IRN-BRU maker caps compressed air losses

Bromsgrove, UK — Barr Soft Drinks, which makes IRN-BRU, Tizer and Orangina , has installed condensate drains from Beko to reduce its compressed air usage — a significant cost element for its manufacturing and bottling operation in Cumbernauld, near Glasgow.

The soft drinks firm selected the Bekomat 13 CO PN50 zero loss units to replace its existing timed solenoid drains on the outlets of the refrigerated dryers and on two air receivers in the compressor house.

The Beko drains employ a capacitive sensor to measure the level of condensate inside the bowl and a plunger operated pilot line. When condensate reaches a set level, a signal is sent to the solenoid valve to operate the plunger and close the line.

The system is designed to enable the pressure in the bowl to force the condensate out through the discharge port. An electronic system then calculates the discharge rate down to the minimum point on the sensor and determines the exact opening time required.

According to Beko, the design ensures that the valve will again be fully closed before any compressed air can escape. This, it claims, prevents energy wastage in the form of expensive compressed air and stops noise from escaping air occurs during operation.

The Bekomat drains employed at Barr are coated to protect against oil/ free or aggressive condensate and rated at 50 bar to withstand the high system pressure. The units also feature potential free alarm systems for remote alert in case of a failure.