The Armfield Fluid Friction Measurements unit provides facilities for the detailed study of fluid friction head losses which occur when an incompressible fluid flows through pipes, fittings and flow metering devices. The unit is designed for use with the Armfield F1-10 Hydraulics bench.

The Armfield Hydraulics Bench (F1-10) and accessories have long been the benchmark used in fluid mechanics teaching laboratories. The comprehensive range of equipment can covers all aspects of the teaching of hydraulics in a safe, visual and easy-to-understand way, backed up by first-class teaching materials. This range of equipment has now been extended and reinforced with an integrated range of hydrostatics teaching accessories together with some new hydraulics products. Thus the complete curriculum can be covered with this attractive range of products. The F1-10 is designed as a portable and self-contained service module for the entire range of F1 accessories and a few other accessories as well such as C6MKII and S16. Each accessory is supplied as a complete piece of equipment, needing no additional service items other than the Hydraulics Bench. When coupled to the bench they are immediately ready for use.

Armfield’s range of internal combustion engines encompasses automotive and aviation power units, each one mounted on a small test bed and providing a complete engine learning system. Each system comes with LabVIEW™ based ArmSoft™ software, which can be used to run the engine from a personal computer. The software incorporates a full range of facilities.

The Armfield FT102X miniature-scale carbonator enables precise and flexible carbonation and filling in the laboratory, dramatically improving the speed with which new products can be developed. The ability to establish precise and reproducible parameters when carbonating in the laboratory can dramatically improve the speed with which new products can be developed.

Armfield FT140 Multipurpose Mixing Vessels are designed and constructed using high-quality hygienic industry standard materials. These tanks are available in three models in varying configurations (see table) and are available in 50l and 100l volumes. All three models have an internal surface made of AISI 316 stainless steel.

The FT174X is a modular HTST/UHT processing system designed to treat products at flow rates of 12-40 l/hr or up to 60 l/hr for water (or similar low viscosity products). Standard modules for direct heating (steam injection) or indirect heating (using tubular and/or plate heat exchangers), aseptic processing, upstream or downstream homogenisation and additional chilling are available. These, along with many other options, enable multiple modules to be included in the same system, giving high process adaptability by reconfiguration of flexible product hoses, using quick-release connections. The sterilisation options enable it to be linked to an Armfield sterile filling bench to produce aseptic product, even when using long holding tubes and/or downstream homogenisation. As with all Armfield systems, it comes with hygienic fittings throughout as standard, it is easy to clean and very flexible in use. The touchscreen control panel makes it extremely user friendly to configure and monitor processing parameters. The operator is prompted at every stage whenever intervention is required.

The costs incurred by the length of time taken, the large quantities of raw materials required and the interruption of the production process mean it is disadvantageous to test new products using full-scale production equipment. The Armfield evaporator processes samples as small as two litres under conditions identical to those in production, sufficient to reveal the effect of heating on any ingredients newly introduced to the recipe. As well as investigation of the effect on organoleptic and physico-chemical properties, the equipment can be used to prepare product for taste trials on a daily basis to ensure the quality of incoming raw material is consistent.