Equilibar is proud to offer sanitary valves and back pressure regulators (BPRs) with hygienic features for BioPharma and sanitary industrial applications. The Equilibar® FD Series BPRs are machined from stainless steel or Hastelloy and the Equilibar® SD Series BPRs are a single use design to accommodate the rapidly expanding requirements of the BioPharma industry.
Both valve series feature the same dome-loaded multiple orifice technology as all Equilibar patented products, delivering instantaneous control, frictionless operation, superior precision, and exceptionally wide flow rate ranges. They offer advantages for sanitary fluid control applications in consumer products and biopharmaceutical production.
FD SANITARY VALVES – PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGES
Traditional back pressure regulators use springs to gradually open up as the overpressure is used to compress the spring. This often results in significant inlet pressure loss with increases in process flow. Equilibar® sanitary back pressure regulators feature ultra-sensitive diaphragm-operated back pressure technology capable of controlling pressure with high precision over a wide range of flows. They fully open in less than 1% overpressure in most applications.
The graph to the right shows an example of the consistent performance of a 3/4” sanitary FD regulator with water.
SIMPLE COMPACT DESIGN
With only one moving part, FD sanitary regulators are easy to disassemble for maintenance, reassemble, and return to use quickly and easily. The compact design facilitates a simple process layout.
CIP / SIP COMPATIBILITY
The FD Series sanitary valves are made of SS316L stainless steel and contain USP Class VI diaphragms. The design is compatible with temperatures up to 135°C experienced during steam sterilization, and the valve’s wide working flow range allows one FD size to effectively control during high flow CIP rates as well as very low flow dosing rates. The video at the right shows how the FDO6 can keep precise pressure control across a wide range of flow rates. These sanitary valves have undergone comprehensive design and testing to have optimum drainability when oriented with the inlet down.
SMOOTH COMPUTER AUTOMATION
Equilibar FD sanitary back pressure regulators respond instantaneously to changes in flow or setpoint to maintain the desired inlet pressure. Because of its capacity to control within milliseconds, the FD Series is a perfect match for computer automated control. Paired with an electronic pilot regulator, the FD regulator may be connected to the process control system, and it is ready for automation.
Product Summary
Model | Inlet/Outlet | Max Pressure | Cv Range | Body Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2″ | 150 psig / 10 bar(g) | 1E-7 to 1.0 | SS316L; Hastelloy C; custom | |
| 3/4″ | 150 psig / 10 bar(g) | 1E-4 to 4.0 | SS316L; Hastelloy C; custom | |
| 1″ | 150 psig / 10 bar(g) | 1E-4 to 8.0 | SS316L; Hastelloy C; custom | |
| 1.5″ | 150 psig / 10 bar(g) | 1E-3 to 12 | SS316L; Hastelloy C; custom | |
| 2″ | 150 psig / 10 bar(g) | 1E-3 to 19 | SS316L; Hastelloy C; custom |
Application Spotlight – Biopharmaceutical filtration
The Equilibar® dome-loaded back pressure regulator (BPR) offers higher turndown ratio than other valves and can therefore provide precise control across a wide range of flow rates. This makes the Equilibar BPR a superior choice in traditional trans flow or cross flow filtration control.
In the schematic above, an Equilibar FD BPR is used in both the retentate and permeate lines at the exit of the trans flow filtration membrane. A setpoint is established on the dome of the BPR using an electro-pneumatic pilot regulator for computer automation. This allows the filtration system to be controlled using differential pressure (dP) mode – the pressure differential between the feed and retentate streams or by transmembrane pressure (TMP) mode – adjusts the retentate control valve to maintain constant TMP. Read more here.
Contact an application engineer to help select one of our sanitary back pressure regulators for your application.
Learn more about our back pressure regulator technology and how it works.
Video showing precision pressure control using an FDO6 valve across a wide flow range
