ISL Cone Valve Technology - Food Processing Powder Handling, Process Control, and Powder and Particulate Cone-Valve Technology

Ivan Semenenko Limited (ISL) is an ISO9001 registered firm for the provision of bulk material, powder handling, and process control solutions, and is synonymous with cone-valve technology, which is in extensive use worldwide in the food manufacturing industry

ISL cone-valve technology provides clean, trouble free, total discharge of powder and particulate bulk solids from Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers (FIBCs), hoppers, sacks and silos, enabling accurate dosing control to process or packing.

Industries now demand cleaner working areas and less product damage, and recent ISL installations in the food production sector have addressed these issues. Whether using the new generation of ISL patented 'rolling seal' actuators, or a selection from our extensive range of cone valves, ISL has the cone-valve technology to ensure hygiene and product safety.

ISL FOOD PROCESSING CONE-VALVE TECHNOLOGY

The use of a cone-valve to generate and control the flow of powders and particulates was first established by Ivan Semenenko with the patenting of his concept in 1979. The original system – with minor design changes – is still in use worldwide, but becoming sidelined due to design complexity and a difficulty in meeting hygiene standards.

Since the setting up of ISL in 1998, a series of simpler cone-valve actuators has been developed, culminating in the patented 'rolling seal' actuator, which has a design simplicity and efficiency comparing most favourably with the operation of pre-ISL cone valves.

FOOD PROCESSING POWDER HANDLING, PROCESS CONTROL, AND POWDER AND PARTICULATE FLOW-CONTROL

The 'rolling seal' actuator, together with a transducer, provides high-accuracy, gravimetric powder handling, process control, and powder and particulate flow-control, and also allows – if required – an accurate weighing capability of stored products into further process or final packing. The key attributes of the 'rolling seal' discharge station are:

• Fast response actuation, allowing fine control of product flow
• No flow restriction
• Hygienic design, manufactured from a handful of components
• Ease of maintenance and cleaning
• Two to three-minute remove and replace for seal and covers
• Two-year guarantee on the life of the rolling seal

HIGH CONTAINMENT FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY IBCS

All processing sectors are challenging their equipment suppliers to reduce Operator Exposure Levels (OELs). ISL has supplied specific equipment for zero omissions, and its standard range of valves and discharge stations are designed to better current food industry industry OEL guidelines.

IMPROVE PROCESS CONTROL WITH THE GRANULAR PRODUCTS VALVE

Derived from the ISL tablet valve, the granular products valve solves the process control problems of product damage, leakage and flow control associated with the transfer of friable particulates and granules from IBCs and day bins. .

These process control problems are usually caused by the limitations of the valve styles traditionally used – butterfly, gate, iris and traditional cone valves – but the innovative design of the tablet valve, which is based on ISL's twin-cone technology, provides the perfect solution. .

The key to the valve operation is the ability to seal both valves totally but sequentially, with the flexible cover on the upper cone valve sealing first to stop product flow; the upper cone next, to prevent any leakage; and the lower valve last, to create a total seal. .

FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY CONE-VALVE SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS

ISL also supplies enhancements for other cone-valve systems.

FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY BIG BAG DISCHARGE EQUIPMENT

ISL has now taken cone-valve technology beyond the IBC with yet another unique development in bulk bag discharge and dosing systems: their 'big bag bin.'

This enables the FIBCs (bulk bag) to be used directly in process with dust containment, batch and continuous weighing direct from the FIBC, and also has the unique ability to take a partly-empty bulk bag off process without untying or retying of the outlet, or fitting of additional components to the outlet sock, thus maintaining product containment.