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Anyone use a screw pump for wort transfer? I might have a line on a reasonably priced used one, but I have never seen one in a brewery before. Here is an example of what one looks like, and how it works:
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Troy Robinson
Quirk Brewing
Walla Walla -
nice...
They are heavy and a pain to move around...but what pump isn't? They are great for wort or finished beer...had one for bottling in a place where the brites were two floors down from the bottler. Quiet, too.
nat -
These are more properly called a Progressing Cavity pump. I've used them in many applications, but never beer. I imagine they would be useful in certain applications if they're specified right for the job. They are quiet and smooth. I would argue against them due to the large footprint, very large wetted surfaces to sterilize, extremely high cost of replacing stators, and being a positive displacement pump they would need pressure relief protection and some sort of flow regulation like a VFD or transmission. Besides, a simple centrifugal pump on a VFD is hard to beat for wort transfer. Even if you have to pay a bit more in this case. You'll have to replace it at some point; use a pump you can swap fast with a like model--preferrably same as used elsewhere in your plant--CIP, HLT, glycol, Kettle, filter/transfer. I guarantee that when your pump does go down, you won't want to spend the time specifying, sourcing, procuring and then redesigning piping. There's a certain satisfaction to being able to replace a pump or a motor in a half hour. And it's cheaper in the long run. Good luck and let us know how it works.Phillip Kelm--Palau Brewing Company Manager--Comment
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