DIATOMACEOUS EARTH SUSPENSION
How to Dose Your Diatomaceous Earth Suspension Without Problems
Pump solution for hygienic pumping of diatomaceous earth suspension
Do frequent pump failures, time-consuming dismantling, and confined spaces sound familiar to you? This is exactly what happened to the traditional brewery Müllerbräu Neuötting GmbH & Co. KG in Upper Bavaria, which relied on a diaphragm pump to pump the diatomaceous earth suspension for a long time.
We will show you how to counteract these problems and dose your diatomaceous earth suspension efficiently. NETZSCH Pumps & Systems has the optimum solution for your brewery in its portfolio.

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Challenges when pumping diatomaceous earth suspension
When it comes to naturally cloudy or clear beer, opinions differ. If you prefer a clear beer, choose a producer with the necessary filtration equipment. Like many breweries, Müllerbräu also uses diatomaceous earth suspension as a filter aid to give the beer a transparent appearance. Adding diatomaceous earth suspension in the brewing process gives the beer a clear appearance and other important characteristic properties. The porous structure of diatomaceous earth suspension filters suspended matter and turbidity out of the beer to achieve the desired effect. However, diatomaceous earth suspension is very abrasive and can damage components of the dosing technology used, such as pumps, over time.
Efficient solution for breweries: Müllerbräu relies on NETZSCH pumps
Master brewer and beer sommelier Harald Haag from Müllerbräu in Neuötting also had to contend with the mentioned challenges. The diaphragm pump used for many years proved problematic when dosing the diatomaceous earth suspension, as it frequently broke down and had to be dismantled regularly. This was made even more difficult due to the limited space available at the installation site, which resulted in unnecessary time being lost. With the advice of the filter presses manufacturer, Müllerbräu decided to change the pump technology. After positive experiences with NETZSCH in another application, the brewmaster contacted the global specialist in handling complex media. NETZSCH had already equipped the brewery with reliable pump technology in another application many years ago. A NEMO® progressing cavity pump has been used to convey spent grains since 1982.
Compact and easy to maintain: Ideal pump for diatomaceous earth suspension
“As the brewery required a compact, robust solution that is easy to service and would not take up any more space than the previous unit, we chose a PERIPRO® hose pump food version from our wide-ranging product portfolio,” explains Pitt Mair, Area Sales Manager at NETZSCH. The PERIPRO® model was specially developed for the food industry. The peristaltic pump's technology is based on the compression of an elastic, FDA-compliant hose. This enables gentle and contamination-free dosing of diatomaceous earth suspension. As no wear-prone components such as valves or mechanical seals are used, it is the perfect choice for conveying corrosive products like the diatomaceous earth-water mixture. This must be metered at a flow rate of 50 to 500 litres per hour at two to six bar. The design of the PERIPRO® also offers numerous other advantages: “Compressing the hose with XXL rollers reduces friction, resulting in a longer service life of the hose. In addition, the hose is the only component of the new pump that requires any maintenance,” explains Mair. Using a PERIPRO® peristaltic pump when dosing diatomaceous earth suspension reduces your energy costs by up to 30 percent and, at the same time, simplifies maintenance and servicing for your employees in the long term. Another advantage of the PERIPRO® is its CIP (‘Cleaning-In-Place’) capability, which allows you to clean the system without dismantling it first.
However, it was not only the technology of the PERIPRO® peristaltic pumps that convinced Müllerbräu. Instead of sourcing products through intermediaries, it was important for the brewery to be able to buy directly from the manufacturer. The advantages of NETZSCH are apparent: A direct contact person on site, fast availability of spare parts, comprehensive technical service and support and decades of experience in the field of positive displacement pumps. “It was important to us to buy the pump directly from the manufacturer without any intermediaries. Based on our good experiences with the progressing cavity pump, we chose NETZSCH again for this application. We particularly appreciate the personal round-the-clock support and the fast availability of spare parts”, says Haag. The pump solution for diatomaceous earth suspension dosing not only impresses with its high reliability and easy maintenance. The Bavarian brewery also benefits from the regional proximity to NETZSCH, which guarantees speedy support if required and is of great importance to the brewery. The global specialist for conveying complex media thus once again emphasises its promise: Proven Excellence - to offer outstanding performance in all areas.
PERIPRO® hose pump food version
