Inline dilution system saves transport costs

A substantial reduction in transportation costs for a leading healthcare manufacturer are the key benefits of a recently installed inline dilution system.

A substantial reduction in transportation costs for a leading healthcare manufacturer are the key benefits of a recently installed inline dilution system from Process Installations, an associate company of Pump Engineering.

The healthcare manufacturer was taking several deliveries per week of 28% SLES (sodium lauryl ether sulphate) for production of toiletries and shampoos, requiring considerable storage facilities.

By taking deliveries of concentrated 70% SLES and diluting on-site, the company has reduced storage space considerably, cut raw material costs and is no longer paying for the transportation of large volumes of water.

The PI inline dilution system pumps concentrated 70% SLES from a bulk tank into a flow of deionised water taken directly from a ring main, introducing the two as a continuous stream into a high shear mixer, which has been sized to produce a uniform, fully homogenous mix in a single pass, so that the resultant solution can be dispersed directly into batch mixing vessels at a rate of up to 12 tonnes per hour, avoiding the need for intermediate storage.

The system is controlled by a flow computer which monitors and adjusts the ratio via mass flow meters to ensure that it does not exceed the critical 28% solution above which it forms a highly viscous gel.

The dilution system can be supplied as a self-contained unit with its own control panel, taking up approximately a single pallet space, so it can be positioned conveniently under a platform in a manufacturing area.

It can be cleaned in place, and clamp connections also ensure the unit can be stripped quickly and easily if required.

The same system can be adapted for other applications in the healthcare or food industries, for example, the production of hair gels, dilution of tomato paste or fruit juice concentrates.

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