February 11, 2020

3 Min Read
Pumping Delicate Food Products
HRS BPM Series pump

With the right equipment, a range of products including powders, pastes, and mixtures of liquids and solids can be pumped. However, while pumps are hygienic and convenient, using the wrong pump has the potential to damage delicate products.

Many types of pump are suitable for use in the food industry, including rotary lobe, rotary piston, reciprocating positive displacement, progressing cavity, peristaltic hose, and air-operated double diaphragm designs. However, traditional pumps can be expensive to maintain, while lobular pumps have low flow rates. In addition, using progressive cavity pumps can break the product, while double diaphragm pumps result in a low pressure drop.

Having seen the results of using the wrong pump for the wrong job, HRS developed a pump that can handle very delicate and viscous food stuffs without damage, while working at high pressure in heavy-duty applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The result was the HRS BP Series reciprocating positive-displacement piston pump.

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Positive displacement pumps have an expanding cavity on the suction side of the pump and a decreasing cavity on the discharge side. Liquid flows into the pump as the cavity on the suction side expands and is forced out of the discharge side as the cavity collapses. The BP Series features a hygienic design which incorporates a separator fitted between the piston and the hydraulic chamber to ensure that there is no contact between the product chamber and the hydraulic oil, ensuring no oil comes into contact with the product.

With an adjustable flow that can range from 80 to 5,280 gal/hr and featuring a high-pressure drop of up to 435 psi, it is suitable for a wide range of high viscosity fluids that are shear sensitive and that contain large particulates. Clap valves allow pumping of whole fruits or vegetables, and an alternative version with a pneumatic cylinder can be supplied for low-pressure applications of less than 5 bar.

To allow food manufacturers to see the benefits, HRS created the BPM Series. The BPM is a mobile version of the standard BP Series pump but is mounted on a mobile skid unit for easy movement, allowing it to be used across multiple production lines and locations. This makes it popular with food manufacturers producing short runs of specialist products and numerous trials, as they can enjoy the benefits of a BP Series pump without the need to invest in a dedicated pump for each line, resulting in considerable capital savings.

HRS Heat Exchangers, Atlanta, GA 770-726-3540 www.hrs-heatexchangers.com

 

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