In December 2020, the USDA Dairy grading branch evaluated the WYK-CIP diverter valve according to the “USDA Guidelines of the Sanitary Design and Fabrication of Dairy Processing Equipment” and issued an equipment acceptance certificate for the hygienic design of the 4-in. valve to Coperion. USDA equipment acceptance certificates for sizes 2.5-, 3-, 5-, and 6-in. are expected soon.

For equipment used in manufacturing processes of the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, the highest requirements in hygiene and purity apply. Furthermore, frequent product changes and difficult product characteristics require regular wet cleaning. If cleaning expenditures can be minimized, companies can save on time and costs. In addition, for many applications, diverter valves are often located in difficult-to-access points of the conveying or transfer line.

Coperion has now designed an easy-to-clean diverter valve that addresses these issues and fulfills the high USDA criteria regarding hygienic design. The diverter valve enables wet cleaning to fulfill required criteria especially in the food sector that come down to one thing: The diverter valve is absolutely clean and free of contamination after wet cleaning. The use of true CIP design and easy disassembly diverters greatly improves the overall cleanability and the required downtime for access/maintenance.

Throughout its inception, Coperion has continued to develop the WYK diverter valve based upon collective field experience with the following functions: During bulk material conveying, the conical rotor seals the conveying pipes to each other. During CIP (cleaning-in-place) the rotor is minimally pulled out of the housing and flushed by the cleaning fluid. Coperion designed and optimized the CIP-capable pipe sealing such that operation with even the finest powders is possible. The pneumatic drives are separated — for turning and pulling the rotor, respectively — so that the rotor is supported on both sides. Along with its compact design, the diverter valve offers an improved cast design with increased surface quality. All materials conform to food standards and the sealing materials are FDA approved. Different flange connections are available, such as tri-clamp connections.  

Coperion K-Tron Salina, Salina, KS 785-825-3884 www.coperion.com