Alfa Laval LKH Prime UltraPure is a quiet-running, high-purity pump that meets the needs of the pharmaceutical industry for liquids containing air/gas such as CIP fluids. Certified to EHEDG and authorized to carry the 3-A symbol, this versatile pump’s air-screw technology is suitable for CIP (cleaning-in-place), SIP (sterilization-in-place) and manual cleaning.
Low noise level and high pumping efficiency ideal for tank emptying and CIP return applications
- Very low risk of process contamination- hygienic design, FDA-conforming materials and pre-defined compression USP class VI elastomers
- Energy and cleaning efficient – precise hydraulic design cuts energy costs and CO2/waste chemical emissions to boost yields and sustainability
- Maximized uptime and reduced maintenance costs – robust mechanical design and ease of maintenance with modular front-loading seals
- Reduced capital investment – designed for CIP duties containing entrained air but can also pump product reducing need for additional pump
- Quiet operation compared with other technologies providing a safe working environment for plant operators
The air-screw is made from a solid bar without welds to give a smooth, porous-free finish. This helps ensure the highest levels of hygiene and repeatability and reduces contamination risk. The pump has a pharma-grade SiC mechanical seal without leachables, specially designed for CIP return applications containing air/gas and liquid mixture. The long seal life and lack of contamination increase productivity and yield.
Discover LKH Prime UltraPure
A further addition to the market leading Alfa Laval LKH pump platform, Alfa Laval LKH Prime UltraPure is characterized by superior performance, high quality and reliability for improved operational productivity. The Alfa Laval LKH Prime UltraPure, part of the UltraPure portfolio for the most demanding of Pharmaceutical applications delivering equipment of high performance, reliability, security and process sustainability.
Ensuring a long working life
Product wetted components have surface finishes down to RA ≤0.4µm to reduce risk of contamination and to increase yield.The impeller’s balance holes generate excellent process fluid circulation in the shaft seal area and help reduce axial force and wear on the shaft seal and motor bearings. The design also provides high flow around the pump, especially behind the impeller near the shaft seal, which contributes to easy cleaning and enhanced lubrication/cooling of the shaft seal for longer life.
Total peace of mind with complete documentation for validation
All equipment and components in the Alfa Laval UltraPure portfolio are supplied with Alfa Laval Q-doc, a comprehensive documentation package that provides full transparency of the entire supply chain, from raw material to final equipment delivery. This smoothes purchasing and installation procedures as well as facilitates qualification, validation and change control procedures. Based on GDP (Good Documentation Practice), Alfa Laval Q-doc covers every aspect of UltraPure equipment supply and provides customers with transparent and well-documented quality assurance of the sourced equipment.
The Q-doc package for comprises performance tests, material certificates, traceability of product wetted parts and the necessary parts and service information.This attention to detail maximizes uptime and minimizes risk.
Pump configuration options
- Impeller with reduced diameter
- Motor with increased safety/flame proof motor
- Double mechanical shaft seal
- Product wetted surface finish Ra ≤ 0.8 µm; Ra ≤ 0.5 µm or electropolished to Ra ≤ 0.4 μm.
- Product wetted elastomers Fluorinated rubber (FPM) or EPDM
- ½” tri-clamp drain connections (two connections)
- No drain
- 0° outlet position
- Hydrostatic testing with certificate
How it works
Alfa Laval LKH Prime UltraPure is a self-priming pump based on air-screw technology. The pump achieves capacities of up to 110 m3/hr and pressures of up to 115 m head.
The pump shares many common components with the Alfa Laval LKH pump range including the impeller, which can be trimmed to optimize pump performance according to its application. Dedicated components include the airscrew, casing, re-circulation pipe and cover.
On applications where the pumped media contains a mixture of air and liquid in the suction line, air-screw rotation causes the formation of a continuous liquid ring within the canister. Due to the eccentric position of the canister relative to the air-screw, an air chamber forms between the liquid ring and the air-screw [see diagram] which separates into air pockets between the air-screw vanes.
The continuous rotation of the air-screw forces air pockets through the canister into the suction stage of the impeller which are then pumped out via the discharge.
Liquid is returned from the discharge via the re-circulation pipe into the canister to ensure the liquid ring is maintained at all times. When there is no air present, the canister and recirculation loop have no function and are filled with liquid. The liquid passes through the canister into the suction stage of the impeller allowing the pump to act as a traditional centrifugal pump.