What is Zero Process Downtime with Power Ultrasound?
Zero Process Downtime with Power Ultrasound stands as an innovative, high-power ultrasound solution designed specifically for industrial operations. Altum Technologies’ cutting‐edge approach uses power ultrasound to remove and prevent fouling and scaling from industrial equipment – think heat exchangers, evaporators, pipes, tanks, steam injectors, reactors and many more – without the need to stop production. This means that the cleaning process is seamlessly integrated into the operation, allowing manufacturers to avoid the usual downtime associated with manual cleaning or chemical treatments. In simple terms, it is a smart system that keeps processes running smoothly, efficiently and safely, while reducing environmental impacts. Using this external installation method, the power ultrasound system adapts to almost any liquid-carrying equipment without requiring major modifications.
Main Benefits of the Ultrasound Solution
The solution brings numerous advantages to industrial plants that want to maximize uptime and minimize maintenance hassles. Key benefits include:
- Increased uptime and output due to clean equipment
- No process disruptions
- Enhanced separation
- Lower CO2 emissions due to higher energy efficiency
- Less chemicals needed
- Lower water consumption
- Decreased maintenance needs
- No unnecessary stops
- Altum’s ultrasound does not disrupt the process
Industrial Challenges and Solutions
Fouling and scaling plague many industrial processes, forcing companies to schedule costly and unplanned shutdowns just to carry out daunting cleaning jobs. This not only leads to valuable lost production time but also requires the use of toxic cleaning chemicals and enormous amounts of water. The need to stop production to address these challenges results in inefficiencies and escalates energy consumption, thereby releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere. Through advanced ultrasound technology, this persistent problem is tackled head-on with a solution that efficiently and safely mitigates fouling issues. In essence, the system prevents the buildup from happening in the first place, ensuring that industrial operations remain at peak efficiency without compromises.
How Altum’s Technology Works
At the heart of the innovation lies the use of high-power ultrasound properties to clean without disrupting production lines. The ultrasound waves work to dislodge and prevent deposits in equipment, allowing operations to continue uninterrupted… This cleaning process is executed externally, meaning that the system is applied to the exterior surfaces of the equipment and does not require the disassembly or alterations of the existing machinery. As a result, there is no need for manual intervention during the operation, and production can go on as usual. Moreover, the optimized ultrasound adjustments are managed by professionals who ensure that the energy is used at its best, achieving maximum efficiency with almost no effort on the part of the production team.
Technology and Innovation Edge
The pioneering nature of Altum Technologies is in its unique application of software-guided power ultrasound—a breakthrough that positions the company as the first and only one in the world to offer such a solution. Introduced in 2016 from Helsinki, Finland, and backed by notable investors, including Lifeline Ventures, Maki.vc, and Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation Tekes (now Business Finland), the company has built a solid reputation for excellence. By externally installing the ultrasound system, Altum avoids any modifications to the equipment or process changes, making it possible to serve a wide variety of industrial settings with one universal method. It is a solution that not only maintains production continuity but also significantly reduces energy usage and chemical dependency.
Project Impact on SDGs
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Global Presence and Proven Results
Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, with an office based in Las Vegas, USA, Altum Technologies has demonstrated tangible results across various industries. For instance, one notable client, Ductor, experienced a dramatic decrease in operation downtime – from 2 hours per day down to merely 2 hours per month. In another impressive case, Mitsubishi Paper reported a 300% increase in the operation cycle length during black liquor evaporation processes. Additionally, an astounding 30 million MJ of energy has been saved annually, all achieved without the extra burden of steam use. These outcomes underscore the profound impact of implementing the power ultrasound solution, not only in terms of efficiency and productivity but also in addressing key environmental challenges. Though the language describing these improvements might be technical, it is hard to dispute the real-world benefits of a solution that fits so naturally into a continuously running industrial process.
