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Some of us that will be going into high volume food manufacturing will come across many different terms and equipment. One important equipment in high volume food manufacturing and processing is a positive displacement sanitary pump. This article will introduce you to what this food and manufacturing process equipment is all about.
In essence, a pump is a mechanical device that moves solutions and food products, including slurries for processing along an assembly line. It does this in a framework of set health standards. These standards are either set by outside government agencies or internally by the company itself. Agencies in the United States that set standards are the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
Food processing sanitary pumps come in two types. One is a centrifugal type pump, which uses centrifugal force to pump fluids or mush right along, and the other is a positive displacement pump. The latter makes uses suction via rotating lobes in different fixed chambers. Either way, both are designed to prevent bacterial growth in the process.
Positive displacement pumps are sometimes called PD pumps and are fast gaining in popularity when talking about special applications involving thick liquids or liquids with fragile solid materials. Although they cannot produce a high flow rate like centrifugal pumps, they can produce much greater pressure.
As these kinds of mechanisms rely on rotating parts or lobes to create pressure based on volume, it produces less velocity when liquids are ejected into a discharge system. This is thus much more useful and needed when dealing with liquids that have some form of inert fragile solids within them.
The industry currently has two general types of PD pumps being the rotary type and the reciprocating type. The former uses only moving parts and rotating parts to push liquid through, and this is good for liquids with solid in it. The latter makes use also of moving parts plus valves to create and check vacuum pressure. This is useful for applications that require the elimination of reverse flow in the production line.
The sole advantage of the PD type of mechanism is that it can provide a constant flow of liquid within the range of medium to high pressure applications. This is particularly important in breweries and dairy production facilities which deal a lot with viscous liquids. Other viscous fluid applications best serviced by PD type mechanisms are found in firms that produces vegetable oils, molasses and such.
In sum it is hoped that this article has illumined a better understanding of what a PD pump is to the reader, and has lifted the shroud of mystery surrounding it somewhat. It is not an exhaustive piece as it would want to be, but hopefully this article has done its job of simplifying what may seem to be a very technical subject or topic.
In essence, a pump is a mechanical device that moves solutions and food products, including slurries for processing along an assembly line. It does this in a framework of set health standards. These standards are either set by outside government agencies or internally by the company itself. Agencies in the United States that set standards are the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.
Food processing sanitary pumps come in two types. One is a centrifugal type pump, which uses centrifugal force to pump fluids or mush right along, and the other is a positive displacement pump. The latter makes uses suction via rotating lobes in different fixed chambers. Either way, both are designed to prevent bacterial growth in the process.
Positive displacement pumps are sometimes called PD pumps and are fast gaining in popularity when talking about special applications involving thick liquids or liquids with fragile solid materials. Although they cannot produce a high flow rate like centrifugal pumps, they can produce much greater pressure.
As these kinds of mechanisms rely on rotating parts or lobes to create pressure based on volume, it produces less velocity when liquids are ejected into a discharge system. This is thus much more useful and needed when dealing with liquids that have some form of inert fragile solids within them.
The industry currently has two general types of PD pumps being the rotary type and the reciprocating type. The former uses only moving parts and rotating parts to push liquid through, and this is good for liquids with solid in it. The latter makes use also of moving parts plus valves to create and check vacuum pressure. This is useful for applications that require the elimination of reverse flow in the production line.
The sole advantage of the PD type of mechanism is that it can provide a constant flow of liquid within the range of medium to high pressure applications. This is particularly important in breweries and dairy production facilities which deal a lot with viscous liquids. Other viscous fluid applications best serviced by PD type mechanisms are found in firms that produces vegetable oils, molasses and such.
In sum it is hoped that this article has illumined a better understanding of what a PD pump is to the reader, and has lifted the shroud of mystery surrounding it somewhat. It is not an exhaustive piece as it would want to be, but hopefully this article has done its job of simplifying what may seem to be a very technical subject or topic.
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