Design of components for High Flows

Sammanfattning: High-pressure-processing (HPP) is a method used to extend shelf life of foods and beverages. The process subdues the products to pressures of up to 6000 bar, which deactivates food pathogens and spoilage enzymes in just a few minutes, while maintaining the quality of the food. To achieve the necessary operating conditions, HPP requires specialized machinery and equipment. During a cycle, the decompression stage is vital to ensure that pressure is safely relieved from 6000 bar to atmospheric pressure (~1 bar). To ensure that decompression is controlled successfully, the system uses a decompression valve. The valve prevents the water medium from leaking out during holding stage and safely relieves pressure after finished cycle. Due to intense operating conditions, the valve is subject to tough operating conditions, leading to cavitation and wear on critical components. To ensure that the valve can sustain these conditions, a limitation to placement and flow is present today. This thesis work is formulated to describe the development of a new decompression valve. The main goal of the project is to develop an improved design of the decompression valve which mitigates cavitation and wear on critical components, accommodates for a higher flow, and facilitates easy maintenance. A prototype is designed and validated through theoretical calculations, thus ensuring successful operation for the requirements set by stakeholders Quintus Technologies. The developed prototype needs to be further validated through simulations or physical testing to ensure successful operation.