Helicoidal Pumps have a screw-shaped impeller to create a more gentle transfer of wine while eliminating clogging. Inoxpa created the Helicoidal RV pump for wineries to improve the pump-over process where high capacity and minimum destruction is required. The design of the pump contributes to a better extraction of tannin, coloring matter of wine and reduced lees formation — all resulting in a high quality wine.

Picture Courtesy of Inoxpa: “Helicoidal Impeller Pump RV”

From HVAC to the complete wine making process and waste handling, RF MacDonald Company is your single source partner for complete pump and boiler solutions specifically designed for the wine industry. With over two million dollars in inventory, you get fast and reliable service.

Find out more. See the Wine Industry Capabilities Overview Brochure @ www.RFMacDonald.com

Boiler Case Study: Charles Krug Winery - St.Helena, CA 

 

Customer Applications & Key Challanges 

Charles Krug, Napa Valley's first winery established in 1861, has been owned and operated by the Peter Mondavi family for more than four generations. Charles Krug is recognized as an innovator and pioneer in the winemaking industry, with their exquisite line of critically acclaimed wine vintages being enjoyed by aficionados and casual consumers alike. To assist the fermentation step in the winemaking process, Charles Krug was utilizing a steam boiler to heat their wine to temperatures below 90°F. Unfortunately, the boiler was an older model and relies on a heat exchanger to produce high pressure steam; an unnecessarily expensive and inefficient technology. On top of that, the steam from the boiler was being routed to several different processes throughout the plant. Looking to improve their production process, Charles Krug consulted with R.F. MacDonald Co. to bring the quality of their wine to its fullest potential.

 

The R.F MacDonald Co. Analysis & Solution

Charles Krug, Napa Valley's first winery, was exploring options to upgrade their boiler and improve their fermentation process, as well as consolidate their boiler and condenser into a single unit. R.F. MacDonald Co. recommended the Cleaver-Brooks Clearfire Model CFC, a boiler system that circulates water through both the boiler and a chiller to achieve any desired temperature, hot or cold. This feature allows Charles Krug to use just one system for both the heating and cooling of their wine tanks, which require different temperatures at various stages throughout the fermentation process.

Charles Krug approved R.F. MacDonald Co.'s recommendation, and the existing boiler was replaced with two Cleaver-Brooks Clearfire boilers. The Clearfire CFC boiler features a combustion system with a pre-mix down firing burner, which is fundamental to achieving efficiencies up to 99% and NOx levels less than 20 ppm. Using natural gas and propane, the Clearfire is suitable for central heating and indirect hot water supply at working pressures up to 3 bar or 5 bar, depending on the required output. A key feature to Charles Krug's application was the Clearfire's capability for simultaneous heating and condensing. Along with the Clearfire, R.F. MacDonald Co. also installed a Camus Boiler for barrel rinsing and domestic water wash downs, which decoupled the boiler from supplying steam to multiple processes at one time.

 

Project Results

Throughout the installation process, R.F. MacDonald Co. worked in conjunction with the installation crew and provided invaluable expertise and input during the design phase. R.F. MacDonald Co. is now the continuing service provider for the equipment, and proactively monitors and maintains the boiler system at the Charles Krug winery. The boiler system itself is continuing to provide Charles Krug with the freedom to control thermals at the temperature they want, at the time they want. The fuel savings gained from the more efficient boiler, combined with the ease of operation, have culminated into an investment into boiler technology that Charles Krug considers to be a great decision.

 

A Hydra-Cell D04 pump is known for its proven reliability and seal-less design that guarantees no leakage. In addition, the multiple-diaphragm design delivers virtually pulse-less flow, which enables smooth operation, even at the required high pressure.

 

 

Contact us to find out more: www.rfmacdonald.com/contact/index.html

Boiler tuning is necessary to maintain efficiency as well as to ensure reliability and safety. Tuning the burner during the spring and again in the fall is recommended because of the dramatic air temperature and density changes that occur during these seasons.

Both steam and hot water boilers need to be tuned regularly. It is important that a boiler is hot before it is tuned. A cold boiler will throw off the actual operating O2 and CO readings.

Below are the conditions for a natural gas-fired boiler, which is warm, has a load and has a zero pressure reading on the boiler’s steam gauge.

1. Insert the probe into the stack to monitor stack temperature, O2 and CO readings.

2. Power the burner switch, and place the burner in the manual mode and at the low-fire point. The burner will now be under the control of the Burner Management System (Programmer), so expect it to go through its sequence of pre-purging and trial for ignition.

3. With a pressurized boiler, check the O2 analyzer for the O2 and CO readings. If the CO is above 50-100 parts per million, the burner is running rich, and either the fuel needs to be cut back or the air increased. A good excess air at low fire is between 5-8% O2. Also, check the manifold pressure at the burner entrance to make sure it is within the operating parameters as detailed by the manufacturer to assure proper input.

4. Once low-fire is set, manually increase the firing rate incrementally while observing the flame and looking for signs of sooting or instability.

5. At the same time, watch the analyzer at each control point and make cam adjustments (and possibly linkage adjustments) to bring the fuel/air ratio as close to the goal as possible while maintaining safe firing conditions at all times. If the boiler can hold 3% O2 or 15% excess air from medium to high-fire with no more than 50 PPM of CO, the adjustment tuning is excellent.

6. Take into consideration where the boiler fires most of the time. Set the combustion to the maximum efficiency at that particular rate while maintaining a safe margin of excess air.

7. Arriving at high fire, and making the adjustments along the way to the cam/linkages or actuators, check the manifold pressure again to ensure there is full input to the burner as defined by the manufacturer.

8. Manually bring the burner back to low fire, checking the combustion readings as it descends, and make minor tweaks as needed. During this time, watch the linkage movement on a single-point positioning system to ensure there are no hitches or slippage. Confirming this, switch the control from manual to automatic, allowing the burner to modulate on its own.

9. When the burner has reached its stability point with regard to load matching, watch the boiler pressure in relationship to the stack temperature. A well-tuned boiler/ burner package will register a stack temperature between 50-100 degrees above the saturation or water temperature. Anything above this will indicate a dirty boiler or one that has flue gas bypass issues or is badly scaled.

10. Check the safeties, especially the low-water cutoff, the ALWCO and flame scanner. A boiler that is out of tune increases operating expenses as energy exits through the stack. In addition, soot can build up to the point that the tubes overheat and crack or break from their welds, leading to extensive downtime and excessive repair costs. 

See full article here

We can provide application assistance, equipment, turnkey installation and startup services for these pressure booster systems. Call us at 510-784-0110 http://www.rfmacdonald.com 

boosterpaq.pdf

We are proud to present our 2017 Boiler and Pump Training Schedule with a full set of training classes. The classes rotate between locations and extensive information and registration is available from our website at:

http://www.rfmacdonald.com/training/index.html

ABOUT OUR CLASSES

R.F. MacDonald Co. provides a full schedule of boiler and pump classes that are attended by hundreds of participants each year throughout California and Nevada. Each class offers highly qualified speakers including manufacturers, industry experts and our own highly experienced technical personnel. Most of the classes feature class curriculum along with in-depth, hands on training programs.

WHAT TRAINEES ARE SAYING

"...really well organized and very comfortable. We look forward to sending more people.Thanks!"

-Chad Oney, Senior Parts Coordinator, S. Martinelli & Co.

We're having a meet and greet with the local sales and service teams for our Rohnert Park office. We'll have product displays, catered lunch and raffles. Join us! 

When: Friday, June 23, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM PDT 

Where: R.F. MacDonald Co. 

642 Martin Avenue, Ste B

Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Contact: Event Coordinator

R.F. MacDonald Co.

510-670-7430

athena.mekis@rfmacdonald.com

 

To register, please click here. 

On Friday, June 23, 2017, the RFM sales team hosted its 4th annual Customer Appreciation Open House. Roughly 30 customers attended and each went home with an RFM gift back and special giveaway.

For upcoming events, click here. 

R.F. MacDonald Co. offers complete pump solutions specifically designed for the wine industry. Check out our brochure and success stories: http://www.rfmacdonald.com/documents/RFMWineryBrochure.pdf

Give us a call for personal assessment of you application — 510-784-0110.

Make any machine a smart machine with the i-ALERT2 Equipment Health Monitor. The ITT Goulds i-Alert2 will work on any rotating machine and detect abnormalities that traditional alarms can’t. With the monitor’s library of diagnostic information, a corrective action can be found instantaneously. 

i-ALERT2 combines the latest in Bluetooth® low energy and sensor technology into a rugged, safe, industrial certified package. i-ALERT2 puts monitoring and diagnostics in the hands of everyday users, empowering anyone to safely monitor equipment from a distance. Learn more by watching the i-Alert2 capabilities video below. 

 

Join R.F. Macdonald for the Northern CA Facilities Expo in Hayward, CA for information on boiler systems, pump systems and services/training for your industry. 

September 20-21, 2017

R.F. MacDonald Co.

25920 Eden Landing Rd, Hayward, California 94545

This event meets the facilities engineering, maintenance and energy management needs of industries such as high-tech manufacturing, government, health care, hospitality, finance, education, information technology, software development, shipping, utilities and many others. 

For more information, click here. 

R.F. MacDonald Co. will be at the WIN Expo Thursday, Nov. 30. RFM’s uniquely fabricated wine pump carts are a best seller in Sonoma County. Stop by Booth #240 for cutaways and giveaways.

Many winery facilities are replacing their steam boiler with a hydronic one to increase efficiency and decrease operating costs. Before condensing boiler technology was introduced, boilers operated at a maximum of 80 percent to 85 percent efficiency. Today, condensing hydronic boilers can operate at efficiencies up to 99 percent. Hydronic boilers can be used for either building heat or process hot water applications.

Greater Efficiency Equals Reduced Energy Costs
Some facilities that convert from a steam boiler to a condensing one reduce their energy bill by as much as 50 percent. A condensing boiler is more efficient than a steam boiler because it extracts both latent heat and sensible heat from combustion exhaust.

Find Out More About Hydronic Boilers        
To learn more about hydronic heating systems and how they can help your company reduce energy costs for your facility call an R.F. MacDonald Co. office near you.

Read the Entire Article along with Supporting Case Studies

The compact and robust design of the Kiber NTE progressive cavity pump makes it ideal for transferring whole or destemmed grapes. And due to its design it can be installed right under the destemmer. It also can be used for the process of devatting.

Operating principle: Friction between the rotor and the stator creates vacuum in the inlet area thereby helping the entry of the product into the pump. The turning motion of the rotor makes the cavities between the rotor and the stator move forward and transport the product to the outlet.

Design and features:

Highly versatile.

Easy to clean.
Hopper with drain.
Robust construction.
Motor: 3 ph 230/400 V (3 kW), 400/690 V (>3 kW), 50 Hz, IP-55.
Helical-bevel gear units.
Pump mounted on trolley.
EC electric panel with ON/OFF switch, inverter and emergency stop push button.
Standard connection: spherical coupling.
Rotary wheels with brakes.
Red painted RAl3003.

Materials: 

Parts in contact with the media AISI 304 
Lantern Carbon steel
Stator NBR (specific composition for this application)
Packing gland PTFE
Surface finish blasted

Options:

Liquid detector: Max / Min.
Remote control.
Connections: Garolla, Clamp, Flanges, DIN, etc.
Electromagnetic brakes in motor.
Frequency converter (Control Range). 
St.St. control panel.

For more information click here. 

 

R.F. MacDonald Co. is proud to announce that we have been approved as a Wright Flow Technologies Authorized Service Center. Wright Flow Authorized Service Centers provide factory authorized service, parts, accessories and warranty replacement work within their designated region. Currently, both the Fresno and Santa Fe Springs Facilities are authorized for Industrial RLP, Sanitary RLP, Revolution, TRA10/20, and TRA400/500.

Qualification Requirements
In order to qualify, Technicians were required to attend Wright Flow Service and Repair Training, as well as pass a facility audit. In addition, Authorized Service Centers are required to inventory a certain amount of spare parts and specialized tools in order to support Wright Flow customers. Robert Sygiel, Director, Pump Business Unit for R.F. MacDonald Co. said, “We are proud of our partnership with Wright Flow Technologies and feel that this appointment will allow us to expand into new areas of service for our Wright Flow Pump customers and new prospects throughout our region.”

About Wright Flow Technologies
Wright Flow Technologies offers a comprehensive, leading-edge technology portfolio of circumferential piston, rotary lobe, and centrifugal pumps. Applications include the Beverage, Bio-Tech, Chemical and Industrial, Dairy, Food, Personal Care, and Pharmaceutical industries. Wright Flow Technologies Product Catalog

Contact Us With Your Service Needs
Give us a call today to learn more about the products and services we offer, or to discuss how we can help your plant maintain optimum efficiency through a consistent maintenance and repair program for your facility pump and fluid handling equipment.

R.F. MacDonald Co. can help with highly efficient hot water modular and steam firetube boilers. Steam boilers assist with propulsion of a product, steam sterilization and building heating. To get more information, come see us in Santa Clara at the Northern CA Facilites Expo September 26-27, 2018 booth 354! We will have boiler tube smples and other giveaways!

For more information, visit here. 

 

Strong growth in commercial boiler and pump business and a strategic acquisition in the Southern California market fuel the company's year-over-year revenue gains

HAYWARD, Calif., Oct. 3, 2018  -- R.F. MacDonald Co., a leading provider of boiler and pump equipment for commercial and industrial solutions, today announced that it has been recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Bay Area's largest family-owned businesses. The company has been previously recognized by the Timesand other leading publications for achieving consistent, long-term revenue growth.

The company's strong revenue growth in fiscal year 2017 was driven in part by its strategic acquisition of Process Equipment Company, which held distribution agreements for several key industrial pump product lines in the Southern California market.

"We are pleased to be recognized by the San Francisco Business Times in this year's Book of Lists," said Jim MacDonald, President of R.F. MacDonald Co. "Over the years, we have enjoyed strong organic growth in our commercial and industrial boiler and pump business. Adding the Goulds Pumps product line in the Southern California market was crucial in helping us grow our overall pump business, and will help us achieve our future revenue targets," he added.

Founded in 1956, R.F. MacDonald Co. currently employs over 270 people and is headquartered in Hayward, CA. The company maintains offices for the sale and service of commercial and industrial boilers and pumps throughout California and Nevada, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Las Vegas, Reno, Modesto, Fresno, Sonoma/Napa, San Diego, Bakersfield, Sacramento and the Bay Area.

About R.F. MacDonald Co.

R.F. MacDonald Co. was founded in 1956 and has nearly 300 employees throughout California and Nevada. Each department is dedicated to the sales and service of boilers and pumps for commercial and industrial applications. The company also employs experienced engineers to assist contractors, engineers and customers in equipment selection, installation planning, layout permitting and project supervision. For more information on RF MacDonald, please visit www.rfmacdonald.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

"The Seepex pump along with the quality and speed of the R.F. MacDonald service when the pump requires any type of part or service is truly unsurpassed. When we replacaed our metal lobe pumps with the Seepex our jamming issues were eliminated"

CUSTOMER APPLICATION AND KEY CHALLENGES 

Castoro Cellars began as a small family venture producing a few barrels of wine for family and friends, but over the last two decades has added staff, equipment, facilities and vineyards to blossom into a custom crush operation producing about 60,000 cases of wine per year.

One of the problem areas for the winery processing has been their MUST Pump. MUST consists of the skins, seeds and juice of freshly crushed and destemmed grapes. Sitting below the crusher/ destemmer the MUST pump transfers product to the fementation tanks or presses.

The metal rotary lobe pumps being used by the winery were consistently getting jammed and required the entire line to stop while an operator disassembled, cleared, reset and restarted the pump. After three harvest seasons with these exasperating pumps, Castoro Cellars was seeking a more efficient option.

Seepex Pump below the Delta8 Crusher transferring grape MUST to fermentation tanks

THE R.F. MACDONALD CO. ANALYSIS & SOLUTION

R.F. MacDonald Co. reviewed the problems with the existing MUST pump before designing and developing a customized Seepex Progressive Cavity Pump Model BT1306L. This particular pump contains a metal rotor with a rubber stator that can flex and compress when it encounters solid material that would have jammed the previous equipment. A 40 HP right angle gear motor and a custom made auger helps to continuously convey the solid product into the pump cavity.

The pump also featured a custom-made open hopper to provide an efficient recepticle from a Delta8 Crusher, capable of processing up to 80 tons of material per hour, which is about 320 gallons per minute. On average the winery pumps about 15,000 tons per year through their MUST pump, and has been averaging 3-4 years between stator changeouts.

Fermenting tanks that receive product from the pump

 

The variable frequency drive is able to adjust the speed of the pump based on the level of the material in the hopper. The pump is automatically controlled but also features a remote speed pot that allows the operator to use a hand-held device to control the speed, stop the pump in emergencies and even reverse the direction to clear any jams downstream. 

An integral dry-run sensor thermal couple was included to detect a temperature increase that would occur at the stator/rotor interface in the event of a dry run condition. The temperature increase triggers the sensor and the pump automatically turns off to prevent any damage to the internals.

The entire pump system was mounted on a wheeled cart so the winery could easily move the assembly to the shop for maintenance and repairs, as well as store the system during off harvest seasons. 

Final installation of the Seepex Pump below the Delta8 Crusher

R.F. MacDonald Co. begins special price promotion for Warren Rupp Sandpiper flapper valve & ball valve pumps before grape crush begins.

 

R.F. MacDonald Co. Pump Price Promotion