IP65 inverter mounts on beer pump for filling casks

Microdat is an innovative supplier of machinery for handling kegs and casks in the brewing industry. The company's entry-level filler is based around a peristaltic pump that is speed controlled by a Lenze SMV frequency inverter. With an IP65 enclosure, the SMV inverter is mounted directly onto the machine without any need for a panel or enclosure. This minimises costs and is convenient for the operators of the fillers who benefit from easy access to the control keypad of the inverter.

The entry-level filler can be equipped with one or two filling heads. Usually when filling beer barrels one operator will use two heads, filling one barrel while preparing the second. Barrels are filled to 95 per cent by means of a timer, and then the operator uses a hand control to top up the barrel to 100 per cent. The SMV inverter drives the peristaltic pump according to a preset time/speed profile that avoids frothing. It is mounted to the front of the filler without a panel and its IP65 enclosure makes it resistant to normal cleaning operations with low-pressure jets. When the pump tube needs to be changed, the convenient location makes the task easy for the operator; the new tube is inched through the pump using the integrated keypad on the inverter.

Microdat designs and manufactures its own peristaltic pumps that are optimised for hygienic handling of both foods and liquids. The peristaltic pumping concept replicates the swallowing action in humans and does not cause damage to the materials being pumped. Microdat has successfully applied its pumps beyond beer to creams, jam, chocolate and even curry! Rollers track around and compress a reinforced rubber tube with a food-grade lining. This produces pump pressures of 5-6bar. Compared to the alternative of sliding shoes, the rolling design consumes up to 50 per cent less energy and performs better at low speeds.

Drive system

Driven by the SMV inverter is a Lenze aluminium worm-geared motor sized according to the application but typically rated at 0.75kW and 46r/min. The geared motor is mounted vertically to minimise the footprint of the pump and is hollow shaft-mounted to the motor - which has its own heavy-duty roller bearings to cope with the radial forces.

With an integrated EMC filter, small footprint and built-in keypad, the Lenze SMV inverters are very useful for such simple machinery where the cost of a panel cannot be justified. SMV inverters are available in a range of 0.37-7.5kW as standard models, with optional mains isolator or polycarbonate casings for UV resistance in outdoor applications.

Follow the link for more information about the Lenze SMV IP65 enclosed frequency inverters.