Valve for Farming Slurry on Anaerobic Digester

A farming company running a dairy farm are using AKO Pinch Valves for farming slurry, product code VMC80.03X.50G.30LX, as part of a highly focused energy efficient plant.

The farm runs a diary herd of 125 cattle with an additional 105 youngstock, and an Aerobic Digester producing energy for the farm and the grid.

The farm aims to use carbon neutral fuel wherever possible. The anaerobic digester has a 800 cubic metre tank, recycling a trio of 7 tonnes of nutrient rich cattle manure, 8 tonnes of maize silage and whey from the cheese making every day. As well as electrical generation, enough heat energy is produced to run their cheese factory, heat the farmhouse, office and dairy water as well as the grain dryer and workers dwellings.

Pinch Valve used within this application: VMC80.03X.50G.30LX

VMC model, air operated, aluminium body, stainless steel tri-clamp end connections, natural rubber sleeve.

The focus on energy efficiency has been rolled out to the equipment used, which is why the farm owner chose to use a pinch valve for the farming slurry. He told us:

Media passing through the valve: Slurry – contents of anaerobic digester. Total solids between 7.5 and 9.5%.

Temperature of media: 39-41’C

Pressure of media: 0.9 bar

Position of valve: Between digester tank and feed hopper, horizontally after a pneumatic knife safety valve.

The pinch valve is normally closed.

Amount of cycles per day: 4800

Amount of air used to close the valve for farming slurry: 2 bar (about 1 bar above fluid pressure)

The material from the digester is separated into solid and liquid components prior to storage and spreading. The farming slurry is stored in two separate slurry lagoons, one of which is located in the yard of the farm, the other is filled via underground irrigation main. To reduce the need for road haulage and soil compaction, the slurry is pumped electrically from one lagoon to the other. The farming slurry is mixed in the digester for 50 days prior to reaching the lagoon. This creates a very consistent product.

The farm owner decided to use pinch valves for farming slurry on site due to slow operation and wear on previously installed actuated knife valves. He also experienced wear on actuated ball valves with no repair possible.

The natural rubber sleeve inside the valve for farming slurry (product code M080.03X) is changed approximately every 9 months.

The valve is operated by a solenoid valve and adjustable air regular. See more pinch valve accessories here.

One more actuated ball valve is currently in use on site, which the farm owner plans to replace with a pinch valve when it wears out.