CASE STUDY:

Soap Noodles

Description

Soap Noodles are saponified from vegetable oils and animal fats to provide the raw material for soap manufacturers. The noodles are made using sodium hydroxide to form a salt of the fatty acids from the oils or fats. Manufacturers purchase soap noodles and then add pigments, fragrances, and other components to create their own variety of soap.

Challenge

The customer’s initial process used Progressive Cavity (PC) pumps, but the pumps could only survive a couple of days before breakdown due to the difficult pumping application. The process contained a viscous product (100,000 cps) and used a line pressure of 435 psi (30 bar) and pumping temperature of 275°F (135°C). The original PC pumps used elastomeric stators, but lasted only three days before breakdown. The PC pump provider tried various versions of their design including a version with a metal stator, but it failed within a week.

Solution

The SPX Universal 2 Series pumps (model 210) had the heavy duty design required to handle the unique high pressure process. U2 pumps are made with large diameter shafts, heavy duty bearings, robust spur gears, and solid metal rotors to handle high torque applications.

Result

The External Circumferential Piston (“ECP”) style rotors with large crossover clearances and ratings for high temperature were able to pump the product without issue. From the moment the pump was installed, it has worked flawlessly. The pump was installed in 2007 and 8 years later it is still performing, only requiring replacement of the tungsten carbide seals.

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What Our Customers Have to Say…

“LPE has been a reliable partner for many years. They have the ability to support our business through their vast inventory of replacement pumps, repair components, and their service & repair center in Kaukauna, WI. LPE has offered proactive support by carrying safety stock of complete pumps at their facility to support our specific production needs.”

Operations Manager – Food Processing Facility

“We have a great relationship with LPE as they provide exceptional technical expertise for sizing and specifying pumps and valves for our process equipment needs. LPE’s customer service and response time on quotes is industry leading.”

Process Engineer – Beverage Production Company

“LPE will put in the time and effort up front to fully comprehend complex processes, resulting in a system that meets, and frequently surpasses expectations.”

Head of Procurement – Chocolate Production Company

“The LPE Team has a great understanding of fluids-based process equipment. They are a valuable resource in the design and development of the solutions we offer our customers. The LPE Team helps us to design and build better solutions for our customers.”

Design Engineer – Process Equipment Integrator

“LPE has been a reliable partner for many years. They have the ability to support our business through their vast inventory of replacement pumps, repair components, and their service & repair center in Kaukauna, WI. LPE has offered proactive support by carrying safety stock of complete pumps at their facility to support our specific production needs.”

Operations Manager – Food Processing Facility

“We have a great relationship with LPE as they provide exceptional technical expertise for sizing and specifying pumps and valves for our process equipment needs. LPE’s customer service and response time on quotes is industry leading.”

Process Engineer – Beverage Production Company

“LPE will put in the time and effort up front to fully comprehend complex processes, resulting in a system that meets, and frequently surpasses expectations.”

Head of Procurement – Chocolate Production Company

“The LPE Team has a great understanding of fluids-based process equipment. They are a valuable resource in the design and development of the solutions we offer our customers. The LPE Team helps us to design and build better solutions for our customers.”

Design Engineer – Process Equipment Integrator

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