In today’s post, we wanted to focus on one Waukesha Cherry Burrell’s newest products- the Universal 3 External Circumferential Piston (ECP) pump.

Rotary lobe or External Circumferential Piston pumps have been around for years. And for almost all of those years, Waukesha Cherry-Burrell, an SPX company, has been the industry leader in sanitary ECP Pumps. Starting with the Universal 1, and furthered with the Universal 2 series of PD pump, Waukesha ECP pumps move fluid by drawing it in to the pump head and through two counter-rotating pistons. These pistons, or rotors, sweep along the outside of the pump body and turn at constant velocity.

The shape of the rotors and cavities not only moves the fluid, but deliver a constant volume per unit time for any rotor position. And because all Waukesha pumps use a non-galling Alloy 88 rotor, all Waukesha Universal Pumps have exceptionally tight tolerances and near perfect efficiency with fluids over ~300 CPS.
If you’ve been following our blog, you know we use Waukesha PD pumps across almost every sanitary pumping application. Their simple and robust design allows them to handle both low and high viscosity fluids and delivery metered flow at pressures of up to 500 PSI. They run across a range of speeds, enabling low shear pumping and handling of particulate. The Universal 1 pumps can be easily taken apart and cleaned out of place, while the Universal 2 series of pump is designed to be cleaned in place.

But that’s enough about the Universal 1 and 2 pump. Let’s talk about the latest and greatest- the Universal 3 pump. Optimized for the most grueling of sanitary positive displacement pump applications, the Universal 3 features a front loading seal design making repair and maintenance a breeze. Have you ever tried to pull the body off a U2 220 that’s connected in line to inspect the seal for damage? It’s a pain in the ass- to say the least.

The new Universal 3 also combines a few other features of the legacy U1 and U2. Like the U2, the Universal 3 is CIP capable standard. The pump body has internal flats that allow it to free drain when the ports are oriented in the vertical. A new cover design also enables free draining on the horizontal or vertical port positions.
Also like the Universal 2, the Universal 3 comes standard with a single mechanical seal with options to convert to a double mechanical seal with flush. And like the Universal 1, the Universal 3 is available with both O ring and lip seals as well, making it ideal for difficult chocolate or confectionary applications.

And while the Universal 3 does come from the same core platform as the U1 and U2, it also integrates years of product research and development, making it the most robust PD pump ever built. The U3 can handle differential pressures of up to 500 PSI and is rated for fluid temperatures up to 300 F. The U3, similar to the U2, has a special rotor nut designed for extended service without loosening. The new pump shafts are shorter and user larger diameter 17-4PH, reducing overhung loads and improving shaft alignment. This decreases seal and bearing wear, extending pump life. The Universal 3 also comes standard with a 304SS gear case.

Dimensionally, the U3 is almost identical to the U1 and U2, allowing drop in replacement of current pumps and cover the same hydraulic range as the U1 and U2. The new U3 is compatible with Holland’s Universal Pump base and Holland Sales Engineers can expertly apply and deliver a U3 for you application in as little as 10 days.

So if you have questions about the new U3 or any sanitary ECP pump, contact a Holland Sales Engineer today.