Types of Damage that Pinch Valves Usually Suffer
The incorrect rubber sleeve material being used can have drastic effects on the valve. Understanding how to use it for different materials here is important. It enables the user to better understand what things may damage their equipment and what precautions they can take to ensure their equipment stays in top shape.
The application contains fatty oils so a Nitrile sleeve should have been used rather than Natural Rubber which can react badly to oils.
Blistered Sleeve Caused from Chocolate Application – Temperature too hot.
Heating your Pinch valve is common, but overheating it in the process of using it alternative to its designated purpose can cause some serious damage. If your pinch valve has been designed and installed to deal with sand it cannot be used to pour out chocolate or heated materials that would damage the sleeve. It is always best to consult an expert before experimenting on something that can turn risky
Whenever a rubber sleeve is used on a vacuum application where too much pressure has been used
It has been reported to cause the sleeve to tear from the outside. This is to ensure the machine does not get damaged and acts as a failsafe. A key thing to note here would be to ensure that you are using the equipment correctly the post and pre use positions should be maintained allowing for the device not to get damaged too quickly or cause a tear like mentioned above.
Split sleeve caused from a foreign body or sharp object inside the media flow.
Another thing to look out for mainly would be the presence of foreign objects or items that do not belong in the processing procedure. A very key learning point here is to sift through all the material before the pinch valve is connected and made to work through with vacuum or pressure situations where the debris could possibly damage the equipment.
Pressure Control
Are you using the correct amount of line pressure for the product passing through the Pinch Valve?
AKO Pinch Valves have a limit to the amount of line pressure they can handle, this makes sure that a person does not overload the equipment and therefore does not cause damage to the equipment as well as the sleeve that would be stretched beyond its tensile capacity. Depending mainly on the type and quality of pinch valve you have installed in the machine, plus this line pressure tends to vary quite drastically. That explains why a tear would be formed so easily as just the variation quotient would be enough to cause that damage as well as the fact that if someone incorrectly runs the device it would suffer major damage mainly the valve and not just the sleeve either.
To protect yourselves from the hassle of going through each and every single valve, why don’t you call in the experts for a quick consultation session.
