Upgrading all valve control tops on a mixproof valve cluster isn’t always the optimal approach to raising process performance, especially for industries with less frequent cleaning requirements. This is what Alfa Laval’s Application & Innovation Centre experts found when investigating a sound upgrading strategy for a brewery.
Alfa Laval’s experts tested three scenarios using a setup identical to the brewery’s. The optimal solution: Upgrading one out of every four valve control tops was the most attractive solution compared to upgrading them all.
“A total upgrade is not always the best approach. Sometimes a little ingenuity goes a long way,” said Mario Kurilic, technical sales manager, Food & Water, Alfa Laval. “Using one ThinkTop V70 to control four valve actuators delivered 71% in water savings and required less investment than changing all the control tops.”
ThinkTop V70 with burst seat cleaning functionality effectively cleans the valve seat much faster and uses less water than the brewery’s current cleaning system. This makes it possible to realize payback in less than a year, depending on the cleaning requirements, frequency and cost structure.
