Application Report Flensburg Brewery - Sliding gate valves are firm favourites in Flensburg Brewery's supplier list0 pages

Technical article

Ingolstadt, May 2011
Sliding gate valves are firm favourites in Flensburg Brewery's supplier list

Convincing in all respects
"When a control valve explodes in your face due

the individual parts flew everywhere in the plant. In his

to condensate or water hammering, it really

search for alternatives that would be fit for the future,

makes you think," says Lutz Riedel, machine

the weight of a control valve would be another

supervisor at Flensburg Brewery. This happened

important criterion in addition to its safety. "Many control

to him twenty years ago, upon which he started

valves available in the marketplace are so heavy, for

looking for safe alternatives. And he discovered

example in the DN 100 size that we use most commonly

these in the shape of Schubert & Salzer Control

that you can only handle them with lifting gear and at

Systems' sliding gate valves. He began using

least two people," Riedel continued. "So, for us these

them as standard in his operations because he

days, that aspect is absolutely crucial"

was persuaded not only by the high degree of
safety but also due to their compactness, easy

Riedel came across Schubert & Salzer Control

handling and maintenance.

System's sliding gate technology, finding that it
provided the best answer to his requirements for a

The abbreviation "Flens" stands for the pilsner beer

new solution. This control valve is distinguished by

produced by Flensburger Brauerei Emil Petersen GmbH

its uniquely constructed functional unit, consisting

und Co. KG and is an internationally recognised term

simply of two slotted discs sliding against each other

for premium beer. But it is not only the "Flasch Flens"

and forming a seal. One of the discs, a seal plate

(Flens bottle) that has earned it its worldwide reputation,

permanently secured in the body at right angles to

but also the "Bölkstoff" brand, a light, bottom-fermented

the direction of flow, has a number of transverse

lager, featuring the cartoon character Werner, that has

slots. The second disc with the same slot

practically become a cult drink and not just among the

arrangement is moved vertically against the first,

biking community. The privately-owned brewery,

thus changing the flow cross section. The pressure

founded in Flensburg in 1888, today brews a wide variety

difference acting on the moving disc forces it against

of beers in addition to these two brands. Annual

the fixed disc. This operating principle also has a self-

production is around 500,000 hectolitres.

lapping effect by the moving seal disc. This surfaceto-surface seal is therefore much less delicate than

Here, as in all breweries, steam plays a preeminent

a ring seal found commonly in globe valves. As a

role as the main operating medium. Riedel experienced

result, sliding gate control valves by their very nature

physically just how critical steam can be when a globe

are extremely compact, comparatively light and thus

steam valve burst as a result of water hammering and

easy to handle.

Technical article: Convincing in all respects

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