Page 45 - Beverage MasterAug Sept 2020_Rev

Craft Distillery

facturers to get that match. By performing normal As to any new technology, there hasn’t been a lot
daily visual checks, their pumps require minimal of groundbreaking developments to the traditional
maintenance with repairs done only when needed. pumps that continue to do the job, but DeSimone
Needed maintenance other than routine cleanings tells Beverage Master Magazine that new improve-
are occasional services to the impellers and screw ments are always welcomed.
pump stators.
“We’re always excited to see new advancements,”
“We typically produce about 70,000 gallons a said DeSimone. “Our centrifugal and screw pumps
year using a variety of pumps in our distillery,” said have dry run sensors built into our automation
DeSimone. “All are grounded and explosion-proof systems that add to the lifespan of our equipment.
for safety, and chosen based on the material, It’s very important to keep everything running or at
alcohol content, viscosity and temperature of the least have a backup for redundancy. It’s really tricky
product that we’re moving. For water circulation, when something goes down and you’re unable
we use several centrifugal pumps that move water to produce, so we naturally try to prevent that as
through our heat exchanger and pump warm water much as we can.”
captured during the distillation process to our mash
tank for heat up. Both of these processes save As an experienced distiller, DeSimone said that
us a good deal of energy as well. We move cold there are two critical components to look for when
mash from the fermenters to our still with impeller choosing a pump supplier. “I feel it’s important to
pumps. Screw pumps are utilized for moving hot, look towards and choose someone with specific
thick, or sticky mash through our heat exchanger experience in the distilling field. But just as impor-
and for transfer to our fermenters. And then we tantly, that experienced supplier has to come with
use air diaphragm pumps to move alcohol between quality support that will be available whenever it’s
storage tanks and when filtering or bottling the needed.”
final product.”

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