Wine making is an intricate drink production process so transferring the juice of the grape and then the subsequent fermented product during production is a concern requiring gentle conveyance during every transport. A large wine cellar in the northern Italian province of Trento employs a progressing cavity pump from NETZSCH which functions exceptionally smoothly, leaving the wine unchanged after each step. Because this technology is compact and portable, the pump can be moved with its control cabinet on demand. This flexibility allows the vintner to work with all of his tanks with just one pump.

Grapes from approximately 1,500 associated winegrowers in the region are processed in this wine cellar in Trentino using modern stainless steel tanks as well as traditional oak barrels. Storage and distribution are divided between two separate sites approximately one half mile from each other to manage this large volume. The wine is pumped underground, between two storage units making it vital that the product is not damaged by shear forces, pulsation or fluctuations in pressure. It is also essential to prevent the formation of air pockets, which would cause frothing and increase oxidization. Additionally, the pump is intended to be used for all potential applications and at all tanks in the wine cellar.

Wine quality unaffected thanks to gentle conveying

The company chose a NEMO^® progressing cavity pump which is based on a multi-spiraled rotor running inside a matching negatively spiraled stator housing. The tight tolerances of the geometry of the two components creates conveying chambers of the same size on the suction side with each rotation, moving the sensitive medium to the discharge side in fixed volumes with almost no pulsation and without strong shear forces. In contrast to lobe pumps, there is no pressure fluctuation, as there are no pressure reversal points in the system. Each portion is safely transported through the pump in its stable chamber and gently released back into the pipe on the discharge side. Changing the length of the pipe does not impact this gentle conveying.

The volume can be adjusted at any time by adjusting the speed; it is even possible to reverse the direction of rotation. Volumetric flow rates of between 35 and 130 gpm are achieved in the wine cellar, depending on the specific situation, with an average flow of 110 gpm. The pump is generally run at a slower speed in the wine cellar to ensure the product is exposed to even lower forces. Various chemical tests performed by the wine cellar have proven that the wine quality is not affected by this conveying system.

Mobile conveying system with good cleaning characteristics

In order to operate the system as a mobile unit, the pump was mounted on a baseplate with wheels, including its control cabinet, an inverter, a manometer and a special thermal protection system to prevent overheating and dry running. The drive is also flange mounted directly to the pump. Because the design does not have to be disassembled when it is moved and because the configuration is never changed, it is only necessary to connect the power supply to bring the pump back into use at a new location.

With a concentration on food safety and neutrality of taste, all of the conveying system’s components in product contact are made from specially approved materials of stainless steel and FDA-tested elastomers. The metallic surfaces have a polished finish. The pump chamber is designed to be free of dead space and flow-optimized to prevent pumped medium from adhering. The pump is also designed for easy cleaning.

About Us:

Within the Business Unit Pumps & Systems which offers the NEMO® Progressing Cavity pumps, the TORNADO® Rotary Lobe Pumps, macerators, Multiple Screw Pumps, dosing systems and accessories, NETZSCH has been offering tailor-made and sophisticated solutions for applications in many industrial branches for more than five decades on a global level. With more than 1,600 employees, the Business Unit “Pumps & Systems” is the largest business unit with the highest sales of the entire NETZSCH group.

The NETZSCH Group is a globally active, family-owned enterprise headquartered in the Bavarian town of Selb, Germany. Our international presence is backed by 140 sales and production centers in 30 countries across the globe.

Our three business units, Analyzing & Testing, Grinding & Dispersing, and Pumps & Systems, are independent organizations acting with the objective of offering every customer the very best solution for their individual requirements.