The Swiss subsidiary of Dutch firm DSM Nutritional Products AG uses the spray drying methodology when producing vitamin and carotenoid powders for the pharmaceutical and meals industries. The process uses pump technology to convey numerous emulsions into a sprig tower, the place they’re dried into powder. But the feed and booster pump that was being used proved to be an uncertainty factor as a outcome of the diaphragm required for the pumping process tended to tear when the pump was started up. Generally, such manufacturing interruptions can be corrected through quick maintenance and repair work.
However, it is very costly to exchange a diaphragm or an entire system. DSM was in search of another and at last made a discover once they talked to the pump consultants at Lewa Nikkiso Switzerland, who recommended a Lewa triplex process diaphragm pump for the spray tower software. The drive unit features a protected start-up mode that retains the diaphragm positioned within the neutral position, and continuous regulation using an integrated monitoring system. Since the hermetically tight pumps are electropolished and CIP-approved, it is straightforward to meet the food industry’s stringent hygienic provisions.
a hundred PERCENT INTEGRATION
“Pump know-how plays a central role in drying oil-in-water emulsions for the meals and pharmaceutical industries. These emulsions comprise substances similar to vitamins, carotenoids, or polyunsaturated fatty acids as lively components,” explains Natalie Ibald, plant manager of formulations at DSM Nutritional Products AG. “As a half of the method chain, every pump is one hundred pc integrated into the closed plant system. The pumps are used for conveying the mixtures into the spray tower.”
With the previous system, the danger of unexpected interruptions to this course of couldn’t be dominated out. As a outcome, the different emulsions couldn’t be processed additional. In other words, it was not potential to dry them into powder. The pump diaphragm was the explanation: it was typically too delicate to face up to the stress placed on it when starting up the pump and would rupture. Replacing the diaphragm reduced the system’s service life and typically meant that trouble-free operation could not be assured.
FINDING THE RIGHT PARTNER
In the course of searching for a reliable different, DSM received in touch with the Swiss subsidiary of pump manufacturer Lewa.
“We have been already familiar with Lewa Nikkiso Switzerland as a supplier of strong methods with long service lives within the SFP sector. To guarantee trouble-free spray drying, we thought it might be smart to join forces with the specialists from Lewa and give you a design to unravel the technical issues,” says Ibald.
DSM is dedicated to continually bettering its processes and investing in know-how. This dedication, together with prior experience with the brief service lives of the previous pumps, led DSM to position particular concentrate on dependable perform and a strong design through the project planning section. เครื่องมือความดัน of requirements additionally included a substantial number of stringent hygienic provisions that needed to be fulfilled.
“Certain foods have provisions regarding microbiological purity which may be many times more stringent than these for producing different meals products,” explains Ibald. “This meant that the brand new feed and booster pump needed to meet these more challenging circumstances and each kind of contamination had to be ruled out to supply the widest attainable variety of merchandise on the system.”
ROYAL DSM: PARTNER PROFILE
Royal DSM is a global science-oriented company that’s especially lively in the areas of diet, health, and sustainable dwelling. DSM’s mission is to enhance the lives of all. Products and options from DSM address some of the world’s largest challenges while simultaneously creating financial, environmental, and societal value for all its stakeholders—including clients, employees, shareholders, and society at large.
DSM delivers progressive solutions for the diet, animal nutrition, personal care and aromatics, medical products, environmentally pleasant merchandise and functions, in addition to new mobility and interconnectivity.
DSM and its affiliated companies employ greater than 23,000 individuals and generate an annual internet turnover of approximately 10 billion euros. The company was founded in 1902 and is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam inventory change.
For more data, visit www.dsm.com.
GUARANTEED SAFE START-UP OPERATION
After a visit on the firm premises to suppose about the spatial and technical parameters, Lewa Nikkiso Switzerland beneficial a type G3F triplex process diaphragm pump for the spray tower application. This pump includes a fully secure start-up operation, since a spring repeatedly holds the built-in sandwich diaphragm situated in a neutral position.
This protects the diaphragm in opposition to incorrect positioning and prevents it from being damaged while the pump is beginning up, rising system availability considerably. And the Lewa triplex is managed utilizing a pressure aid valve that is put in in the hydraulic part and may be configured for the precise scenario. Therefore, the pump may be adapted to different operational situations so as to forestall any overloads that will come up. This ensures that the unit has a protracted service life and smooth regular operation for the entire system.
THE POWER OF DESIGN
In addition to the strain aid valve and the spring management, the design of the diaphragm also performs an necessary position in making certain reliable pump operation. The patented sandwich diaphragm consists of two separate PTFE diaphragms that are extremely long-lasting. They are connected to every other by way of positive interlocking during the discharge stroke and mechanical force-fitting during the suction stroke.
This makes the pump hermetically tight and effectively prevents exterior contamination. As a further safety function, the DPS monitoring system from Lewa constantly displays the condition of the diaphragm. The monitoring unit promptly shows any damage to the system that results in increased stress within the diaphragm house.
This makes it potential to carry out preventive upkeep and restore work earlier than the diaphragm even begins to rupture and potentially contaminates the pumped fluid. Thus, it’s usually pointless to change the pump off right away, which means that neither the pumping process nor spray drying are negatively impacted to a big extent. If harm to a diaphragm is detected, manufacturing can continue with none problems as much as a deliberate upkeep cease. The elements can then get replaced shortly and simply by releasing the cassette for the assembly.
ASEPTIC, FDA-COMPLIANT OPERATION
The hermetically tight design of the method diaphragm pump does extra than simply ensure dependable steady operation. It can additionally be a central element for fulfilling the stringent hygiene provisions that the spray tower application is subject to. The Lewa triplex maintains a hermetically tight space with out dynamic seals, guaranteeing completely clean and aseptic production conditions. All pump heads that come into contact with the product are also electropolished, which makes it potential to ensure FDA-compliant pump operation.
Because the pump can be cleaned in place (CIP) using totally different alkaline and acidic brokers and with out prior dismantling, it’s potential to fulfill the special necessities for baby food as well. The provisions for child food are 1,000 instances extra stringent than those for other merchandise within the meals sector. Thanks to the hermetically tight design, electropolishing, and CIP cleaning, we have been capable of rule out any contamination of the pumped medium and clearly meet the required hygiene standard.
QUICK RESPONSE TIMES AND WELL-FOUNDED EXPERTISE
The first quote was received in June of 2018 and in September of the same yr, DSM Nutritional Products AG placed an order for the triplex process diaphragm pump. In operation since April 2019, the pump has turn into an indispensable part of production on the plant in Sisseln.
“In each phase of the challenge, Lewa Nikkiso Switzerland demonstrated fast response occasions and well-founded expertise, which made a key contribution to implementing the venture efficiently,” says Ibald. “Our specifications with regard to high quality, robustness, and hygiene have been followed to the letter on this challenge. As a end result, our manufacturing has turn out to be noticeably extra environment friendly and reliable.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Lewa develops applied sciences and offers options for the huge array of functions among its prospects. Its products are used primarily in the oil and fuel business, in gas odorization, in refineries and petrochemicals, in addition to in the manufacturing of plastics, detergents, and cleaners. Additional utility areas include the chemical business, cosmetics business, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, food and beverage industry, and vitality utilities. For extra information, go to www.lewa.com.
Share