To ensure that process plants meet hygiene requirements, industry-specific approvals, and resistance to CIP/SIP media, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed a new series of high-performance seals for butterfly valves. The seals have been developed in conjunction with French customer Definox, the manufacturers of first-class process valves and stainless steel equipment for high-end applications in sectors such as food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and animal feed.
Following rigorous tests, 70 EPDM 291 O-rings have already been delivered to Definox, where they have been successfully deployed and demonstrated. Based on this first success, both companies decided to launch a project for the development of new butterfly seals.
Developing the new seals saw the two companies draw up a list of technical targets, which included simple installation, uncompromising tightness, wear-resistant materials, and sealing geometry free of dead space. With the concept finalised, the development team at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies set to work.
As part of an initial phase, Freudenberg performed extensive validation testing of the new valve seal on its in-house test bench. Seals in three reference dimensions were tested in Definox butterfly valves under operating conditions similar to reality. Results from the long-term tests could then be transferred to other seal dimensions.
The advanced test bench at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is designed as a CIP system featuring multiple containers, thus offering the capability to simulate various cleaning processes with acids, lye, and disinfectants. Up to three butterfly valves can be tested simultaneously or successively on test tracks, with temperature, pressure, and flow rate recorded digitally.
The co-operative partnership between Freudenberg Sealing Technologies and Definox resulted in an advanced butterfly valve seal offering both design innovation and high levels of wear resistance. This makes it ideal for process sector requirements.
