Pump Technology Ltd explores the issue of pumping hot wastewater and provides some guidance on solutions for commercial kitchens.
Reliability is essential for busy commercial kitchens. This is especially true when pumping hot wastewater from equipment such as pasta boilers, glasswashers, dishwashers, combi ovens and even sinks with boiling water taps.
While all wastewater pumping systems utilise submersible pumps, these are generally only designed for pumping wastewater at nominal temperatures of 35°C.
Manufactures specification for some of these pumps will often state that the pump is rated for intermittent use up to elevated temperatures of 65°C. However, this can place limitations on their use and reliability in a commercial environment.
Continuous use
For wastewater coming from a system that regularly discharges hot wastewater, a submersible pump rated for continuous use is essential. One solution for hot wastewater pumping is the Jung Pumpen 730HES (10m closed valve), or for higher discharge requirements, the 1030HES (12.5m closed valve).
Due to their internal shaft seal design, specification and choice of construction materials these pumps are rated for continuous operation at 90°C, meaning that they are specifically designed for hot wastewater.
Automatic system
These pumps can be used as part of an automatic hot wastewater pumping system and a number of different floor mounted tank designs and options are available. These include the Pump Technology Ltd, DrainMajor (pictured) for single pump specification or, if a twin duty standby pumping system is required, the DrainMajor Duo and DrainKing.
Pumps are free standing within the tank and connected via internal pipe work to the tank discharge and non-return valve. The automatic start stop is controlled by the pump’s own large, triangular, low-level float, which is external to the pump body and attached via a rigid float arm. The unit has been designed to ensure reliable operation, even when the incoming flow is turbulent or contains debris that could tangle or block conventual lead or tube float systems.
