Product category:
Food Processing News
News Release from: Pursuit Dynamics | Subject: PDX Fluids Handling System
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 17 June 2003
Replace pumps, heaters, macerators and
mixers?
It is claimed that novel technology announced by Puruit Dynamics could replace pumps, heaters, macerators and mixers in food industry applications
Novel technology could replace pumps, heaters, macerators and mixers in food industry applications Some in the food industry will view the PDX Fluids Handling System from Pursuit Dynamics as a pump, while others will see it as a heater, cooker, macerator or mixer
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 17 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Innovative technology could streamline keg washing
New technology from Pursuit Dynamics has the potential to replace the water pumps, caustic chemical pumps and steam heating jets used for keg washing and other processes within the brewing industry
Technology to replace pumps and macerators
Novel technology could replace pumps and macerators in paper recycling plants saving costs through lower energy consumption and reduced maintenance
But the beauty of this innovative technology is that it can perform any combination of these roles.
For food processors interested in reducing energy consumption, the attraction of the PDX system is that it can be far more efficient than conventional technologies.
Furthermore, the unit at the heart of the system has no moving parts, is virtually impossible to clog, is self-cleaning and is intrinsically safe.
Further reading
New process cuts cooking and cleaning time by 95%
A PDX Fluid Handling System installed in a pilot plant has reduced cooking times for sauces by up to 95%, and clean-down time between batches is also around 80% lower
Coca-Cola Enterprises signs up for PDX technology
Pursuit Dynamics, the developer of the PDX innovative fluid processing technology, announces an agreement with Coca-Cola to supply a PDX 25 unit for use in the production of soft drinks
Boost productivity for food manufacturers
A new self contained batch processing system from Pursuit Dynamics cuts costs and boosts productivity for food manufacturers: supersonic 'shockwave' technology reduces cooking and cleaning times
If this all sounds too good to be true, Hertfordshire based Pursuit Dynamics can support its claims with a range of units available for demonstration, both at the Company headquarters in Royston or with a transportable field unit anywhere in the UK.
Pursuit Dynamics owns the intellectual property underlying the novel system that is derived from a marine propulsion system and is the subject of 15 patent applications following three years worth of research and development that has cost in excess of UK PDS4million.
The PDX unit is driven by readily available steam.
Neither high pressure nor high volume is necessary, and condensate does not impair the performance, so the PDX unit can be located any reasonable distance from the steam generator.
Steam is injected into a tube via a series of nozzles around the circumference.
Energy is input to the process fluid by momentum transfer of the steam, from the pressure drop when the steam condenses, and from the development of a controllable supersonic shock wave.
The controllable shock wave zone can be generated across the full width of the process fluid, increasing the energy transfer and having a vigorous mixing effect, as well as, if desired, a macerating effect on any semi-solids.
Air, or any other gas, fluid or solid, can also be naturally entrained into the low-pressure zone to boost the performance, enhance the natural mixing effect and/or aerate the process fluid.
If the process fluid were plain water, the effect would simply be to pump the water, with the condensation energy of the steam causing a small temperature increase.
However, the process can be controlled so as to raise the temperature significantly higher.
Continuous, rather than batch, processing is viable with this system.
When fluid-based solids - such as vegetable matter - are added to the process flow, the shock zone can, if necessary, break down the material without any need for mechanical macerators, blades or moving parts.
Furthermore, hard objects such as bone, fruit stones or other debris pass straight through without clogging or blocking.
If a suitable wear-resistant liner or coating is used, abrasive objects will not cause any damage, and the steam injection principle keeps the nozzles clean.
A PDX unit with a diameter of 47 mm will typically produce flowrates of water of up to 65,000 litres/hour, but there is no significant limit on the size of the units that can be built and, therefore, the maximum flowrate is practically unlimited.
At the other end of the scale, a 25 mm unit will produce flowrates of water of between 5,000 - 10,000 litres/hour.
A single PDX unit can also achieve a considerable suction head, depending on the steam pressure applied, or multiple PDX units can be used in series to generate additional suction head.
Another feature of the PDX unit is that the low-pressure zones within the system can be used to entrain additional liquids, gases or powders into the process fluid, thereby eliminating the need for further pumps.
If the entrained material is added upstream, it immediately becomes thoroughly mixed with the process fluid as it passes through the shock zone; less energetic mixing is achieved if the material is entrained downstream.
Some substances encountered in the food processing industry are extremely aggressive.
However, if appropriate materials are used in the construction of the PDX unit or if a suitable coating or liner is employed, the device can be made impervious to hostile solutions.
The PDX system can handle a wide variety of liquids as well as solids in a liquid carrier.
Highly viscous media can be handled with ease and even high volumes of gravel can be pumped without causing damage to the PDX unit.
So long as the process fluid is not adversely affected by the addition of a small volume of steam condensate, the scope for use in the food industry is enormous, with real benefits available to users installing new plant or replacing existing pumps, heaters, macerators or mixers.
Pursuit Dynamics is currently looking for suitable partners to licence or adopt this system.
• Pursuit Dynamics: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Processingtalk email newsletter
• Processingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
