The need for ATEX-rated devices in distilleries

Working in a distillery is about as close to nirvana as we can imagine. Imagine making your favourite tipple for a living. As idyllic as that sounds, you can bet our romanticised view of distillery life is almost certainly a ‘cup half full’ kind of fantasy. Because this line of work is not without its dangers. Chief amongst them is the constant threat of explosion that comes with handling highly combustible fluids and vapours.

Bürkert has devised a cutting edge solution to the challenge of flow metering in potentially explosive atmospheres with the launch of their new ATEX-rated Type 8098 FLOWave flowmeter. This impressive new device takes the laudable technology of the original Bürkert FLOWave and elevates it to a whole new level of safety and functionality.

PIF reports on why this latest version of Bürkert’s flagship flowmeter is bound to raise cheers from distillers everywhere.

The inherent risks of distilling

The whisky industry is a prime example of the day-to-day hazards of distilling. The explosion risks associated with storing casks of maturing whisky are on a par with those in the petrochemical industry. Many whisky distilleries are considered Upper Tier sites according to the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations and their warehouses are classified as Zone 2 hazardous areas. The so-called “Angels’ Share” of airborne evaporated whisky is a particular culprit for creating potentially explosive atmospheres.

With such an immediate risk to man and machine to contend with on a daily basis, it almost goes without saying (but we’re going to anyway!) that distilleries are beholden to install the safest, most reliable equipment to safeguard their personnel, premises and profitable end products. That means investing in equipment that fully complies with Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (DSEAR) and ATEX directives.

New ATEX-rated Bürkert FLOWave

When it comes to flow metering in potentially explosive environments, Bürkert has the ideal solution. Because the latest iteration of their ground-breaking Type 8098 FLOWave SAW flowmeter is now certified for use in ATEX Zone 2. ATEX compliance has been achieved in no small thanks to ATEX-compliant cable glands, M12 plugs and a pressure balancing element. All of which make the new ATEX-rated FLOWave a tantalising prospect for distillers.

Let’s not forget the impressive performance capabilities of the Bürkert FLOWave quite aside from those all-important ATEX approvals. We’re talking unique Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) flow measurement technology and a single measurement tube body free of any wetted parts and constructed from stainless steel. All of which amount to an incredibly hygienic flow metering solution with zero pressure drop. Not to mention an intuitive 2.4-inch graphic interface and simple integration with existing field bus systems, thanks to Bürkert’s Efficient Device Integration Platform (EDIP).

A game-changing flowmeter for alcohol producers

“The new ATEX-rated Type 8098 FLOWave builds on the success of the original FLOWave and takes it to a whole new level of functionality for distilleries”, said Kieran Bennett, Field Segment Manager .hygienic - Food and Beverage. “True to form, Bürkert has not stood still with what is already a highly accomplished flowmeter product. We’ve innovated further to broaden the scope and appeal of the Type 8098 to meet the specific processing challenges of the distilling industry. This is a game-changing flowmeter for alcohol producers”.

The Type 8098 Bürkert FLOWave is one of those rare products that you can legitimately label “revolutionary”. As well as the many aforementioned benefits, this impressive flowmeter also boasts a compact and lightweight envelope that is CIP/SIP capable, modular and requires minimal energy consumption or maintenance. With this next generation ATEX-rated model finally hitting the market, the next wave of Bürkert FLOWave flowmeters looks likely to take the distilling world by storm. We’ll drink to that!

For more information, please contact Bürkert today.