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Lime Slurry

Lime is used in many wastewater treatment plants, where it is added to the influent to maintain a optimum pH level. Lime is normally stored as a dry powder, and mixed with water or additional chemicals to create a lime slurry that can be pumped through pipes and added to the waste stream as needed. Lime slurry is slightly abrasive, and can be quite corrosive depending upon the other chemicals involved.

Lime also has a tendency to buildup as scale inside pipes and valves. This scale can severely inhibit the operation of quarter-turn valves, and buildup will restrict flow. Valves also suffer the problem of dewatering, which happens at the point where pressure is shut off. The upstream pressure in the line ahead of the valve will actually force the liquid out of the lime, leaving a dry plug behind. This plug is hard enough to block to opening of a quarter turn valve, resulting in the use of "cheater bars" to open valves. Besides the increased effort to operates the valve, broken stems are the most common result.

A pinch valve is ideal for use on lime because the elastomer sleeve is flexible, and will not allow scale to collect on the walls of the valve. The shape of the valve changes as it opens and closes, breaking up solidified lime and allowing it to pass. There are also no cavities or dead spaces in which lime could accumulate, and the resiliency of the rubber allows a pinch valve to attain a tight seal even around hardened pieces of lime. Red Valve offers several elastomers to ensure the right chemical compatibility.