In hygienic fluid processing, product integrity and cleanliness are non-negotiable. But throw high viscosity into the mix—think yoghurt, sauces, ointments, gels or nut butters—and things get a whole lot stickier, literally and figuratively. Selecting the right pumps and valves for these demanding applications is essential to ensure process efficiency, product quality, and compliance with strict sanitary standards.
The Viscosity Factor
Viscous fluids don’t behave like their thinner counterparts. They resist flow, cling to surfaces, and can cause issues like pressure drop, uneven flow, or even complete blockages if not handled correctly. In hygienic environments, where product residue can harbour bacteria or affect batch consistency, the stakes are even higher.
Your pump and valve selection needs to do more than just move fluid—it must preserve texture, minimise shear, and facilitate easy cleaning and sterilisation.
✅Choosing the Right Pump: Gentle, Efficient, and Clean
1. Positive Displacement (PD) Pumps – The Viscous Heroes
When it comes to thick fluids, PD pumps such as rotary lobe, progressive cavity, and peristaltic types are the go-to choices.
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Rotary Lobe Pumps: Offer gentle handling, making them ideal for shear-sensitive products. Their smooth, non-contacting lobes are easy to clean and highly efficient with viscous media.
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Peristaltic Pumps: These use flexible tubing to move product, reducing contamination risk as the fluid only contacts the tube. They’re excellent for low-volume, precision applications.
2. Sanitary Centrifugal Pumps – Proceed with Caution
While efficient and cost-effective, centrifugal pumps are better suited to low-viscosity fluids. In some cases, they can be adapted with enlarged inlets or operated at lower speeds to process thicker fluids, but they’re rarely the first choice for truly high-viscous products.
📈Valve Selection: Hygiene Meets Performance
Valves may seem like background players, but they play a starring role in directing flow, controlling pressure, and maintaining hygienic integrity.
Simple, cost-effective, and easy to clean, butterfly valves are commonly used in hygienic applications. However, they may not provide the best flow control for highly viscous fluids due to potential turbulence around the disc.
Ideal for ultra-hygienic environments (think pharma or biotech), these valves offer a smooth flow path with minimal dead space. They’re also great for CIP (clean-in-place) systems, though they may struggle with very thick fluids if not properly sized.
With full bore flow paths, these are ideal for high-viscosity materials as they offer minimal flow resistance. Just be sure the valve seats and seals are made from materials compatible with your product and cleaning agents.
Design Considerations Beyond Equipment
When working with viscous fluids in a hygienic setup, the surrounding system design matters just as much as the components:
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Pipe Sizing: Larger diameters reduce resistance.
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Minimal Dead Legs: Prevent product build-up and bacterial growth.
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Sloped Lines: Encourage self-draining and reduce pooling.
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CIP and SIP Compatibility: Ensures that equipment is not only efficient but also compliant with hygiene regulations.
Materials and Compliance
Always opt for food- or pharma-grade materials (e.g., 316L stainless steel) and check for certifications such as EHEDG, 3-A Sanitary Standards, and FDA approval. Elastomers should be chemically compatible and able to withstand cleaning processes without degrading or leaching into the product.
💭 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right hygienic pumps and valves for high-viscous fluid processing isn’t just about moving material from A to B. It’s about preserving product quality, ensuring cleanliness, maintaining consistency, and optimising every drop.
By understanding your product, your process, and the demands of your industry, you can select components that work as hard—and as cleanly—as you do.
Contact our trusted sales team today
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