Progressing cavity pump solves dairy pumping problem
The dairy processor installed NETZSCH Pumps' NEMO progressing cavity pump with a flexible shaft to improve its pumping problems.
The country’s largest producer of sweetened condensed milk had endured decades of issues associated with pumping the mixture of milk and sugar – the primary components of sweetened condensed milk – out of two flash coolers near the end of the manufacturing process.
The application includes pumping the mixture of milk and sugar ranging from 1,500-5,000 centipoise (CP). Pumping is conducted at about 40 gallons per minute pulling from two vessels under vacuum (24 inches and 28 inches). The pump had to maintain pressures of 150 pounds per square inch (PSI) with operational temperatures of 70-120°F. Cleaning in place (CIP) is conducted at 50 GPM, pulling from the vessels 2-26 inches with a vacuum of 20 PSI, using a caustic of 6% and nitric acid of 3%.