the amount of material used as well as allowing uniformly high-quality laser welds that do not add any further material to the component.
The process starts with the flange, which is laser cut and milled, and the tube, both of which are from 316L stainless steel. The tube is placed in a mould, filled with a water-oil emulsion and subjected to around 3,000 bars of pressure to produce the required flow path to and from the weir.
The flange and tube are then laser welded together before the new component is annealed in order to relieve residual stress within the material.
This heat treatment process also increases the durability of the material by improving the corrosion resistance. This is enhanced by precision machining of the surfaces of the flange before the final polishing stages are completed.
In the past, the polishing process may have been completed by hand using small electric polishing wheels, which can be rather labour intensive and time-consuming.
This process is now automated and uses an abrasive paste that is repeatedly pumped through the valve body in order to achieve a surface finish of less than 0.4 µm. This produces a very uniform surface which is then electro-polished to give a near mirror finish for all areas that come into contact with the process media.
Ian Webster, Hygienic Processing Segment Manager at Bürkert UK, comments: “This new manufacturing process allows us to manufacture variants that are as much as 75% lighter than forged housings. The reduced volume of material means that the energy requirement for both heating and cooling during cleaning processes is also greatly reduced.”
“The hygienic design and cleanability of the new valve body has been shown to be comparable with that of stainless process pipework and has been certified under EHEDG Type EL, Class I. By reducing energy requirements and downtime for cleansing processes, the new Bürkert tube valve body has the potential to optimise process efficiency for a wide range of hygienic applications.”
The innovative manufacturing technique employed by Bürkert also has a greatly reduced carbon footprint, making it more environmentally friendly. An independent study showed that when manufacturing a DN25 cast valve body, almost 7,000 grammes of CO2 were produced, compared to the hydroformed valve body which only generates 2,000 grammes.
The new tube valve body can be used with EPDM or PTFE diaphragms, both of which have excellent hygiene and chemical resistance qualities, and coupled with Type 2031 CLASSIC pneumatic actuator or a Type 3233 manual actuator to deliver process control solutions for any number of hygienic applications.
Initially, the valve tube bodies will be available in ½, ¾, 1, 1½ and 2 inch variants, suitable for welded connections.
For more information on this latest innovation, visit the Bürkert website, www.burkert.co.uk or contact Kirsty Anderson, Marketing Manager by Email: kirsty.anderson@burkert.com, or by phone +44 (0) 1285 648720.
Burkert Fluid Control Systems
- 01285648720
- sales.uk@burkert.com
- http://www.burkert.com/
- Fluid Control Centre 1 Bridge End Gloucestershire Cirencester GL7 1QY GB
About us
Bürkert is present in thirtyfive countries around the world. We also work with a large network of distributors and partners, which means we are as close as possible to our customers. This global presence ensures full service and support to all of our customers in every country around the world. Research is the lifeblood of our company.
At Bürkert, we are never satisfied with the status quo and are continually seeking new technologies and solutions for our customers. Every year, our people develop new and highly advanced products and solutions, ranging from integrated process measurement and control units to the most sophisticated systems used in pharmaceutical research. To be a market leader, we are also an R&D leader.
Therefore, our investment in research & development is one of the highest in our industry. In our research centres in Germany and France, 150 people are committed to working for a common future for our company and our customers. We are committed to offering our expertise wherever it is needed, anywhere in the world. This global presence ensures that our advances in fluid control technology are also global.
What we do in a nutshell
Manufacture of process equipment. One of the few manufacturers to provide solutions for the complete control loop.
Where we supply to
UK Ireland, Europe
Industries we supply to
Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Water and Wastewater
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