Rat holing is a common flow problem where material becomes stuck in the rendering pump hopper . Rat-holing causes a funnel flow effect , where the material flows freely above the outlet , but the material that isn ’ t directly above it doesn ’ t move and sticks to the hopper sides . If this material can ’ t be shifted it leads to product being wasted and more downtime as the hopper pump has to be cleaned more often .
AUGER FEED
Rendering pump speed is another vitally important factor during the pumping of solids .
An auger is a flat spiral-shaped screw that runs from one end of the hopper to the other , controlling the flow and mechanically forcing the material into the pump inlet . It ’ s specifically designed
for dry solids and sludge which don ’ t flow freely and need feeding into the pump . It ’ s an essential part for this particular rendering plant application .
MOTORISED WHEEL
When materials such as liquid mortar , resins , mud , blocks of fat or butter are pumped they can plasticise meaning they change shape rather than break up . This means that clogs form and block the rendering pump inlet . These need to be removed manually , again , resulting in more downtime . Manufactured from metal , a motorised wheel rotates 360 ° within the hopper to stop solids building up and clumping together .
FITTED WITH A SEAL QUENCH
We fitted the high capacity solid transfer pump with a seal quench which is a device that applies unpressurised oil to a mechanical seal ’ s outboard faces to keep them clean and free from contamination . This helps to maintain seal integrity . This was important as the hopper pump would be handling large solids up to 41mm wide at high concentrations .
Rendering pump speed is another vitally important factor during the pumping of solids . So we designed the pump to have a reduced pumping speed of 130rpm using the gearbox . This meant that the unit would suffer less wear and tear , and give many years of problemfree pumping to the client .
If you ’ re looking to pump a liquid which doesn ’ t flow , contains large amounts of solids and easily solidifies , a hopper-fed progressing cavity pump could be the best solution for you . To find out more , speak to North Ridge Pumps to see how we can help .
www . northridgepumps . com
Progressing Cavity pumps with Auger Feed FDPP - www . fdpp . co . uk 21