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Frequently Asked Questions General Questions Q. Do you stock ___? Specific Questions Q. In rubber rotor recoating, what
is the difference between black and red buna?
General Answers A: We stock a large inventory of the most common spare parts for different pumps, valves, fittings, & process instrumentation. We also carry a large stock of Tri-Clover centrifugal and positive displacement pumps. Q: Can you supply seals for my brand of pump, valve or tank? A: We supply gaskets and repair parts for almost all process equipment used in fluid processing. Q: Can you identify this gasket or valve seat? A: Most manufacturers manufacture their products slightly differently. Therefore, just because a gasket or valve seat is "about the same size", it is not the same. As well terminology can be different and this can lead to misunderstanding of what parts are required. This can cause pumps and valves to leak and malfunction. As well, spare parts are made of different elastomers that may look the same but are different and will wear much more quickly in different applications. To match spare parts properly we require the make or model, and serial number to confirm the model number is correct. We need to know what you are exposing the product to, how hot your are running your process, and what you use to clean your products. If you have a product that is on this web site we
supply full catalogues in .pdf format so you can identify the parts you
require without any confusion. Q: Do you know of a good welder? A: CPE offers full installation and design. We have welders available to do small upgrades, fix and update current facilities or completely handle new installations. For small jobs this saves having to purchase costly welding equipment and worry about the quality of the welding. CPE fully guarantees all of its work. We also offer other time saving services such as inventory management and die testing of heat exchanger plates. Q: What information is required to size a pump? A: In order to size a pump correctly, the following information is required:
Q: Where would I use a centrifugal vs. a positive displacement pump? A: A centrifugal pump is commonly used for transferring water-like product. Some examples would be water, milk, beer and juice. The maximum centipoise (a unit to measure the thickness of a product) that a centrifugal pump can move is 1500cps or a light honey if it is very warm. A positive displacement or PD pump is commonly used for any thicker product or product that has particulates in it. Some examples would be stews, pie filling and mash potatoes. The maximum centipoise that a PD pump can move is as high as a million centipoise although most applications have product that is under 100,000cps. There are certain exceptions to the rule above, such as the use of PD pumps for milk-like products where the pump is used for timing, for example to feed a HTST or high temperature, short time heat exchanger.
Specific Answers Q. In rubber rotor recoating, what is the difference between black and red buna? A: Black buna is the most common finish for rotors. Used in applications such for dairy, beverages and food. This buna is good for any product that is non-abrasive. Red buna can be used for any of the applications that the black buna is used in. The advantage that the red buna has is that it is excellent for abrasive product. It has a harder durometer rubber than the black buna. This especially is a good choice for a rotor finish if the application has particulates that may seize metal rotors. Q. What is the wall thickness of tubing? A: The following chart shows the standard sizes:
Q. What is the center line radius of the 90 degree elbows? A: The CLR of our elbows is 1.5 times the outside diameter. For example 2" diameter elbow would be 3" centre line radius. For more accurate measurements, see our .pdf catalogues for drawings and dimensions. Q. What is the difference between Tri-Clover's C-series pumps and the Mexican knock-offs? A: QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY!!! Some of the things we found:
Q. What is the difference between 304 and 316 stainless steel? A: The "300" series, as they are referred to, contain basically the same amounts of iron, nickel, and chromium1. The advantage to 316 stainless steel is it contains additional molybdenum. The additional molybdenum offers more corrosion resistance than the 304. Q. What does the "L" mean in 316L stainless steel? A: An important item to note is that CPE Systems carries the "300L" series. The "L" indicates about half of the carbon found in the regular "300" series. This reduces the possibility of corrosion, cracking, and pitting due to welding. Q. What is the best kind of gasket material and what type do I need? A: There are several different types, all with different properties that fit different applications:
Q. Are digital thermometers accepted by dairy inspectors? A: Yes, digital thermometers are 3A approved and are accepted in the dairy industry for raw or finished milk contact. The only place that a digital thermometer can not be used in the dairy industry is on their pasteurizer this is because a 1/2deg. accuracy is required and the digital thermometers have a deg. accuracy. Therefore the only thermometer accepted for pasteurizing is the mercury style. A: 3A approval is a set of "standards and accepted practices for equipment and systems used to process milk and milk products and other perishable foods. These standards are developed through the co-operative efforts of local, state, and federal sanitarians, equipment manufactures, and equipment users, so that they [3A standards] are acceptable to those involved in the sanitary aspects of the dairy and related food industries." "The ultimate goal is to protect dairy and food products from contamination and to ensure all product contact surfaces can be mechanically cleaned (CIP - Cleaned-In-Place) or can be dismantled easily for manual cleaning, and when necessary, dismantled for inspection" In order for a fitting to be classified as sanitary, it must meet the 3A requirements. Q. Are butterfly valves 3A approved? A: Butterfly valves are not 3A approved due to the fact that they can not be cleaned completely during a CIP cycle. The valve must be dismantled and the elastomer valve seat removed and manually cleaned then reassembled. Q. What are the different levels of polish available on your fittings? A: 150 grit or 32 Ra are the most widely used in the dairy industry. |
