Valves convey pharmaceutical powders safely

Leading valve manufacturer Rota Val has designed and produced a novel range of diverter valves for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Leading valve manufacturer Rota Val has designed and produced a novel range of diverter valves for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Based on the patented features of the established PS range, the new diverter valves were developed to meet the unusually high application demands of a major French pharmaceutical company.

Designated the SPS200, the new valve allows the safe lean phase pneumatic conveying of a pharmaceutical powder in methyl chloride, diverting the powder flow into one of two possible pipes under computer control using a double acting pnuematic torque actuator.

Design operating temperature is between 50 and 100C at a line pressure capability up to 0.8bar(g).

The highly toxic and corrosive nature of the conveyed material meant that the valve had to be designed with a sealed outer casing which is pressurised with Nitrogen to approximately 0.4bar(g), and tested to 0.8bar(g).

All contact parts are fabricated from SMO254 stainless steel and polished to 0.4RA to minimise powder build-up.

Casing and noncontact parts are in 316L stainless steel.

The high specification of construction produced valves which weighed in at 720kg.

At just over 2m long with inlet and outlet diameters of 200mm, the large size of the valves also entailed special design considerations.

Each valve is ATEX 94/9/EC Certified for use in a Zone 1 gas and Zone 21 dust environment.

Special flanges and inflatable internal seals were supplied, designed to allow removal from outside the valve housing for quick and easy maintenance.

The housing top cover is strengthened to prevent distortion under pressure, with all welding tested for quality.

Quick release fittings provide easy access to the internal parts of the valve for cleaning and safety testing, and two drain connections with Teflon sealed flanges facilitate wash down procedures.

Rota Val Managing Director, Ian Blackmore, commented :"These new valves are unique in the solids handling industry, but were developed from our existing PS range".

"They demonstrate the innovative way in which we apply current technology to new applications".

"Our customer awarded the order because we could show that Rota Val has the necessary experience and would co-operate fully with the customer's project team to produce an effective solution to their problem".

"Naturally, our high quality build standards, ATEX certification and ability to demonstrate an excellent understanding of the commercial demands of the pharmaceutical industry all played an important part in winning the contract".

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