David BUICK (asker) Jan 12, 2010:

Thanks for contributions In the end I went with "propulsion" for "pousse" since I think this is talking about ways of moving materials through a system and wasn't convinced enough about the connotations of "flushing" in my context. I'm keeping it open just in case anyone has any further insights or my end client eventually gets back to me. Thank you all for your help!

Bourth (X) Jan 6, 2010:

Process water An article on "Process Water" at http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/uploadedFiles/Reso...
refers to three methods of cleaning pipes:

For piping, three methods find common use, including:
• slug rinsing
• air blowing
• “pigging”

It also says "For vessels, a ball that sprays water in all directions has historically been employed for washing" but I think this is a red herring.

Moreover, your text seems to be suggesting this balle method for conveying items as part of the process, no? Not for cleaning afterwards.

However, the section on "Transportation and Cleaning of Food Products"doesn not mention anything reminiscent of a ball.

Bourth (X) Jan 6, 2010:

For sewers it's known as a "sewer pill", though I doubt the same term, especially its first component, is said here.

mchd Jan 5, 2010:

http://www.aggregatepros.com/ parmi ces fabricants de "crushers" et les différentes opérations de "crushing", vous trouverez peut-être d'autres informations. J'ai également rencontré ces termes en broyage de céréales pour la récupération de fines.

Travelin Ann Jan 5, 2010:

Reference to ball pump in food processing http://www.foodprocessing-technology.com/contractors/process...

and lots of ghits for "water flushing" in food processing

Travelin Ann Jan 5, 2010:

http://www.lyonnaise-des-eaux.fr/developpement-durable/agir-...

a French-Spanish discussion on the same: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=371385

David BUICK (asker) Jan 5, 2010:

déchets -> flushing? I don't think I'm dealing with waste, but Françoise's entry did lead me to the word "flushing" and thus this (warning: sewage involved!) http://www.tpub.com/content/construction/14265/css/14265_187... which compares high-pressure flushing and a method using a ball. Hmm...

Travelin Ann Jan 5, 2010:

I found another link, for ice cream and sherbet manufacture, but the link seems to be broken.

David BUICK (asker) Jan 5, 2010:

Oooh, pictures! Thanks, Ann. My end client appears to be so paranoid about the information that they have removed all their pictures from the report, which does not help the hapless translator :( . Your link suggests it's a comparison of two bleed/cleaning mechnaisms of some sort, which would make sense in my context.

Françoise Vogel Jan 5, 2010:

Il pourrait s'agir de système de réduction de la consommation d'eau à propos d'évacuation des déchets?

Travelin Ann Jan 5, 2010:

@Eutychus I found this http://www.oenologie.u-bordeaux2.fr/images/pdf/expo_dno_pdf/... and it refers to "pousse à l'eau."
I worked in the food machinery industry for many years, but this one does not ring a bell.