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Onion Macerator Pump Feeding AD Plant

Site ChallengeWorking with a long-standing client within the food sector, Polypump were tasked to review their onsite process to save energy plus evenly sell back energy to the national grid by installing an anaerobic digestion plant onsite. Our client’s core business was processing vegetables for the B2B food service sector. With food outlets such as McDonalds, Pizza express & Burger King a key customer. Plus getting involved in preparing “ ready to eat” salad bags for food chains throughout the UK. The types of vegetables processed onsite include onions, potatoes, peppers, garlic, and carrots. Once the vegetables have been peeled, washed, chopped, diced, and/or sliced, the waste is then sent off to be processed.

Site Solution

Polypump carried out various site surveys looking at the best / most efficient system for routing veg waste to the AD plant. Once we established the pipe runs, considering other elements including a metal detector to protect any rotating element in the production line, we were able to review the pump medium.

Engaging several PC brands in the UK, we took onion samples ( whole, sliced, and tough outer skins) and carried out testing to review performance and challenges our client may face on the live production line. The scope of supply was a modified Seepex progressive cavity pump and a macerator prior to the AD plant. The Seepex BTM pump incorporates an enlarged open hopper size which, complete with an auger screw, directly feeds the pumping elements (rotor and stator) of the unit. With such a high chance of organic matter as stones and high-density products, the pump was also fitted with a dump valve to protect the pump and save downtime.

The Seepex pump then transfers the onion waste to a contact tank to be mixed with other vegetables prior to the Seepex macerator which feeds the AD plant.

Polypump also supplied a Landia POP-I 15kw mixer to be installed inside the AD plant tank to ensure the correct homogeneity throughout the tank.