The LPP in an Abrasive Application

Widely used in brewery filtration, kieselguhr also known as diatomaceous earth or diatomite, is extremely abrasive, causing intense wear in conventional pumps.

In addition to breweries, kieselguhr is used as a filtering body to clarify syrups and sugar and as a filling material in paper, paints, ceramics, soaps and detergents.

To optimize their filtration efficiency, Paulaner Brauerei, the largest brewery in Munich replaced a traditional hose pump with a LPP 40 pump to feed kieselguhr to a Larox pressure filter which dewaters the spent kieselguhr before disposal.

Since its installation in June 2005, the pump has been in continuous operation.

During the filter feed, the feed line pressure increases from 0 to 7.5 bar. This pressure controls the pump speed through a frequency inverter whilst the pressure pulsation in the feed line is minimized. Filter feed time is 7-8 minutes, with a maximum flow rate of 7 m³/h (93 rpm). The minimum flow rate is 1.5 m³/h (21 rpm)