Cleaning equipment with pumps

[fakr]

So with John and I getting into conical fermenters, a challenge has surfaced regarding cleaning and sanitizing.

These fermenters are 22GAL.  Not huge, but definitely not something you can casually put in your bath tub to clean.  So we've mulled around a few ideas, and it looks like CIP (clean in place) balls are the answer.  

The next challenge was how to supply the CIP ball with a hot cleaning solution AND under pressure to activate the CIP ball spin.

Well, we found a very affordable ($75) positive displacement pump, good for up to 170F, that produces 60PSI.

So, one we found the pump, the wheels started turning in my head around cleaning kegs in place too.  

I was thinking of putting regular cam lock fittings on the pump and having a couple of hoses with corny gas and liquid fittings on them.  Fill the keg 1/4 full of your regular cleaning solution (hot if possible), hook it up to the pump, turn the keg upside down, and pump water through the liquid fitting, and suck it back out the gas fitting...
After so many minutes, disconnect, rinse, and you're good to go...

For $75, I see many uses for this kind of pump.  Not good for food, but awesome in helping with cleaning....

Thoughts anyone?

[fakr]

oops, forgot to add a link to the pump...

http://www.amazon.com/Shurflo-8005-733- ... B00571IFN6

[Kyle]

looks great - I used a 1/6hp sump pump from HD for keg cleaning, works well too.

[fakr]

Does it have pretty good pressure Kyle?  How much was it?

The other route was getting a submersible pump like yours instead of the inline one, but not sure they produce enough psi for a CIP ball and they can get pricey too.  They are awesome for self priming though.  Throw it in a bucker of cleaner, hook up one hose and you're pumping.

[chrismccull]

The pressure generated is dictated by the resistance in the piping system.  It will depend upon how much hose you have, how many restrictions, etc.  Note that the suction and discharge fittings are parallel thread and not NPT.

[fakr]

Thanks for pointing that out Chris.  I'll have to rig a conversion to 1/2" NTP for the cams.  not a big deal, just not as convenient.

I know pressure depends on the resistance in the pipeline, but at the same time, you will not get any pressure, regardless of the pipeline from a chugger or march pump...their mag drive heads are not meant to produce positive displacement pressure.

[Kyle]

mine is the 3000gph one from HD for $60:

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/1-6-hp- ... ump/959738

It is oil-less, so safe for cleaning beer stuff. I don't know that the psi generated is, but I would guess about 15ish. Not good for CIP balls, I expect. My setup is takes the garden hose fitting on the pump to a vertical 1/2" copper pipe, about 2 feet long. I crimped the end a bit to increase flow speed. The copper pipe also has a tee on it with QD's for the keg. I used narrow beverage line for the gas QD to prevent excess water flow from being diverted from the other ports. Mine works very well for kegs / carboys, saves a lot of water too.