Wertheim, 10 December 2024 – Chlorine gas plays a key role in the disinfection of drinking and industrial water. However, handling the chemical can pose considerable health risks – from irritation of the eyes to fatal pulmonary oedema. To further improve occupational safety during use, Lutz-Jesco has developed the VakuStop – a vacuum regulator for dosing systems that is equipped with an emergency stop function to prevent uncontrolled chlorine gas leaks directly at the chlorine gas tank in the event of an emergency. The new product will be on display from 11 to 14 March 2025 at the Aquatech 2025 water technology trade fair in Amsterdam (Hall 1, Stand 01.244). Lutz-Jesco will also be presenting dosing pumps from the Memdos Smart series for dosing aggressive chemicals as well as electrolysis systems from the Easychlorgen and Minichlorgen series, which safely produce the disinfectant sodium hypochlorite from commercially available salt.
The new VakuStop is based on the C2213/14 vacuum regulator, which Lutz-Jesco has upgraded by adding an automatic safety valve. The system is designed as a compact device that can be fitted to the valve of a chlorine gas tank in just a few simple steps. It can also be connected to a gas warning device or the PLUS safety blow-off valve. In normal operation, the vacuum regulator enables the controlled dosing of up to 10 kg of chlorine gas (CI2) per hour into the piping system provided that there is a sufficient vacuum in the dosing line. If the negative pressure drops, for example due to a leakage, the chlorine supply is automatically interrupted. If chlorine gas escapes due to a defect in the dosing system, the electric safety valve of the VakuStop closes immediately, preventing any further escape of gas. This emergency-off function is also triggered in the event of a chlorine alarm, a cable break, if overpressure is detected or if the pushbutton is actuated. In these cases, a stop lever clearly protrudes from the housing as an indicator to signal the interruption. The valve only opens again when an employee operates the lever manually after eliminating the cause of the fault. “Chlorine gas can present a serious risk to human health – from irritation of the eyes and skin to life-threatening pulmonary oedema. With the new VakuStop, we are helping to minimise the risks involved in handling chlorine gas and further improve occupational safety in the industry,” says Heinz Lutz, CEO of Lutz Holding GmbH.
Lutz-Jesco offers the new VakuStop as part of a comprehensive safety system to increase the safety of larger chlorine gas systems. The centrepiece is a control unit that connects to a gas warning device and up to twelve VakuStops. In the event of a chlorine alarm, the control unit can close all twelve safety valves simultaneously – even during a power failure. The control unit is available with an optional integrated uninterrupted power supply (UPS). This uses twelve safety valves to guarantee safety at full loads.
Memdos Smart diaphragm dosing pump for low-pulsation dosing of aggressive chemicals for water treatment
Lutz-Jesco will also present diaphragm dosing pumps from the Memdos Smart series at Aquatech 2025. They enable low-pulsation dosing of aggressive chemicals for water treatment and are powered by a drive with a stepper motor controlled by a microprocessor, which allows asynchronous running. This enables operation of the motor at a higher speed during priming, thereby creating negative pressure which draws in the liquid more quickly. As a result, the vacuum phase, a dead time with standard motors, is reduced to a minimum. After priming, the stepper motor can then operate at a slower speed to expel the fluid in a controlled and even manner without an abrupt increase in pressure. “The stepper motor enables an almost constant supply stream, which permits the gentle, low-pulsation dosing of aggressive chemicals – without pressure peaks and with minimised dead time,” says Steffen Roth, Head of Development at Lutz-Jesco GmbH. “We firmly believe that stepper motor-driven diaphragm dosing pumps will dominate the market in the future when it comes to high-precision and reproducible industrial dosing tasks.” The Memdos Smart is available in eight performance levels – with delivery rates between two and 180 litres per hour. The pump is controlled from an intuitive 3.5-inch touch display, which can also be integrated into a higher-level control system. “In the era of Industry 4.0, this enables seamless integration of the dosing pump into industrial automation systems.“
An alternative to commercially available chlorine products for water treatment: electrolysis systems generate disinfectant in-situ from commercially available salt
Lutz-Jesco will also exhibit two alternatives to standard chlorine products for water disinfection at Aquatech 2025: the Easychlorgen and Minichlorgen electrolysis systems. They produce the disinfectant sodium hypochlorite from commercially available salt – directly at the point of use. “Using salt as a starting substance is much safer than handling concentrated sodium hypochlorite solution, calcium hypochlorite or chlorine gas,” says Thomas Beutel, an expert in swimming pool technology and the design of technical dosing systems at Lutz-Jesco GmbH. “This significantly reduces the need for personnel to handle hazardous substances, which not only has considerable benefits for occupational safety but also prevents accidents.” The Easychlorgen is available with chlorine capacities of 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 g/h, the Minichlorgen with capacities of 30, 60 and 90 g/h.
About Lutz Holding GmbH
Lutz Holding GmbH has stood for professional fluid management since 1954. The group of companies unites internationally active companies in pump technology as well as water treatment and disinfection and is represented by 13 subsidiaries and agencies in over 80 countries worldwide. The group includes Lutz Pumpen GmbH in Wertheim, Lutz-Jesco GmbH in Wedemark and Lutz-Jesco Suisse SA in Couvet, Switzerland. The portfolio includes pumps, systems and accessories for dosing, pumping, emptying and mixing processes for a wide range of fluids. Lutz Group products are used in numerous sectors, including the chemical industry, food industry, automotive production, water and waste water treatment and the paint and coatings industry.
