New pump series for hygienic applications

At the start of 2010, KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Frankenthal, Germany, will add a single-stage close-coupled pump for use in the pharmaceutical and food & beverages industries as well as in biotechnology to the product range sold in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Thanks to the almost complete lack of dead volume, the new “Vitacast E” is very easy to clean and sterilise. Among others, the pump’s excellent cleaning and steaming in place (CIP/SIP) capabilities are due to the wetted components being electropolished, to the use of high-grade steels and to the open impeller. This reduces the need for cleaning and makes the new pump suitable for use with food and beverages, as well as with pharmaceuticals. All elastomeric parts found in the pump are FDA-approved, and the pump design as a whole has a certified cleaning capability in compliance with EHEDG codes.

To make sure the pump consumes no more energy than necessary, the impeller diameter of each pump is precisely matched to its duty point. The maximum flow rate of the 24 sizes making up the new pump series is 350 cubic metres per hour. The maximum head is 100 metres. In the standard version, the pump is designed for a continuous operating temperature of up to 100 °C and 10 bar operating pressure. If required, the pump can be designed for higher temperatures and pressures. The sterilisation temperature is 140 °C.

The clamping ring used to connect pump casing and drive lantern provides for a high degree of service-friendliness and allows the discharge nozzle to be arranged in any position. This simplifies the unit's installation inside the pipeline and allows it to be completely emptied by way of the discharge nozzle. Since the pump features a stub shaft supported by bearings, the service team can easily dismantle the standardised motor by pulling it out towards the end. The large variety of mechanical seals makes the new pump series suitable for a multitude of applications and allows each pump to be configured individually for the intended use.

The model named Vitacast is a moderately priced design variant supplied without the costly certifications which is capable of delivering a flow rate of 560 cubic metres per hour.

Photo: “Vitacast” is the name of KSB's latest pump series designed for hygienic applications.