Pump - buyers guide - Revision history

Julian at 21:02, 3 March 2013

2013-03-03T21:02:53Z

Julian at 12:53, 24 December 2012

2012-12-24T12:53:23Z

Tony: Add my Speroni pump failure

2012-08-17T22:47:00Z

Add my Speroni pump failure

Tony: Credit mark for the pics :)

2012-08-13T12:49:24Z

Credit mark for the pics :)

Tony at 12:43, 13 August 2012

2012-08-13T12:43:24Z

Tony at 12:39, 13 August 2012

2012-08-13T12:39:22Z

Tony: /* Flow rate */

2012-08-13T12:28:32Z

‎Flow rate

Tony: Made start on pump buyers guide.

2012-08-13T12:26:59Z

Made start on pump buyers guide.

New page

[[File:051010262.jpg|250px|thumb|right|TAM 105 centrifugal pump]]

Some guidance on purchasing a centrifugal biodiesel processor pump.

__TOC__

==Flow rate==

As a rule of thumb, the more flow the better. Increased flow aids mixing, which produces faster reactions and more complete conversion.

However, the bigger the pump, the larger the pipework to support it needs to be (more expensive, or harder to fit), and the more power it will consume - so there is always a trade off.

At the minimum a pump should be chosen to turn over the batch volume in a few minutes. Typically a [[TAM105]] at 40lpm can turn over a 160l batch (192l with Methanol) every four and a half minutes.

However, small pump performance can be improved with an [[eductor]] or by following the [[two stage process]].

==Closed or open impeller==

Centrifugal pump impellers come in two types, closed or open.

Smaller pumps such as the TAM105 have an open impeller - the fins of the pump are a tight fit to the pump casing, and "shear" the liquid as it passes through. This has the advantage that burnt crispy bits in the oil do not jam the pump, but get mashed on the way through. The disadvantage is that anything in the liquid that is harder than the pump impeller will cause damage.

Larger pumps (typically 80 lpm or higher) usually have closed impellers. Two disks of material sandwich the impeller fins and turn as a single unit. This allows greater structural integrity for the larger diameter impellers needed for greater flow. The disadvantage is that large lumps will just jam in the impeller, turning with it and restricting flow. Any fibrous material in the oil (usually bits of meat) will collect on impeller sharp edges. Fortunately, harder debris in the oil are unlikely to damage this kind of pump.

==Materials==

Most common water pumps come fitted with Noryle/PPO/technopolymer impellers, which are often a blend of Polyphenylene Oxide and Polystyrene. These impellers are suitable for cold oil transfer, but not up the job of mixing oil with alkali catalyst and Methanol in the presence of heat, as can be seen in the gallery below.

Look for a pump which has brass or stainless steel impellers.

<gallery caption="PPO impeller failure on biodiesel processor" widths="280px" heights="200px" perrow="3" align="center">
File:PPO impeller before.jpg|Two stage pump internals as seen before use.
File:PPO impeller after 1.jpg|After a couple of batches the centre of the impeller eye has sheared off.
File:PPO impeller after 2.jpg|The two faces that make the closed impeller are separating.
File:PPO impeller after 3.jpg|The material is no longer ridged, but soft and malleable.
File:PPO impeller after 4.jpg|The flow diffuser between the stages of this pump shows significant material loss.
</gallery>

[[Category:Biodiesel]]
[[Category:Processors and equipment]]
[[Category:Vegetable oil]]
[[Category:Filtration & drying equipment]]

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 However, larger pumps require larger bore pipework, which is more expensive and often harder to fit.  They also consume more power - so there is always a trade off.
-At the minimum a pump should be chosen to turn over the batch volume in a few minutes.  Typically a [[TAM105]] at 40lpm can turn over a 160l batch (192l with Methanol) every four and a half minutes.
+At the minimum a pump should be chosen to turn over the batch volume in a few minutes.  Typically a [[TAM105]] at 40lpm can turn over a 160l batch (192l with methanol) every four and a half minutes.
-However, small pump performance can be improved with an [[Mixing eductor|eductor]] or by following the [[two stage process]].
+However, small pump performance can be improved with an [[mixing eductor|eductor]] or by following the [[two stage process]].
 ==Closed or open impeller==
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ==Materials==
-Most common water pumps come fitted with Noryle/PPO/technopolymer impellers, which are often a blend of Polyphenylene Oxide and Polystyrene.  These impellers are suitable for cold oil transfer, but not up the job of mixing oil with alkali catalyst and Methanol in the presence of heat, as can be seen in the gallery below.
+Most common water pumps come fitted with Noryle/PPO/technopolymer impellers, which are often a blend of polyphenylene oxide and polystyrene.  These impellers are suitable for cold oil transfer, but not up the job of mixing oil with alkali catalyst and methanol in the presence of heat, as can be seen in the gallery below.
 Look for a pump which has brass or stainless steel impellers.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:49, 13 August 2012
Line 52:		Line 52:
	[[Category:Vegetable oil]]		[[Category:Vegetable oil]]
	[[Category:Filtration & drying equipment]]		[[Category:Filtration & drying equipment]]
		+
		+	''Technopolymer pump gallery pictures courtesy of Mark aka Head Womble''

@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 File:PPO impeller after 3.jpg|The material is no longer ridged, but soft and malleable.
 File:PPO impeller after 4.jpg|The flow diffuser between the stages of this pump shows significant material loss.
 </gallery>

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 Larger pumps (typically 80 lpm or higher) usually have closed impellers.  Two disks of material sandwich the impeller fins and turn as a single unit.  This allows greater structural integrity for the larger diameter impellers needed for greater flow. The disadvantage is that large lumps will just jam in the impeller, turning with it and restricting flow.  Any fibrous material in the oil (usually bits of meat) will collect on impeller sharp edges.  Fortunately, harder debris in the oil are unlikely to damage this kind of pump.
 ==Materials==
@@ Line 28: / Line 32: @@
 Look for a pump which has brass or stainless steel impellers.
 <gallery caption="PPO impeller failure on biodiesel processor" widths="280px" heights="200px" perrow="3" align="center">
-File:PPO impeller before.jpg|Two stage pump internals as seen before use.
+File:PPO impeller before.jpg|A two stage technopolymer pump internals as seen before use.
 File:PPO impeller after 1.jpg|After a couple of batches the centre of the impeller eye has sheared off.
 File:PPO impeller after 2.jpg|The two faces that make the closed impeller are separating.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 As a rule of thumb, the more flow the better.  Increased flow aids mixing, which produces faster reactions and more complete conversion.
-However, the bigger the pump, the larger the pipework to support it needs to be (more expensive, or harder to fit), and the more power it will consume - so there is always a trade off.
+However, larger pumps require larger bore pipework, which is more expensive and often harder to fit.  They also consume more power - so there is always a trade off.
 At the minimum a pump should be chosen to turn over the batch volume in a few minutes.  Typically a [[TAM105]] at 40lpm can turn over a 160l batch (192l with Methanol) every four and a half minutes.