What is a Lobe Pump?
Pomac’s Sanitary Lobe Pump is a strong, compact pump that provides maximum performance and efficiency. It is a versatile pump, ideal for use with sanitary applications due to it being EHEDG compliant and constructed from cast Stainless Steel AISI 316L. The pump is also finished with a surface roughness of <0.8 as standard or 0.5 upon request this increases the corrosion resistance of the pump.
Applications of a Sanitary Lobe Pump
Ideal for the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Sanitary Lobe Pumps can be used for a large variety of food applications including Viscous products like yoghurt, custard, Glucose Syrup & Chocolate Drinks such as beer, lemonade & fruit juice Meat products like animal food & chopped meat As well as cosmetic products like shampoo & creams. A Lobe Pump can also come as ATEX rated for use within potentially explosive environments.
How does a Rotary Lobe Pump work?
The two lobes within the pump counter-rotate to create a positive displacement force within the pump casing. The lobes then rotate without touching, and as they rotate within the pump casing, they pass the suction port. The rotating increases the volume of product between the lobes, which then forms a vacuum drawing fluid into the suction port and the pump casing. As the lobes continue to rotate, they drive a predetermined amount of liquid through the pump. When the lobes reach the discharge port, the volume of product between them decreases, creating pressure which causes the product to flow out of the pump casing’s discharge port.
How to Maintain a Lobe Pump?
Maintaining your Sanitary Lobe Pump is easy providing you carry out regular checks on the pump. Regular maintenance checks will reduce the likelihood of unnecessary downtime for your pump and will reduce breakdown costs. There are already low maintenance costs associated with Lobe Pumps, so following the brief maintenance checklist below will help further.
- Check the gearbox oil level
- If the oil level has decreased, this could indicate a leak. Ensure you check the whole pump for any spots where leaking looks like it has occurred.
- The oil in your pump should be changed after operating for 300 hours from its initial installation. After this first oil change, it should be changed every 3 months or every 3000 hours of operation. Lobe Pumps that aren’t used frequently should have their oil changed every 3 months or every 2000 operating hours.
- Check that the suction and discharge pressure of your Lobe Pump is at the normal system levels.
- If your Lobe Pump comes with the flushing system feature, check the pressure and flow.
- Check the sound of your pump; this will be an easy maintenance issue to spot. If the Lobe Pump is producing an excessive amount of noise, this could indicate the lobes within your pump are dragging or that there are problems caused by wear to the bearings or gears within your pump.
Maintenance of the pump is made simpler by the mechanical seals and lobes ability to be pulled out of the pump through the front of the casing. Get in contact with the sales team on [email protected] for help or visit our Inspection and Maintenance Guide.
Benefits of the PLP Sanitary Lobe Pump
- Supports CIP and SIP (Clean in Place and Sterilisation in Place) and if fitted vertically, the pump can also self-drain which aids in the process
- Can be installed horizontally or vertically into your pipework.
- Accurate flow range between 0.04 to 2.5 l/rev
- Can be fitted with a range of accessories such as a Heating Jacket, as well as a variety of connection types and safety valves.
- Can be supplied with bi-wing lobes or as a Quattro Lobe design
- Discharge pressure up to 15 Bar
- Speed range up to 1500 rpm
- Fully FDA & EHEDG compliant
- Optional air or spring-loaded safety relief valves
- Front pull-out cover, lobes and seals for easy, in-place maintenance & cleaning
