BioFuels Journal

Fuel:Bio Says Blackmer System One and NP Series Pumps Provide Reliability for High-Quality Biodiesel Production

Grand Rapids, MI—Since biodiesel can be made by nearly anyone, it's important for reputable biodiesel producers to be able to continually provide ASTM D6751-certified biodiesel to their customers.

In order to produce this quality product, the correct equipment must be in place and counted on to perform at expected levels.

A very important element, and one that is critical to the success of a biodiesel-production facility, are the pumps.

When Elizabeth, NJ-based Fuel:Bio Holdings, LLC, designed its state-of-the-art biodiesel production facility in early 2007, the company installed Blackmer System One centrifugal and NP Series sliding vane pumps at many crucial points throughout its proprietary production process.

In total, Fuel:Bio currently has seven Blackmer System One centrifugal pumps and two NP Series sliding vane pumps installed at the facility, which has the capacity to produce 50 million gallon of biodiesel per year.

And after just one year of trouble-free operation, Fuel:Bio has become a firm believer in Blackmer pumps.

"The Blackmer pumps are ideal for biodiesel in several ways," noted T.P. "Sunny" Harnanan, Plant Manager for Fuel:Bio.

"They are more durable than other pumps and they provide reliable flow rates that are needed for our process. Flow really matters in this business," Harnanan said. "If you end up with an incorrect ingredient ratio, then your formula will be messed up. Blackmer pumps give me the assurance that my flow rates will be accurate. They are truly the best pump available for the production of biodiesel."

The centrifugal pumps used at the Fuel:Bio facility are the System One "Frame LD17" and "Frame S" models, specifically.

Designed around the seal where 90% of pump failures occur, Blackmer System One pumps offer a stiffer heavy-duty shaft and larger bearings, resulting in the widest operational window off the Best Efficiency Point (BEP) than any standard process pump.

The Frame S is a heavy-duty alternative to standard small-frame pumps, delivering capacities to 450 gpm (102m3/hr).

The Frame LD17 has the stiffest shaft in the industry, which dramatically reduces seal and shaft failures.

The Frame LD17 also reaches capacities of 1,400 gpm (320m3/hr).

In addition to the System One centrifugal pumps, Fuel:Bio has incorporated Blackmer's NP Series of sliding vane pumps—specifically the 2-inch and 3-inch models.

Blackmer's NP Series pumps offer biodiesel producers high volumetric efficiency and low slippage, thus requiring less horsepower and energy usage.

NP pumps are available in five port sizes ranging from 1.5 to 4 inches with flow rates from 5 to 500 U.S. gpm (19 to 1,893 lpm) and operating temperatures to 500F (260C).

NP pumps are self-priming, meaning that they can run dry for short periods of time during priming and line-stripping.

The pumps have a unique head-and-sleeve bearing design that allows a small quantity of fluid to flow from the discharge side of the pump to the bearings.

This small, continuous flow of fluid over the bearing surfaces provides a hydrodynamic film, which minimizes temperature rise for longer bearing life.

To date, the operational team at Fuel:Bio has been very happy with the selection and performance of the Blackmer pumps.

"I've been working with Blackmer pumps for the past several years, in biodiesel manufacturing and transferring other chemicals, and we are very comfortable with them because they give us what we need—a reliable and durable pump that provides outstanding performance," said Harnanan. "They are truly the best pump available for the production of biodiesel."

For more information about Blackmer System One centrifugal and NP Series sliding vane pumps, please contact Tom Stone at 616-248-9252.