Pumps for 7 BBL brewhouse

[Horsepoorx2]

I am having a three vessel, direct fired 7 BBL brewhouse fabricated locally and am shopping for pumps. I keep getting directed to salesmen that want me to purchase high dollar, 1 HP+ pumps for moving water and wort between my HLT, mash tun, boil kettle and through my heat exchanger to my fermenters. Yes, I want to save money, but I am also concerned with the pumps they want to sell me thrashing the heck out of my product, and not being capable of throttling to slower flow rates without overheating. Anyone have recommendations?

James

[defenestrate]

might be a little small... but the offer stainless versions too. http://morebeer.com/view_product/11623

[Horsepoorx2]

Thanks. I looked into it. Gonna do a little math and see how it all works out.

[Luch15]

I have a couple of Thomsen #4's coupled to Baldor 56c frame motors. The whole pump head will run you about $990, you can get a nice new motor for about 300. I see them on ebay all the time. go with a 1725 rpm unless you will run a high head. Give them a call they may have another option too. I love this pump/motor combo.

http://www.lcthomsen.com/

[hammer]

might be a little small... but the offer stainless versions too. http://morebeer.com/view_product/11623

I ordered one of those back when they were first introduced and have had nothing but problems with it. Huge piece of junk and would never recommend it to anyone. Not only that but unlike the smaller march pumps the way they have integrated the impeller is not sanitary.

As far as problems go the impeller has broken on me every time - I've gone through 3 or 4 in a year. The magnet cracks. They put a steel sleeve over the magnet and it still cracks! And the implementation of the sleeve on the magnet is gapped and that is where the sanitation issue builds up.

[Thirsty_Monk]

MC Master sanitary pumps.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#3-a-centrifugal-pumps/=g0np5e

[Capt. Bob]

MC Master sanitary pumps.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#3-a-centrifugal-pumps/=g0np5e

Holy crap. $1300 is a steal!
Never thought of McMaster/Carr for a pump.
Thanks.

[Thirsty_Monk]

Holy crap. $1300 is a steal!
Never thought of McMaster/Carr for a pump.
Thanks.

They are Thomson Pumps.

[revnatscider]

I just got a quote from Thomsen, $900 for the #4 pump. Throw on a Dayton industrial motor from anywhere and that's an "average" price.

[defenestrate]

I ordered one of those back when they were first introduced and have had nothing but problems with it. Huge piece of junk and would never recommend it to anyone. Not only that but unlike the smaller march pumps the way they have integrated the impeller is not sanitary.

As far as problems go the impeller has broken on me every time - I've gone through 3 or 4 in a year. The magnet cracks. They put a steel sleeve over the magnet and it still cracks! And the implementation of the sleeve on the magnet is gapped and that is where the sanitation issue builds up.

well that sucks- i was looking forward to using one of these. i did think it was kind of weird that even the "stainless" version still has non stainless touching the wort.

kind of surprised, i expected more from them since their smaller pumps are seamingly bullet proof on the HB scale- i've been running the same 809 for almost 5 years now.

[Thirsty_Monk]

I just got a quote from Thomsen, $900 for the #4 pump. Throw on a Dayton industrial motor from anywhere and that's an "average" price.

Very Nice.
You can get 1 hp /1750 rmp motor from surplus center for $150 plus shipping.

[Robbings]

MC Master sanitary pumps.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#3-a-centrifugal-pumps/=g0np5e

This is exactly the thread I was looking for! It almost answers all my questions, but I just wanted to ask a couple more. We're opening a brewery this year with a 4BBL brewhouse, and 10BBL fermenters. My questions:

- What HP would be sufficient to CIP the 10BBL fermenters? 1.5HP? Or 2HP?
- Do these pumps have speed regulators, or are they just on or off?
- Is there a recommended way / attachment to make the pump mobile? Is there some sort of trolley people recommend attaching them to?

Many thanks, Adam

[defenestrate]

how about this guy? http://www.ebay.com/itm/380408363373...84.m1438.l2649

threaded TC fittings, though

[Thirsty_Monk]

This is exactly the thread I was looking for! It almost answers all my questions, but I just wanted to ask a couple more. We're opening a brewery this year with a 4BBL brewhouse, and 10BBL fermenters. My questions:

- What HP would be sufficient to CIP the 10BBL fermenters? 1.5HP? Or 2HP?
- Do these pumps have speed regulators, or are they just on or off?
- Is there a recommended way / attachment to make the pump mobile? Is there some sort of trolley people recommend attaching them to?

Many thanks, Adam

I have 1 hp and that is enough for 10 BBL CIP. I think rule is 40 GMP and 20 psi.
Pump is only on and off.
I just have it on movers dolly
http://www.harborfreight.com/movers-dolly-93888.html

[Luch15]

I think Thomsen #4's are only rated to 1.5 horse motors, you should check with them before using something bigger. Again, I think that is the case.