Alfa Laval has released a new ThinkTop feature that fits single-seat or butterfly valves used as drain valves. Integrating the pulse seat clean feature leads to cleaning-in-place (CIP) liquid consumption savings of up to 95%. Drain valves, which comprise up to 20% of valves in a processing plant, are typically difficult and time-consuming to clean.

The ThinkTop mechanism is an automated valve-position feature that’s triggered by PLC signals and controlled by the company’s own sensing and control units. It allows for pulse cleaning, or short bursts that drive the cleaning process.

It opens and closes the seat quickly, which effectively removes residual dirt. This leads to faster, more rigorous cleaning.

“The ThinkTop pulse seat clean brings unheard-of savings in CIP liquid to process plant owners and operators compared to conventional PLC timer-controlled seat cleaning,” says René Stietz, Product Portfolio Manager, Valves and Automation, Alfa Laval. “Alfa Laval is the first and only valve automation solutions provider to deliver significant savings in CIP liquid for drain valves.”