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Homogenizers - Stansted Hyd-Lok
Features & Benefits
- Exceptional performance
- Patented construction
- Fully featured - Reliable operation & precise control
- Easy to use, cleaning, inspection & service
The new range has pressure capabilities to 400 MPa (58,000 psi, 4000 bar). The range offers a variety of homogenising valve options including piston gap valves, interaction chambers and second stage (back pressure modules). Please click here for main Hyd-Lok page.
The core of the new range is a revolutionary and patented new system of construction for the pressure intensifiers a technique which is additionally incorporated into some of the flow control valves and homogenising valve options. This new construction we have called “Hyd-Lok”.
The Hyd-Lok principal. The Hyd- Lok principal uses a clamping arrangement to hold the intensifier assemblies together, resisting the forces in operation trying to separate the assembly. The clamping arrangement used on the systems is a hydraulic one using a piston and cylinder to close up the system. When locked the assembly is held together by the clamping force which holds the system closed. Because everything is ‘pushed’ together and held from coming apart by the clamping forces it means that the assembly is NOT SCREWED TOGETHER, as found with traditional pumps and intensifier assemblies. Avoiding threads, particularly on the stainless steel elements, eliminates the risk of galling (cold welding), which is a serious risk on highly cleaned stainless threads, as typically required in clean room conditions.
Since the assembly is hydraulically clamped together when clamping force is released, by releasing the hydraulic clamp pressure, the assembly may be easily separated for maintenance and cleaning. So most maintenance, cleaning and inspection functions can be done without workshop tools and by the operator without need for specialist engineering assistance.
Fully featured - Reliable Operation & Precise Control
Reliable Operation
The new range features hydraulically driven intensifiers which cycle singly or in electronically synchronised pairs with each intensifier making between 2 and 12 strokes per minute. This compares with typical plunger pumps making 200-400 strokes per minute and many intensifier systems working up to 40 strokes per minute per intensifier. This slow operation reduces pressure cycles on the seals and mechanical components which provides increased life and reliability.
Pressure and temperature Monitoring
SFP Hyd-Lok systems all feature a HMI (Human Machine Interface) module for the primary system control and monitoring. This provides the operator with alphanumeric display with menu driven operation and control system fault diagnosis. The display also provides temperature and pressure indications for the system and additionally has a communications port to allow connection to PCs or suitably interfaced data loggers.
Temperature Control
Here we are not only referring to pre / post conditioning of the product before passing though the system or on its way out (i.e. after cooler). There are processes such as some liposome production where the product must be maintained at temperature as it passes through the system or the processing will be ineffectual or the machine unable to operate properly. With some Liposomes which must be processed at elevated temperatures, 70°C for example, if the temperature of the product drops as it passes through machine then the Liposomes are unlikely to be processed correctly and additionally are likely to adhere to elements inside the system, such as NRV components, so causing a malfunction. The SFP system has provision to allow the principal wetted metal components to be maintained at temperature by circulation of temperature controlled (heated) fluid so that these difficult processing conditions can be maintained.
Easy to Use, Cleaning , Inspection & Service
Easy to Use
Systems are microprocessor controlled with menu driven options for system
operations and alphanumeric display for system status, process parameters
and fault indications
.
Easy to Clean - Steam Sterilising
In many applications pumping a system through with cleaning agents will suffice as a cleaning procedure. However, there are many applications where it is necessary to ensure the equipment is thoroughly clean with no remnants of previous use. The necessity of this is clearly seen when stripping machines which have been ‘flushed’ clean and when stripped down for inspection are found to still have significant quantities of product trapped in seals and areas of stagnant flow.
A common criticism of high pressure homogenisers is that the construction of the pump piston and cylinder, intensifier, diaphragm etc. generate dead legs in the system which form condensate traps. The Hyd-Lok constructions allows SFP a unique steam sterilisation possibility. The SFP Hyd-Lok system has a steaming configuration where the during the system closing sequence and while still unclamped the system is set to the ‘steaming position’. Here, with all sliding steaming cuffs in position the system can be steamed through a number of paths, ensuring wetted surfaces are exposed to temperature and vapour and that there are no condensate traps.
At the end of the steam sterilising cycle the system is closed with the
main element sliding through the steam cuffs while an airtight seal is
maintained.
Additionally to the sterilisation possibilities, the principal wetted
assemblies are extremely easy to disassemble clean and reassembly to ensure
thorough cleaning of the system and visual inspection of wetted parts.
Easy to Service
While the concept is appealing, SFP do not believe that a ‘maintenance free’ solution to high pressure homogenisation equipment is feasible. While aiming to make our systems the most reliable possible SFP have long adopted the view for all high pressure systems that if you cannot avoid maintenance, then make it easy. The Hyd-Lok construction takes this philosophy a major step further by making most routine maintenance tasks simple and within the scope of even basically trained operators. No longer does routine maintenance require specialist skills or even outside assistance; and such maintenance is accomplished quickly and easily without the protracted strip down associated with traditional high pressure designs.
Maintenance mode on systems is push button or switch selected and upon selecting this mode the system automatically (production systems) or semi-automatically (bench top systems); unclamps and opens up for maintenance, or cleaning.
When the system is reassembled, the closing is automatically controlled to provide the correct amount of closing force, there is no reliance on even tightening of bolts and precise settings on torque wrenches.
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