Arla benefits from air distribution
Colman has tackled air distribution requirements for Arla Foods, the UK’s leading dairy company.
Colman has already supplied a mix of equipment including REPUS units and stainless steel grilles in the process, raw milk and pasteurising rooms, in addition to FCU’s for the administration building as part of Phase 1.
This latest contract is part of Arla’s dairy expansion providing it with one of the most technologically advanced dairies in Europe. Working in close partnership with Leeds contractors NG Bailey, Colman designed an efficient method of producing and maintaining indoor air quality that addresses environmental criteria without compromising performance and functionality. Aesthetic looks and hygiene were major criteria in raw milk areas where grilles were to be installed.
The contract required a large number of stainless steel grilles and diffusers for general areas throughout the facility. The order included 25 Grade 316 stainless steel double deflection grilles and 10 specially designed REPUS stainless steel displacement units to supply high volumes of conditioned air into high hygiene areas. To enable easy cleaning the REPUS units are raised from the floor.
Eight surface mounted four-way louvre faced diffusers were included in the specifications along with 23 Grade 316 stainless steel egg crate grilles and numerous unlined plenum boxes and unlined stainless steel plenum boxes. Multiple spigots were included on the double deflection/egg crate grilles due to the extremely high air volumes and all volume control dampers and plenum boxes have been galvanised except where stainless steel was required.
The stainless steel grilles are used throughout the homogenising, product rooms, and other raw milk areas. Hygiene in such environments is paramount with a need to be able to wash down equipment easily. Standard grilles were also installed in the office areas.
Due to the vastness of the filling and bottling halls where there are ten lines in operation, displacement ventilation was the most suitable and desirable solution.
In the dairy halls are Colman’s REPUS VRC quarter round corner panels and RAC half round/bow shaped panels and a KDC three-way spread floor-mounted panel delivering up to 5,000l/s from a single panel meeting the requirements for higher airflows. All the REPUS units are stainless steel with reinforced fronts. They deliver improved air quality and lower temperatures in occupied areas than traditional systems and provide a constant air distribution over the entire face area without risks of draughts.