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.
Basically a pump is used to move solutions, food products, and slurries that will be processed according to set standards of cleanliness and hygiene. These standards are either set by the private corporation or even by law. In the continental United States, the Food and Drug Administration with the US Department of Agriculture set these same standards.
There are basically two types of pumps used in the food processing and manufacturing industry, being the centrifugal type and the positive displacement type. The former uses centrifugal force to push liquids and such while the latter makes use of rotating lobes in fixed chambers, which when active creates suction for the liquid to flow through. Both though different, are alike in the way that they are manufactured to eliminate the growth of bacteria 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.
Thus this short article has provided a primer for you regarding this kind of pump that is widely used in the food manufacturing and processing sector. This article is in no means exhaustive but it is hoped that it has contained enough information to enlighten the uninitiated in the ways of pumps and pump process as used in food processing.
Basically a pump is used to move solutions, food products, and slurries that will be processed according to set standards of cleanliness and hygiene. These standards are either set by the private corporation or even by law. In the continental United States, the Food and Drug Administration with the US Department of Agriculture set these same standards.
There are basically two types of pumps used in the food processing and manufacturing industry, being the centrifugal type and the positive displacement type. The former uses centrifugal force to push liquids and such while the latter makes use of rotating lobes in fixed chambers, which when active creates suction for the liquid to flow through. Both though different, are alike in the way that they are manufactured to eliminate the growth of bacteria 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.
Thus this short article has provided a primer for you regarding this kind of pump that is widely used in the food manufacturing and processing sector. This article is in no means exhaustive but it is hoped that it has contained enough information to enlighten the uninitiated in the ways of pumps and pump process as used in food processing.