How to CIP your Sanitary PD Pump- Part 1

In previous posts we’ve looked at the different models of Waukesha’s industry leading External Circumferential Piston or ECP pumps- the Universal 1, Universal 2, and Universal 3– and the best practices for cleaning each of those- either clean in place (CIP) or clean out of place (COP). We’ve also spent some time talking about available options for the Universal series of positive displacement pumps. In part 1 of our 2-part series on how to CIP your sanitary PD pump, we’re going to provide you a concise guide on what features and options you need to have on your PD pump to ensure you are able to CIP it. Part 2 will focus on piping and operating best practices.

Make

To start, if we’re going to be CIP-ing our PD pump, we need to be using either a Universal 2 or Universal 3 pump. Unlike the Universal 1 pump, which is designed to be cleaned out of place, the Universal 2 and Universal 3 have a number of standard features and available options that enhance the ability to clean in place. These include sealed rotor nuts, flat body profile, and optional CIP rotors and body drilling. While setting rotor nuts with a torque wrench can seem like a pain, it’s important so that they don’t loosen during operation (like U1 jam nuts will).

And remember- the Universal 1 is your go to clean out of place pump. You can knock it down and reassemble quickly and easily because it designed to be cleaned out of place.

Flat Body Profile

For a CIP installation, the minimum required feature is a flat body profile. We talked a little bit about what a flat body profile is here, but as a brief reminder, the flat body profile allows complete draining of the Universal 2 or Universal 3 pump in the side-mounted position. The flat body profile also provides CIP solution access to the entire cover o-ring groove.

Orientation

If we’re passing cleaning detergents and caustics through a pump, we’re going to want to get this out of the pump before reintroducing product. Typically there will be a flush following chemical cleaning, but it’s important to remember that the only way we can ensure that we fully drain and get all of the fluid out of the pump is to use a flat body profile and orient the pump with the ports in the vertical position.

“Full CIP”- Rotor & Body Drilling

In addition to a flat body profile, if our product has a high amount of particulates in it, we’re going to need to also consider using what Waukesha calls their “Full” CIP feature. “Full” CIP pumps feature a flat body profile as well as holes drilled in the rotor and body hubs to provide additional access for CIP solution to the cover hub and shaft seal areas. As we’ve mentioned a few times before, the cover hubs is probably the most difficult area of the pump to get the velocity of CIP solution needed to clean. That’s a big part of the reason we are such a big fan of the Universal 3’s rotor hub design which eliminates that cover dead zone.

In sum, if you’re going to be CIP-ing your Universal 2 or Universal 3 pump, there are a few pump options you’ll want consider when specifying your pump. You’re going to want to make sure you’ve selected a flat body profile and given thought to whether or not you’ll need your pump to fully drain. For high particulate or hard to clean products, we also want to consider Waukesha’s “Full” CIP option- rotor and body hub drilling for CIP flow to the cover hubs and product sela area. Part 2 of our series will focus on piping considerations and best practices. Until then, if you have any questions or challenges CIP’ing your sanitary PD pump, contact a Triplex Sales Engineer today!