I would like to pump a product such as "Vegemite" or "Marmite" .what
type of pumping mechanism would I require? The product is supplied to
us in 200 kg drums .It response to heating (65 c) but only marginably
. Viscosity is @ 16900 cp at 20 C and spindle speed of 1RPM .

Well, I think I have two pumps that will do what you need.

First, we have Flux Pumps Corporation ( http://www.flux-pumps.com )
Drum & Container Pumps 
4330 Commerce Circle 
USA-Atlanta, GA 30336 

Phone: 404-691-6010 
Fax: 404-691-6314 
eMail: mike@flux-pumps.com 

This is a sanitary pump rated for "viscous substances up to max.
20.000 cp" and conforms to the 3-A sanitary standard. I choose the
Medium Viscosity pump, but they have pumps rated both higher and lower
if needed.

F520S3A 50/45 (Medium Viscosity Pump)
http://www.flux-pumps.com/product/merchant.ihtml?pid=1&lastcatid=1&step=4

Now, I believe the above pump is exactly what you need, but I found
this one also, in case you don't like the color of the first one or
something :)

Sigma Engineering ( http://www.sigmaus.com/ )
39 Westmoreland Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606
Phone: (914) 682-1820, Fax: (914) 682-0599

Now, this barrel pump has quite a no-nonsence,
were-gonna-move-serious-amounts-of-green-liquid-today look to it.
Unfortunately, the site isn't as helpful with real specifications. It
does conform to the 3-A sanitary standard.

S-39 Sanitary Drum Pump 3-A
http://www.sigmaus.com/drumpump.htm

If neither of these is quite what you were looking for, don't hesitate
to let me know, and we WILL find you your pump.

And, if I may add a personal note.. You use BARRELS FULL of
VEGEMITE?!? How cool is that! :)

googlebrain-ga


Additional Links:

3-A Sanitary Standard FAQ
http://www.3-a.org/faq.html


Search Strategy:

Sanitary barrel pump
://www.google.com/search?num=20&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=Sanitary+barrel+pump

"3-a" barrel pump
://www.google.com/search?num=20&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=%223-a%22+barrel+pump

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Request for Answer Clarification by tensa-ga on 24 Jun 2002 00:04 PDT

Hi googlebrain .
thanks for your quick response.
We actually tried several flux pumps . Net result is that we are
getting a lot of cavitation due to the fact that the product is
"bridging" at the entry site of the pump .I think I need to clarify
that our actual viscosity is anywhere between 16000 and 30000 cp.
Maybe we should induce some positive pressure to the whole drum ,
maybe 2-3 atm just o help it move towards the cavity .
cheers

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Clarification of Answer by googlebrain-ga on 24 Jun 2002 12:18 PDT

High Viscosity Sanitary pumps from Flux (You may have tried these, but
I include them in case you haven't)

F560S3A 50/21 & 54/26
http://www.flux-pumps.com/product/merchant.ihtml?pid=2&lastcatid=1&step=4

F560GS3A 50/21 & 54/26
http://www.flux-pumps.com/product/merchant.ihtml?pid=3&lastcatid=1&step=4

Now, this pump is listed as a High Viscosity pump, instead of a
sanitary pump, but some of the examples they use are mustard,
mayonnaise and molasses. I figured you might not have seen/tried this
one.

F550S
http://www.flux-pumps.com/product/merchant.ihtml?pid=14&lastcatid=3&step=4

Also, I agree with idest-ga about using a larger tube set. With a
larger intake tube, reduced speed and increased torque you can
(hopefully) reduce the shearing around the cavity (since the fluid
will have more time to 'respond'.)

If that doesn't do it for you, then yes, I'd consider pressurizing the
barrel. This adds a small amount of hazard to the whole operation, so
I'd leave it as a last resort.

Also, as I mentioned below (as a comment) you might have some luck
finding out what other users have done about this problem.

If none of the above works out, then please don't hesitate to get back
to me with the information of what you have already tried, so I can
search for new ideas for you.

googlebrain-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by tensa-ga on 24 Jun 2002 13:53 PDT

again good answers guys . cheers. Just to elaborate , the product when
produced by our supplier is in a liquid state and sets once in the
drum .Hence they don't have this problem .
I have come across a monopump with an attachment they call a bridge
breaker to allow for continous feeding to the rotor. We have asked for
a trial unit ,I will post the outcome .

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Clarification of Answer by googlebrain-ga on 24 Jun 2002 14:57 PDT

I'll love to hear the outcome! 

I think you may have mis-understood one of my suggestions, however. I
was thinking that, unless you are the only one being supplied with
this product, there might be other consumers who have faced this
problem. You might see if your supplier could inquire of his other
customers to see if anyone else had solved this. Or better yet, ask
the delivery driver. Drivers know more about what's up than most
people at any company. :)

googlebrain-ga

You may want to do a Google search for USDA approved "Progressive
Cavity Pumps" or a "Gear Pump" or an "Oval Pump". All are good at
handling high viscosity fluids and would be less suseptable to
cavitation. I know Gear Pumps and Oval Pumps are available in USDA
Approved versions. Some of the snack food manufacturers use them to
pump dough mixtures.
Another tip. Use larger than necessary piping from the pump to the
user. Thixotropic fluids (Fluids that increase in viscosity when
moving [simple explaination, more of an analogy]) flow better at lower
velocity. Of course, this complicates your clean up.

I'm just gonna throw this on as a comment, insted of a clarification,
because I'm still looking for pumps, but here's a thought....

Have you asked your supplier what kinds of pumps they recommend, or
what kinds of pumps their other customers use? It might be that
someone has already found the solution to this problem.

Anyway, back to the grindstone...

googlebrain-ga