Pump solves buildup problems – jacketed pump housing from Fristam Pumps Inc – Applied Technology
Jacketed pump housing eliminates crystallization, solidification
Many products require high temperatures throughout processing to keep solids in solution. Yet centrifugal processing pumps alone have no way of maintaining these temperatures. As product passes through the pump, contact with the relatively cold pump housing cools the product, resulting in crystallization and solidification.
This problem has plagued processing companies whose products are sensitive to fouling and solidification, resulting in extended downtime for cleaning and higher energy costs. Many have either absorbed or passed on to customers the considerable additional production costs.
Whey concentrate made easy
Steve Dotson, plant manager for Associated Milk Producers Inc.s (AMPI) Stephenville, Texas, facility reports on one solution that’s saving his company a lot of money. The plant uses an evaporator to concentrate whey to 52 percent solids prior to its entry into crystallization storage.
In the final stage of the evaporator system, the whey enters a flash chamber where the temperature is intended to reach 95 [degrees] F in preparation for discharge to crystallizer tanks. In order to keep product moving through the flash cooler removal pump and avoid lactose crystallization, the product temperature is elevated to 120 [degrees] F.
Still, AMPI was experiencing extensive problems with crystallization of lactose within the unheated pump housing. This led to frequent downtime, including manually tearing down and cleaning the pump. The crystallization of the lactose could be severe enough within the pump housing to generate fouling between the impeller and housing, thus causing the motor to overheat and the evaporator to shut down completely.
To solve these problems, AMPI installed a jacketed pump from Fristam Pumps Inc., Middleton, Wis., to be used as the flash cooler removal pump.
“Before using the jacketed pump we had to disassemble and clean the pump at least once, sometimes twice a day,” says Dotson. “Since installation of the jacketed pump, we have not had to disassemble the pump other than for routine sanitation.
“We have been able to reduce processing temperatures about 25 degrees, thus saving energy and improving product quality,” Dotson adds. “By entering the crystallization storage process 25 degrees cooler, we are also saving on energy costs.”
Trouble-free by design
Larry King, territory sales manager for Fristam Pumps, calls this “a simple, low-cost solution to a longstanding problem.
“Our engineers designed a chamber behind the pump housing so hot water or steam can run against the back of the housing,” Icing explains. “This eliminates the temperature difference between the pumped product and the pump housing. Solids will stay in solution and not build up inside the pump head … This translates into less downtime, reduced product loss, reduced processing temperatures, reduced refrigeration costs and reduced CIP cycles.”
All of Fristam Pumps’ existing pumps can be converted easily and quickly by simply switching to the new jacketed housing.
Other processes that can benefit from this technological advancement involve products such as fat, oil, margarine, butter, high-fructose corn syrup, molasses, honey, chocolate.
Fristam Pumps manufactures sanitary centrifugal pumps for the food, dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
COPYRIGHT 1992 Business News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
