Gear Pump causing air entry in the emulsion

[Tonyvats]

We are into the manufacturing of fatty acid, mineral oil based emulsions. For transferring hot fatty acids oil and hot mineral oil to the blender machine we are using 2 inches gear pump but the main problem we are facing is air is entering into the emulsion, so the final product is not coming perfectly. Emulsion is full of bubbles.. We are running this pump at lowest speed. Foot valve is also installed in the suction pipe but problem is same.. but when we transfer the material manually using buckets, there is no problem, no air bubbles in the emulsion.

Secondly when we transfer this emulsion from blending machin to storage tank using 1inch gear pump same issues started again.. Due to entrapped air in the emulsion, emulsion viscosity starts decreasing day by day.. Both the pump running at lowest speed possible with foot valve installed in the suction pipe.. Kindly help me what should I do so that air won’t get trapped in the emulsion? and let me know if you wants to know anything… Thank you

 

[Compositepro]

You are almost certainly sucking air in through the pump shaft packing gland. Packing glands can never seal perfectly, and your pump is at higher elevation than your supply tank, so the pump is at negative pressure. The packing can seal liquids better than air. You could lower the pump to below your supply tank by several feet (or raise the tank) so emulsion will tend to leak out rather than air leak in.

Better would be to use a seamless pump such as an air operated double diaphragm pump. These are self-priming and low shear, good for emulsions. They are also relatively inexpensive.

 

[pierreick]

Hi,
Check for eccentric disk pump for the transfer, I had good experience with Mouvex brand for emulsion polymerization where stability of emulsion was key.
Good luck
Pierre

 

[LittleInch]

Also how much below the surface is the entry of the inlet pipe?

But the pump seal is probably your best bet.