My quote was twice that. Of course idk what pump model and size you’re referring to.
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Those…
Ughhhhh
An update from the field. We are now over 6 months with several Yamada air operated dual diaphragm pumps pumping -50C with NO LEAKS or worn out diaphragms! We met with the manufacturer and they are pleased and looking into providing us EPDM replacement diaphragms for little to no cost.
At MJBizcon we saw some Yamada pumps but with the WRONG diaphragms. This is the pump that is working. NDP-BSE20 = 32 GPM and NDP-BSE25 = 46 GPM. Also available in FDA compliant versions as well. Stoked!
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Very timely! Had my Yamada dealer on the phone today, he was dubious.
Are you using heptane denatured with them?!?
Mile high is in deep trouble.
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Why? Bankruptcy?
“The harder they fall”
I love how poorly this game scales when the core of the business is based on cottage industry practice- you can’t just bubba your way to Boeing
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Why do you say this?
Because of the general market direction or something more specific?
I’ve had good results with the Yamada diaphragm pumps as long as you have an air dryer for your air compressor to stop the pump from freezing.
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What is going on with them? I haven’t heard.
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Yes. We have quite a few customers using them with heptane denatured ethanol and they are working great!
I talked to one of your reps today and he said it should work with straight heptane too. I’m prob gonna get one to try out this month.
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Yes. That’s right. The majority of those sold are with labs using denatured ethanol with heptane. Again this is at -50C with 9 months of heavy use with the original EPDM diaphragms. There are 2 sizes for with different flow rates. BSE20 for 32 GPM and BSE25 at 46 GPM. Also an FDA pump - NDP-20BSE-FDA with sanitary clamp fittings.
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Sorry for the delay. Yes, the Yamada pumps are working great with no leaks after 9 months use with both denatured with heptane and undenatured ethanol. We have them in stock ready to ship. Free shipping and no sales tax outside of Utah.
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Just wanted to follow up and see if you still wanted to try one of the Yamada diaphragm pumps for your cold ethanol?
Yeah, I do.
Let me know if you need me to send you a quote or have any questions.
Yeah, I will. The plans got changed a bit. So I’ll have to get back to you. Thanks for following up though.
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My 2 cents on pumps is as follows, use a diaphragm pump. Period.
We recommend and use plastic casings because of the static discharge problem with metal casings. Of course metal creates an explosion hazard due to the risk of sparks when handling volatile solvents. On trolleys that are movable thus we use plastics, on presses where the pump is static we use metal and ensure the pump is grounded.
The choice of diaphragm will depend on what you are pumping, as per the solvent plus the chemical used to denature it (heptane). Ratings change from manufacturer, so some will say Teflon (PTFE) is rated at 0 while other will say -40. It depends on the blend they make the plastic with, etc… So at cold temperatures these diaphragm reach their glass transition temperatures and become brittle. Teflon works great under cold temperatures, but not when in motion, so Teflon is great for O-rings, seals, and gaskets where there is no motion, but not in diaphragms where they move. I personally prefer Viton, but it depends on the chemicals used and the formulation used by the manufacturer. PTFE as well as EDPM are options.
I read comments where I understood the theory was that as diaphragms become brittle/rigid, the pump slows down. Also, that the internal mechanisms or the pump are freezing and slowing the pump down. If the exhaust is clogged by ice, the pump will slow down because the air cannot exit and cycle normally. So the problem is airflow, not the ice or water in the compressed air. Remove the muffler or get a 3 in 1 air filter with dryer and regulator inline, a cheap and effective solution. Most importantly, most of these diaphragm pumps operate using a “Pneumatic Exchanger” which cycles the air to move the diaphragm piston. At around -20C the exchanger freezes and the pump slows considerably. Again, the pump slows down due mostly because of a frozen pneumatic exchanger, not a frozen exhaust or a brittle diaphragm. Of course all this assumes you have enough supply of compressed air, which can be substantial!
Heat transfer in my opinion is negligible especially on large batches, but when in doubt use a plastic pump.
If you are hating the fact that pressure oscillates on the discharge, you can purchase a “dampener” and smooth this out and eliminate this problem.
Diaphragms are cheap, and easily replaceable. So what if the longevity of a diaphragm goes from a year or two down to 6-12 months? IMO diaphragm life is not an issue.
Diaphragm pumps create suction (vacuum), they do not need to be primed as most centrifugal pumps do. A centrifugal pump will not work, usually, if liquid does not wet the impeller. A positive displacement pump is required, but will likely be electric and extremely expensive. If in doubt, call Viking. Don’t forget the explosion proof motor!
If you have the money, invest in a FDA Food Grade pump with sanitary clamp fitting that can easily be disassembled and cleaned. Oil left in these pumps will cause the diaphragms to seize. Clean your pumps with solvent after each use.
Diaphragm pumps are not perfect, but are easy to use, safe, easy to service, and far cheaper that other alternatives with the same capabilities.
If you are making and selling medicine, please at least use food grade equipment. Lets avoid people needlessly getting sick due to poor practices.
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This hasn’t been brought up so I will mention the Graco Saniforce line. The sanifiorce 515 is about 15 GPM and sanitary. the model FD5122 uses stainless steel, santoprene, and PTFE to achieve a -40 rating. higher gpms available…