55 GAL drum transfer

[craftstiller]

So recently i have been looking more and more at the kings county distillery because those guys are awesome. I have figured out how they pretty much run their operation. But i cannot wrap my head around how they transfer their mash from the SS 55gal drum masher to their plastic 55gal fermenters. Does anybody have any idea or can speculate on how they do this?

[rad14701]

Most likely, they use a transfer pump... They are common in distilleries, wineries, and breweries...

[craftstiller]

Can a transfer pump take out all that mash as well and not just the liquid?

[heartcut]

What Rad said. Air powered diaphragm pumps (ARO, Wilden, ect) will pump most anything, including mash on the grain. They're close relatives to the pumps you're probably seen (and heard) pumping out ditches and puddles on construction sites.

[Prairiepiss]

Some can. They make clean liquid pumps. And dirty liquid pumps. Basically you can get a pump that can pump anything you want. Provided you have the money to do so.

Most transfer pumps used for the hobby world. Including beer brewing. Are the march pump or chugger pump. Which is a copy of the march pump. They are mag drive pumps. So they are clean liquid pumps. If any grains get in it. The impeller will most likely stop. But since its a mag drive. The motor can keep on turning. And not burn up. A dirty liquid pump usually is a direct drive or gear drive. With an impeller that can chew its way through whatever you throw at it. So it won't be stopped by some grains that get in it. It will just chew them up and spit them out. Grinder pumps for septic is an example. They will take what you drop in the toilet. Chew it up and pump it to where you need it. But they aren't food grade. So don't try one. LOL

And as Rad said. About other types of pumps. I have a customer that uses air diaphragm pumps for some thick chocolate messy gunk. That has solids in it.