Sanitary pumps are generally used for transporting slurries, solutions and colloids of different agricultural and food materials in operations e.g. food processing that needs cleanliness.
There are 4 basic varieties of sanitary pumps.
- Positive displacement pumps
These pumps use gears, rollers or impellers for moving fluid into fixed cavity and as liquid exists, vacuum will be created that will draw in more fluid.
- Centrifugal pumps
In order to apply centrifugal force for generating velocity, by using rotating impellers for increasing velocity, and to push fluids through its outlet valve such pumps are used.
- Airlift pumps
They mix air/gas with any liquid media and the air-liquid mixture, due to lower specific weight as compared to liquid, will rise in the pipe which is discharged above the liquid level.
- Jet pumps
Such pumps will force fluid via a nozzle and converts the energy of fluid into velocity energy.
Features
Sanitary pumps of many different features are available. Any adjustable speed pumps will operate at any speeds that are selected while continuous duty sanitary pumps can maintain performance specifications with 100% duty cycle.
Few run dry pumps can operate even without pumped fluid/external lubrication for much longer time.
Some other wastewater pumps use backup battery, pressure gage, grinding mechanism, control panel, thermal overload protection, level control device, strainer, suction or filter.
Few other wastewater pumps can be belt-driven, explosion-proof, close coupled, frame mounted, jacketed, hygienic, self-priming, seal less, portable or can be configured to pump materials.
Reversible, multistage, plug-in and wash down duty capable kind devices are available too. These pumps can move both vertically or horizontally the media based on direction of pump rotor/stator assembly.
Nadeem, 13:03
In addition to the regular AC or DC power sources, they can also work with alternative energy sources like gasoline, compressed air, hydraulic systems, diesel fuel, natural gas, water, steam and solar energy. If they are not directly connected to the power source, these sanitary pumps can be made to work with drive shafts that are connected to a motor.
Mostly manually powered pumps will rely upon hand/foot power.
Standards
Standards of sanitation may vary by product or as per the regulatory agency which governs processing activities, and also local or any on-site inspectors.
There are various organizations that publish the standards. Examples include:
- The Food And Drug Administration (FDA)
- The United States Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
- The International Association of Food Industry Suppliers (IAFIS).
Applications
Sanitary pumps finds application in different industrial and commercial applications e.g. brewery and distillery, agriculture and horticulture, dairy, food service, food processing, medical, municipal, pharmaceutical and biotechnology and OEM supply applications.
