procon pump

[whale]

has anyone used procon pumps (pump used in soda carbonation) to transfer wort? I have two sitting around, thinking of building somekind of brew stand.

 

[Julohan]

Do you know the model number to look it up. The pumps should/need to be rated above 212 degrees or since you are in Canada 100 degrees.

 

[GreenMonti]

I have 2 of the pro con pumps myself. From what I have been able to find on them is that none of them are rated over 150*. Not even the SS models. I went ahead and put one on my old system and I used it for nothing more them the mash vorlauf. After a few brews I started to get cavitation in the pump. I used it for a while and it never quit. I never did a batch without thinking, "is this the one it quits on me?" I don't use it anymore.

 

[Cliff897]

has anyone used procon pumps (pump used in soda carbonation) to transfer wort? I have two sitting around, thinking of building somekind of brew stand.

From their website:
"MagDrive Series 6 Pump ( & Series 1 Pump)

Due to the elimination of the mechanical seals, PROCON’s family of MagDrives provides you with a virtually leak proof pump. They are designed for those applications which use a “hard to contain” fluid (e.g. glycols, oils, low surface tension fluids, etc.). PROCON's Series 6 MagDrive is designed and built to meet your needs for higher flows. The flow rate capacity for this pump ranges from 300 to 660 gallons per hour at 250 psi. No integral relief valve is available.

Applications include: Carbonated water for soft drink dispensers, Espresso coffee machines, Beer cooling systems, cooling for TIG Welders, Reverse Osmosis systems, ultra-filtration systems, cooling circulation, constant temperature control, atomizing / misting systems, Automated pesticide misting systems, carwash machines, steam cleaning machines, cooling for X-Ray and medical lasers, water purification, boiler feeds, pressure booster pumps, and light hydraulic oils."

They recommend that you not dead head their pumps. They imply it'll burst pipes.

 

[GreenMonti]

From their website:
"MagDrive Series 6 Pump ( & Series 1 Pump)

Due to the elimination of the mechanical seals, PROCON’s family of MagDrives provides you with a virtually leak proof pump. They are designed for those applications which use a “hard to contain” fluid (e.g. glycols, oils, low surface tension fluids, etc.). PROCON's Series 6 MagDrive is designed and built to meet your needs for higher flows. The flow rate capacity for this pump ranges from 300 to 660 gallons per hour at 250 psi. No integral relief valve is available.

Applications include: Carbonated water for soft drink dispensers, Espresso coffee machines, Beer cooling systems, cooling for TIG Welders, Reverse Osmosis systems, ultra-filtration systems, cooling circulation, constant temperature control, atomizing / misting systems, Automated pesticide misting systems, carwash machines, steam cleaning machines, cooling for X-Ray and medical lasers, water purification, boiler feeds, pressure booster pumps, and light hydraulic oils."

They recommend that you not dead head their pumps. They imply it'll burst pipes.

The best I could find is a temp rating of 158*.

 

[Cliff897]

The best I could find is a temp rating of 158*.

Yah I found a Procon like pump called Fluid-o-Tech
here's a PDF that says that 158 F is the upper limit.
http://www.fluidotech.com/Contents/Documents/PO, MO, CO MANUAL 0409 Ed.pdf

Maybe it's because they are made to very tight tolerances that they can only handle just so much thermally induced expansion.

 

[Cliff897]

The best I could find is a temp rating of 158*.

Yah I found a Procon like pump called Fluid-o-Tech
here's a PDF that says that 158 F is the upper limit.
http://www.fluidotech.com/Contents/Documents/PO, MO, CO MANUAL 0409 Ed.pdf

Maybe it's because they are made to very tight tolerances that they can only handle just so much thermally induced expansion.

Or maybe because the market they seek simply never has high temperature applications that they have never tested their pumps at higher temps?

I emailed the Fluid-O-tech people this question:

Are there data available that establishes an upper limit temperature within which your Fluid-o-Tech pump line must operate?
An application I'm contemplating involves the processing of boiling sugared water with a relatively low pH between 5.7 and 4.0 and recirculating the boiling fluid for periods between 60 and 120 minutes.
Solids in the solution can include leafy vegetable matter such as break away hop particulate.

Their answer:

We do not make any suitable pumps. This could be a difficult pump application because of cavitation, temperature and particulate. The size of the particulates, anticipated flow rate and pressure are necessary considerations not mentioned for selecting a candidate pump.

Which pretty much tells me that if you are using them, and they fail, you are on your own.

 

[whale]

I've picked up these pumps, thats two carbonators (manufactured july 09) also included were two chiller plates. i figured it was too good price to refuse, the carbonator alone cost around $300 each. Maybe need to try to sell it off for a march pump.
I've talked to beer/pop machine guy and he tells me there really isn't anything that will break in the pump. also i could actually carbonate any liquid, includes beer, wine, juice...

thanks for all the help!

 

[marzsit]

procon carbonator pumps are carbon vane pumps, and are not a mag drive.....

they are designed to pump cool liquids. they are commonly used in soda carbonators to boost water pressure over 100psi and act like a check valve, they are also used as low pressure circulators for applications like plastic molding and cooling welding torches, among other things.

using one to pump wort in a rims or herms system is a bad idea.... not just for sanitation issues, the pumping element can't tolerate high heat.