Pumps are an essential piece of equipment for any winery and are extremely useful in multiple applications. They can be used to transfer harvested grapes from a de-stemmer/crusher to the tank for fermentation, transferring between the tanks as well as filling and emptying tanker trucks. Pumps can also be used for pumping must during the blending stage of the process and are also used to move the wine to the filtering process to remove sediment or solids. Finally, pumps can be used to move the wine to the bottling line for packaging.
Below we discuss things to consider when choosing your wine pumps, as well as additional items which will make the winemaking process easier, including trolleys to help you move your pumps around the winery, and pulsation dampeners to help you obtain a better quality product.
Maximum Solids
Some pumps can pump soft or hard solids without causing damage, this information will be found in the pump’s datasheet and is usually measured in millimetres.
It’s important to get a pump that will handle the right measurements of solids, especially if you’re using it to pump must.
Flow Rate
The amount of fluid a pump can expel is measured in either Litres Per Minute (LPM), Gallons Per Minute (GPM) or Cubic Metres Per Minute (m3/hr).
This allows you to gauge how quickly a pump can transfer liquid from A to B.
Max Head & Suction Lift
The head lift relates to how far in height the pump will need to expel the liquid and vertical suction lift measures the length that a pump can lift liquid up from its original destination.
It’s important to take into consideration where you are pumping from and to when choosing your pump.
Shearing & Pulsation
A nice, smooth flow makes the difference to any vintner’s product.
Try to ensure your pump is not shearing your product and invest in a pulsation dampener when possible, this will allow you to prevent as much air as possible from getting into your wine.
Food Grade Equipment
Food grade pumps and parts are essential when pumping anything that is intended for human consumption.
Sanitary / hygienic pumps are usually made from high grade Stainless Steel to ensure that there are no areas of the pump body where the product can sit and develop bacteria. When using peristaltic pumps, ensure the hose is food grade.
Flexible Impeller Pumps
Flexible Impeller Pumps are one of the best all-purpose pumps for a winery, they are capable of handling almost all pumping tasks in a winery, including must transfer, wine transfer, bottling, CIP, transferring from barrels, pumping pumice and more.
The pumps should be fitted with Food Grade Neoprene impellers which allow the pump to be strong, efficient and gentle on the product. They are self-priming and can pump liquids with suspended solids. These pumps tend to be more affordable, even for small wineries.
Diaphragm Pumps (Air Driven)
Air driven double diaphragms pumps are versatile positive displacement pumps that are driven by compressed air. They are self-priming, with the ability to handle a wide range of liquids, including hot, cold, thick, and solid laden.
AODD pumps are available in Food Grade materials which makes them ideal for a winery, alongside being low maintenance and easy to clean. Their no seal designs and gentle handling of the product ensures that no air from outside the pump can get into your wine. Air regulators and pulsation dampeners are also available to add to your AODD pump to create a smoother transfer of your product.
Diaphragm Pumps (Electric Driven)
Electrically driven double diaphragm pumps offer all the same benefits of air driven double diaphragms, although they do not require costly compressed/pneumatic air to operate them.
They are a more expensive investment initially, however they are far more cost effective to operate and run if you are planning to use them for long periods of time.
Peristaltic Pumps
Peristaltic hose pumps are a very simple, quiet & hygienic design of pump, using the principle of peristalsis (similar to your intestine), the liquid is simply & easily pushed through a food grade rubber hose, causing minimum disturbance & damage to the product being pumped.
This style of pump shall transfer your product from A to B without introducing oxygen or whisking your finished product. They are ideal for transfering must due to their ability to handle solids and are capable of pulling dry suction lifts of 3 metres plus (dependant on size of pump).
Peristaltic pumps will cause pulsation in your pipe work, but pulsation dampeners are available to combat this. When choosing a peristaltic pump for your winery, ensure that the hose used is Food Grade.
Lobe Pumps
Lobe pumps are ideal for wineries, their design ensures that they do not shake the product, and they effectively maintain the quality of the wine. They are self-priming, essentially pulsation free and support both CIP and SIP.
Lobe pumps are usually made to order based on the individual application, and can therefore be a quite expensive investment. If you are choosing a lobe pump for your winery, please contact us.
It's important to think about your job from start to finish, a pump is a main part of your application but it's important to consider what else you'll need. Below you'll find some items that may be be considered essential, depending on your application. If you're ever unsure on your requirements, our team is available to help you.
Hoses
Our food grade hoses are the Clear Braided Hose and the Steel Wire Braided Hose, which would be ideal for winery applications.
Air Regulators
If you are using AODD pumps, air line regulators provide controlled, consistent air pressure which in turns provides a smoother flow for your product.
Trolley
A trolley is especially useful for pumps that you use for more than one application, allowing you to easily maneuver the pump around your space.
Pulsation Dampeners
A pulsation dampener can be used to reduce pulsation and remove pressure variations on the discharge of your pump, ensuring a smoother flow and less disturbance to your product.
Get in touch
Our friendly team of experts are on hand to give you any advice you require for your job. If you require more information or help on choosing the right pump for your application, then fill in the contact form or call us on +44 1332 913500 to speak to a member of our team.
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