Like any job, you need the proper tools to do it well – and the same is true for repairing or servicing positive displacement gear pumps. Below are helpful hand tools that Viking's pump experts recommend having ready for… read more.
Viscosity is a measure of a liquid’s resistance to flow. And you don’t need to work in a laboratory to observe this. Anyone who’s spent any time in the kitchen has observed a variety of liquids with a wide variety of viscosities.
Flange standards used on Viking pumps have been in place for over a century so EVERYONE should be experts on this now…right? It turns out not so much. There are various standards and various design differences in each standard. AND the standards have evolved over the years, leading some to use obsolete terms which only compounds the confusion. The following should help clear up some of this confusion as well as give you a resource to help answer questions for others.
Customers don’t ask me to listen to quiet pumps. This is symptom #1 of a cavitating pump. The pump is loud. Descriptors like “growly”, “rumbling”, or “gravelly” are used to describe the atypically loud sound coming from the pump.
“Does it always sound like this?” I ask.
“No, it was fine in the fall, but it’s been loud all winter.”
Inks, especially those used in flexible packaging, are shear-sensitive and can have many variables that may lead to abrasive wear or chemical compatibility concerns. Some of these include the use of solvents, waxes, or surfactants and the possibility of semi-solid resin particles and pigment load concentration. 4624B Series™ pumps are cast iron with abrasive resistant sealing options and low shear capabilities. They have capacities up to 180 gallons per minute. 4127C Series™ pumps are 316 stainless-steel with high viscosity and abrasive resistant sealing options.
Greases are commonly referred to as lubricating, automotive, or bearing grease. They are generally a mixture of mineral oil with one or more metallic soaps like sodium or calcium. The texture of grease may be smooth and buttery or even fibrous or rubbery. The viscosity of greases range greatly. They are also extremely shear sensitive. Typically, flow is aided by a follower-plate on the supply tank to help maintain positive pressure on the suction side of the pump. The cast iron 1124A Series™ features Viking's O-Pro® Barrier seal - which minimizes leakage.
Out of all of the applications where you can find a Viking pump, chocolate may be the most delicious. Viking pumps are the pump of choice for the processing, transfer, and recirculation of chocolate. The chocolate production process can be simply described with these steps: cacao beans are roasted and ground, then mixed with oils into a semi-liquid. This early stage is known as "bitter" chocolate. From here, sugar can be added to make "sweet" chocolate - milk can be added for "milk" chocolate - and if the chocolate has been thinned down is called chocolate liquor.
Black liquor soap is a natural byproduct that separates from black liquor during the kraft wood pulping process used to make paper products. The soap is skimmed off and used to make tall oil. Black liquor soap can be abrasive and have varying viscosities making it a challenge to pump and seal. The cast iron 1124A Series™ features Viking Pump's O-Pro® Barrier seal, which virtually eliminates the leaking and mess associated with packed pumps. These pumps are constructed with hardened materials and have capacities up to 400 gallons per minute.
Lecithin is a mixture of triglycerides, fatty acids, and carbohydrates and is typically derived from soy bean oil - but can also be obtained from egg yolks, corn, and other vegetable seeds. Lecithin ranges in viscosity up to 5,000 SSU, but may be more viscous depending on the make-up and temperature.
Lecithin has a low solubility in water which makes it an excellent emulsifying agent - allowing for its use in margarine, chocolate, and other confectionery products as a non-sticking agent.
Quats are derived from oils and fats. These raw ingredients are further processed into long chain hydrocarbons and amines - which are the building blocks of quats. Most notably used in disinfectants, quats can also be used as surfactants, in fabric softeners, and shampoo. The 4127C Series™ are stainless steel pumps with cartridge lip seal options. They have capacities up to 320 gallons per minute. The stainless steel 1127C Series™ features Viking Pump's O-Pro® Guard seal - designed for sealing abrasive liquids. They have capacities up to 320 gallons per minute.
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