Application Guide — FBE Series
The FBE series catalogue lists 14 food-industry fluids, from milk to yeast. See the series construction and limits, what the FBCN, FBME and FBOT manuals say about the sector, and the data the quotation needs.
Points for assessment
- The FBE catalogue lists 14 food fluids, from milk to yeast.
- State the viscosity at pumping temperature: manual MTEC-01/01 limits each size, up to 100,000 SSU for 3″ to 6″.
- Materials and sealing come from the fluid assessment; stainless steel is a catalogue construction option, chosen for the fluid and the process.
- The FBCN and FBME manuals list the food industry; FBOT circulates the heating thermal oil, not the food.
What the FBE catalogue lists for the food industry
The FBE series catalogue (p.3) lists milk, syrups, molasses, butters, jams, gelatin, glucose, BPF oil, vegetable oil, citrus, soft drinks, aromatic essential oils, ferments and yeast. Manual MTEC-01/01 also includes the food industry among FBE applications. FB does not manufacture sanitary pumps. The series below handle the fluids listed in the catalogue.
- FBE, external gear: the catalogue fluids above, with the viscosity and temperature of each duty.
- FBCN, normalized centrifugal, and FBME, multistage centrifugal: clean or turbid liquids; manuals MTEC-03/00 and MTEC-08/01 list the food industry.
- FBOT, thermal oil: the catalogue and manual MTEC-16/00 list the food industry; the pump circulates organic thermal oil, not the food.
FBE series construction per the catalogue
The catalogue lists the material options for each component, and the choice for each fluid comes from the application assessment. Stainless steel is one of those options, not an approval of the material for every food product. The shafts run in bushing bearings, and the heating chamber is an accessory for sizes 1.1/2″ to 6″ (manual MTEC-01/01).
- Casing and covers: ASTM A48 CL30 cast iron, ASTM A536 60-40-18 ductile iron, ASTM A216 WCB carbon steel or ASTM A743 CF8M stainless steel.
- Shafts and gears: SAE 1045 steel or AISI 316L stainless steel. Special treatments on request.
- Bushings: self-lubricating bronze, cast iron, PTFE (Teflon), graphite or white metal.
- Relief valve: brass or AISI 304 stainless steel.
- Sealing: packing, mechanical seal or lip seal, according to the selected configuration.
- Accessories: motor-pump assembly, heating chamber, internal relief valve and external bearing support, according to the configuration.
Viscosity, speed and series limits
The catalogue publishes 30 to 100,000 SSU for the FBE series. The limit for each size is in Table 2 of manual MTEC-01/01: 2,500 SSU for 1/8″ to 1/4″, 7,500 SSU for 3/8″ to 1″, 50,000 SSU for 1.1/2″ to 2″ and 100,000 SSU for 3″ to 6″. State the viscosity at pumping temperature. The recommended speed drops as viscosity rises. The catalogue indicates direct drive up to 7,500 SSU, at 1,750, 1,150 or 850 rpm depending on the range, and a pulley or reducer above that, down to 150 rpm between 50,000 and 100,000 SSU. The series maximums (pressure, temperature, speed and viscosity) are not simultaneous and do not apply to every model; the proposal confirms the duty point.
FBCN, FBME and FBOT in the food industry
The FBCN (MTEC-03/00) and FBME (MTEC-08/01) manuals list the food industry among their applications for clean or turbid liquids. Centrifugal selection starts from the fluid, temperature, flow and head of the process. FBOT pumps organic thermal oils. Its catalogue and manual MTEC-16/00 list the food industry, where the pump circulates the heating circuit's thermal oil, not the food. The fluid must not contain abrasive particles or substances that chemically attack the pump components.
Data for the quotation
For the assessment, state the fluid, the pumping temperature and the viscosity at that temperature, the flow, the discharge pressure, the suction conditions and the material required by the process. The FBE, FBCN and FBME manuals require consulting FB for fluids with suspended solids: describe the nature, size and concentration of the solids. For replacement, add the nameplate and code of the existing pump. Some FBE models are kept in stock; availability for each configuration is confirmed in the quotation.
Document references
- food fluids in the FBE catalogue
- 14
- FBE construction and selection
- MTEC-01/01
- centrifugal pumps for clean or turbid liquids
- FBCN · FBME
- heating thermal oil, not the food
- FBOT
General values published in the indicated documents. Confirm model, speed, fluid, materials and sealing; maxima are neither simultaneous nor guaranteed for every configuration.
Frequently asked questions
Which food fluids does the FBE gear pump handle?
The FBE series catalogue lists milk, syrups, molasses, butters, jams, gelatin, glucose, BPF oil, vegetable oil, citrus, soft drinks, aromatic essential oils, ferments and yeast. Materials, sealing and speed come from the assessment of each fluid.
What is the maximum viscosity of the FBE gear pump?
100,000 SSU, for sizes 3″ to 6″, per Table 2 of manual MTEC-01/01. The catalogue publishes 30 to 100,000 SSU for the series. Smaller sizes have lower limits, and above 7,500 SSU the catalogue recommends reduced speed, with a pulley or reducer.
Which other FB series list the food industry?
The FBCN and FBME manuals list the food industry among their applications for clean or turbid liquids. The FBOT catalogue and manual also list it, but FBOT circulates the heating circuit's thermal oil, not the food.
Does FB manufacture sanitary pumps?
No. FB does not manufacture sanitary pumps. The FBE series catalogue lists food fluids such as milk, syrups and vegetable oil, and materials and sealing come from the assessment of each application. If the process requires that type of pump, the FBE is not the right choice.
Is the FBE gear pump available in stainless steel?
Yes, as a construction option. The catalogue offers casing and covers in ASTM A743 CF8M stainless steel, shafts and gears in AISI 316L stainless steel and a relief valve in AISI 304 stainless steel. The material is chosen for the fluid and the process.
Can the gear pump handle glucose and molasses?
The FBE series catalogue lists glucose and molasses among food fluids. Selection starts from the viscosity at pumping temperature: manual MTEC-01/01 limits each size, from 2,500 SSU in the smallest to 100,000 SSU for 3″ to 6″, and above 7,500 SSU the catalogue recommends a lower speed, with a pulley or reducer.
Does the FBE pump accept fluids with suspended solids?
Manual MTEC-01/01 requires consulting FB for fluids with suspended solids. Provide the nature, size and concentration of the solids, as well as viscosity and temperature, for the application assessment.
Does the FBOT thermal oil pump pump the food itself?
No. FBOT pumps organic thermal oils. Its catalogue and manual MTEC-16/00 list the food industry, where the pump circulates the heating circuit's thermal oil. The fluid must not contain abrasive particles or substances that chemically attack the pump.
Can the FBCN centrifugal pump be used in the food industry?
Manual MTEC-03/00 lists the food industry among FBCN applications, for clean or turbid liquids. Selection starts from the fluid, temperature, flow and head, and fluids with suspended solids require consulting FB.
Catalogues and manuals serve different purposes
The catalogue presents the product range; the manual provides instructions and tables for documented configurations. Limits for the selected execution must be stated in the proposal and data sheet.
Sources and content review
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Documentation and next steps
Review the product documents and related applications before specifying the assembly.
Let us assess your application
Provide fluid, flow, differential pressure, temperature and viscosity at startup and during operation. For replacement, include the nameplate and installation dimensions.