Molasses

A customer produces alcohol made by extracting ethanol and methanol from molasses (a bi-product from the sugar production). The molasses is stored in tanks. A new pump was needed to transfer the daily quantity required for production into a day tank from the storage tank.

The pump had to be able to convey viscous media as well as be robust in design and easy to maintain. The customer was also looking for a solution for regulating excess pressure as they experienced problems with the previous pressure relief valve installed. The sugar medium accumulated and hardened in the opening of the valve.  

The producer of potable alcohol decided on a Börger Rotary Lobe Pump with a Boerger Variocap as overpressure protection. The force produced by the pumping pressure acts on the Variocap. As long as the spring force is greater than the pressure, the plate stays in the sealed position flush to the pump chamber. If the pressure rises above the set spring force, the plate moves axially and allows the pumped medium to flow back. When the pressure subsides, the vaiocap plate.

Technical data