Unique Mixproof Valve with ThinkTop®.

Concept

The exceptional concept of this mixproof valve is characterized by excellent unmatched flexibility - yet still being very simple. The reliable modular design gives you the perfect valve for your exact needs in all mixproof operations with two different products flowing through one valve. Unique fits to your process!

The unique quality of this mixproof valve is the system of combining specific features and functions from a great variety of options offered. It is exceptional to the world of mixproof valves, yet providing minimal service and maintenance.

Working Principle

Unique is remote-controlled by means of compressed air. The valve is a normally closed (NC) valve.
The valve has two independent plug seals, forming a leakage chamber between them under atmospheric pressure during every working condition. In case of rare accidental leaking of product, this will flow into the leakage chamber and be discharged through the leakage outlet. When the valve is open, the leakage chamber is closed. The product can then flow from one line to the other.
The valve can be cleaned and water hammer protected to any level according to the needs in the specific process (see fig. 2). There is virtually no spillage of product when operating the valve.

SpiralClean

The Unique concept offers the Alfa Laval SpiralClean system to clean the upper and lower balanced plugs and leakage chamber, helping to meet the high hygienic standards of the sanitary flow industry. The system cleans more efficiently, uses less cleaning fluid by ensuring that a directional flow of CIP fluid reaches all the surfaces in much less time than with conventional systems. All external CIP systems for Unique includes the SpiralClean design as standard. Another benefit from the SpiralClean system is that it allows the Unique Mixproof valve to run under aseptic-like conditions. If you apply steam to the CIP pipes, this will form a steam barrier to the atmosphere.

Options

The concept of Unique is centering round the customer's needs and provides modern tailor-made solutions which are secured for the future. The customer gets exactly what he needs and only that. Only Alfa Laval offers the possibility of not choosing unnecessary features and functions, thus avoiding problems caused by a non-adapted product. The Unique Mixproof Valve is designed with user flexibility in mind. The customer can choose additional options as required individually; for example higher hygiene demands or higher resistance against physically tough conditions. Please see fig. 2 next page for a graphic overview of the modularity of this Unique Mixproof Valve.

The drawing below gives an overview of all options when choosing the valve to fit your process, thus demonstrating the actual flexibility of the Unique Mixproof Valve. You can either choose these directly or add additional features ensuring that the valve suits your specific needs.

The Unique concept offers balanced and unbalanced plugs, seat lift, CIP for the plugs and leakage chambers and any combination in between.

Fig. 2. Maximum flexibility option sheet.

Size flexibility
Balancing flexibility		Hygienic flexibility

Flexible Design Features

• - Excellent flexibility - though simple.
• - Adaption to all working conditions by combining components.
• - Logically structured maintenance and valve assembly.
• - Adaption and/or up-/downgrading on site.
  • - Easy trouble-shooting.
  • - Secured for future changes in working conditions.

Selection guide

To assist you in the selection we have included some standard configurations:

• - Unique Basic
• - Unique SeatClean
• - Unique HighClean
• - Unique UltraClean

You can either choose these directly or add additional features ensuring that the valve suits your specific needs.

Unique Basic has the basic components, providing significant safety and leakage detection.

• - Actuator without seatlift.
• - Unbalanced plugs.
• - No SpiralClean of leakage chamber or plugs.

Unique SeatClean meets the typical demands of a process valve in the food and drink industry. It is also suitable for products with solids. Cleaning of the plugs and seats are performed by means of seatlift during normal cleaning procedure. This valve also includes a balanced lower plug that eliminates the risk of mixing products by pressure shock or when the pressure in the pipe is high. Its features are:

• - Actuator with seat lift integrated.
• - Balanced lower plug, Unbalanced upper plug.
• - No SpiralClean of leakage chamber or plugs.

Unique SeatClean is the choice for standard solutions.

• - Unique Basic
• - Unique SeatClean
• - Unique HighClean
• - Unique UltraClean

Unique HighCleanis sure to meet your processing needs when dealing with sticky products or if no recontamination can be accepted at all, as the valve can be provided with SpiralClean both around spindles and in leakage chamber. The valve is characterized by:

• - Actuator without seatlift integrated.
• - Balanced lower and upper plug.
• - SpiralClean of leakage chamber as well as of upper and lower plug.

With balanced plugs, the configuration of this valve protects against high pressure and water hammer effect.

Unique UltraClean meets the highest demands for hygienic processing. It has:

• - Actuator with seat lift integrated.
• - Balanced lower and upper plug.
• - SpiralClean of leakage chamber, upper and lower plug.

During the cleaning process, the plugs are lifted independently to ensure cleaning of plugs and seats together with their corresponding pipe. At the same time or separately the leakage chamber and balanced plugs are cleaned with our SpiralClean system. The Unique UltraClean also protects against high pressure and water hammer effect. It has few product wetted seals and allows no product spillage during operation. The Unique UltraClean mixproof valve is the choice for solutions requiring the highest level of hygiene. The UltraClean is suitable for applications with sticky products, products with high content of solids or applications where "close to aseptic conditions" is wanted.

Technical Data

Materials

Options

• - For Control & Indication of both upper and lower seat lift as well as main movement, please refer to index in Product Catalogue.
• - 3A (Sanitary Standard) labelling on request.

Actuator

STD: Normal size of actuator
STD*: Normal size actuator if lower plug is UNBALANCED
OP: Alternative size of actuator (NB: For choice and performance of optional actuators please contact Alfa Laval or refer to the CAS Configurator).

1 BS = Basic spring
2 SS = Strong spring

Radial Seat Diameter

Pressure drop/capacity diagrams

Fig. 3.	Pressure drop/capacity diagram, upper body.
	Full lines: Balanced upper plug.
	Dotted lines: Unbalanced upper plug.

Fig. 4.	Pressure drop/capacity diagram, lower body, balanced and unbalanced lower plugs.

Fig. 5.	Pressure drop/capacity diagram, between bodies.
	Full lines: Balanced.
	Dotted lines: Unbalanced.

Note! For the diagrams the following applies:

• - Medium: Water (20°C).
• - Measurement: In accordance with VDI 2173.

Example to determine pressure drop:

Result:

Fig.6	Pressure drop/capacity diagram, through bodies DN 125, DN 150, Sch. 5 5”, Sch. 5 6”.
	A: Balanced upper plug
	B: Unbalanced upper plug
	C: Balanced and unbalanced lower plug.

Fig.7	Pressure drop/capacity diagram between bodies.
	Balanced and unbalanced plugs, DN 125, DN 150, Sch. 5 5”, Sch. 5 6”.

Note!

* For the A-measure if different upper/lower body sizes, please refer to CAS configurator or contact Alfa Laval.

** The measure C can always be calculated by the formula C = ½IDupper + ½IDlower + 26 mm.

Fig. 8. Details of Unique Mixproof Valve.

Note for mixed bodies:

• - The seat always applies to the smallest valve body.
• - Dimension B is equal with the largest valve body size.

Valve body combinations