AKO UK has been working alongside Bio Collectors Ltd by supplying their soft seated control valve products into a unique environmentally friendly food waste recycling centre. The recycled waste plant is being built with high quality components to reduce downtime, and where possible components that use less energy.
The plant uses an innovative (wet) in-vessel aerobic process known as 3rd generation ATAD (Accelerated Thermophillic Aerobic Design), generating temperatures of up to 80degreesC and completely pasteurising and treating the food waste in as little as 72 hours. The Bio Collectors process and location provides several distinct advantages over the usual in-vessel (IVC) and traditional composting methods. They are:
– Small operating footprint (approx 35,000sq/ft)
– Rapid process times
– Reduced travelling times
– Cost effective alternative to landfill
– Cost effective alternative to ICV and AD processing
– Energy efficient and low carbon footprint
As pressures increase on the food service industry, supermarkets and Local Authorities to recycle of more food waste, many supermarkets are looking for alternatives to landfill, but find they have to travel considerable distances to achieve their goals.
The Bio Collectors ATAD system using the soft seated control valve with a free flow is designed to accept both loose food waste from the catering industry and packaged waste from food retail outlets. Many composting processes can only take a small percentage of food waste as the daily intake in relation to garden waste; the Bio Collectors ATAD system uses a special process to take organic liquids and food waste to produce a high quality fertilizer ready for use by the farming community.
In addition to the benefits stated above the plant, by way of output, manufactures high grade nutrient rich fertiliser. This can be readily used in agriculture as an alternative to fossil fuel based fertilisers.
How the AKO soft seated control valve benefits the bio waste system:
Meanwhile, AKO UK’s soft seated control valves have proven to be a benefit to this industry, by assisting and controlling the flow of waste, thus handling the abrasive product with ease. The AKO Soft Seated Control Valve uses no mechanical or hydraulic parts, unlike other hydraulic valves that could potentially leak oil or chemicals into the environment. The AKO Soft Seated Control Valves used by Bio Collectors Ltd within the waste recycling plant are all encased in an aluminium body, an element which is remarkable for its ability to resist corrosion due to the phenomenon of passivation and for the low density of the aluminium. The AKO Soft Seated Control Valve is also lightweight, durable, and has excellent corrosion resistance. In addition to this, the aluminium body of the AKO Soft Seated Control Valve is 100% recyclable without any loss of its natural qualities.
As well as the recycled raw waste product, the only element that will be flowing through the AKO Soft Seated Control Valve is dry air, causing no damages to the environment and requiring less energy.
Working together to push an environmental commitment, AKO UK and Bio Collectors Ltd have developed an outstanding system that is environmentally friendly and efficient. With Bio Collectors unique environmental solution for the ever growing food waste problem, AKO UK is assisting by supplying the complete solution for conveying and controlling the movement of the bulk materials and liquids.
Soft seated control valve simplicity
Soft Seated Control Valves have been used for years in all abrasive applications. Due to the sleeve technology, clear bore and simplicity of the valve, the life in certain applications can be up to 6 times longer than any other traditional valves.
Simple maintenance with the AKO Soft Seated Control Valve not only puts it streets ahead of the ‘traditional’ valves, but also other valves with a pinching rubber sleeve on the market. Replacing only the sleeve means a fraction of the maintenance cost compared with other types of valves.
Quality is the key to this system using quality manufactured components readily available with large stocks in the UK.
For further information or a quotation from AKO for any of their bulk material handling pinch valves, please visit soft seated control valves.