Alfa Laval SX Hygienic Lobe Rotary Pump

Alfa Laval SX lobe rotary pump: premium gentle pumping

The Alfa Laval SX is the premium pump in Alfa Laval’s rotary lobe line. Its pump head geometry and multi-lobe rotors are shaped to give low-shear operation with very little pulsation, which protects delicate products. It is designed for hygienic and ultra-clean processes in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, in the home and personal care sector, and for demanding food applications. Seven Star LLC supplies the SX range in Oman and the GCC as an independent supplier in Muscat. Because SX is a family name, the exact pump is defined by head displacement, gearbox module, seals and options.

SX technical specifications

Please treat the figures as range limits and check the pump head you need against the combined duty.

How the SX lobe pump works

The SX is a positive displacement pump with a rotor case, cover, rotors, rotor nuts, shafts, gearbox, shaft seals and elastomers. A gear train in the gearbox times the rotors so that they turn in opposite directions with no internal contact in the pump head. Liquid is carried in the cavities between the rotor dwell and the inner wall of the case, from inlet to outlet, in every revolution.

What differs from a basic lobe pump is the geometry. The multi-lobe rotors and the shape of the case were developed with computational fluid dynamics, which is how the manufacturer reaches low pulsation, low shear and low noise at the same time while keeping transfer efficient.

Hygienic design of the SX

• A low-profile rotor nut that is easy to clean.
• Hygienic front-loading mechanical seals.
• Front cover sealing with defined compression.
• A fully drainable pump head with a 3 ° fall angle.
• Sanitary or ultra-clean surface finishes.
• Compliance with EHEDG, 3-A, 3.1 and FDA, plus ATEX approval for explosive environments.

The manufacturer refers customers to the documentation supplied with the pump for the detailed certification scope.

Mechanical construction of the SX

The gearbox has heavy-duty shafts, torque locking assemblies and taper roller bearings throughout. Its universal design lets the pump be mounted with the inlet and outlet ports either vertical or horizontal, which helps when fitting into an existing skid. Wetted parts are 316L stainless steel, while the gearbox is painted cast iron, so the pump is also usable as an industrial lobe pump in tougher environments. A wide range of seals is offered, so the seal can be matched to the application. Alfa Laval makes all pump parts, including the rotor case and precision rotors, and spare rotors are fully interchangeable.

Where the SX fits and related pumps

Within the family, the SX sits between the OptiLobe and the SRU. It reaches 15 bar and 150 °C and offers 14 head sizes, against 8 bar and 130 °C for the OptiLobe and 20 bar and 200 °C for the SRU. Choose the SX when product integrity and ultra-clean validation matter more than the highest pressure. For continuous low-pulsation duty with CIP in the same pump, the Twin Screw is an alternative, and the DuraCirc covers viscous product at up to 40 bar.

Selecting an SX pump: ordering checklist

• Product, viscosity, shear sensitivity and any particles or live cultures.
• Flow rate and differential pressure.
• Operating, CIP and SIP temperatures, up to the 150 °C limit.
• Seal type and elastomer, with chemical compatibility for cleaning agents.
• Surface finish: sanitary or ultra-clean.
• Port orientation: vertical or horizontal.
• ATEX zone requirement and certification documents.
• Bare shaft, or complete unit with gear motor and base plate.

Installation, commissioning and maintenance

Place the pump so that the 3 ° drain slope of the head works in the installed position, and so that there is front access for seal and rotor work. Check the direction of rotation before running and include a relief device on the discharge, because a positive displacement pump has no pressure limit of its own. Where the pump is installed as a complete unit, check the alignment after the base plate is grouted or bolted.

For maintenance, the gearbox bearings and the seals are the parts to monitor. Keep a seal kit and the elastomer set for each head size in stock, and keep notes of operating hours and temperature cycles. Because rotor parts are fully interchangeable, a spare rotor set can be fitted without tuning the pump to the new rotors.

Typical applications in Oman and the GCC

Duties that fit the SX in the Gulf include pharmaceutical and biotech transfer where this type of production exists, personal care and home care products such as creams and gels, and food products that cannot take rough handling, such as fruit preparations, dairy desserts and sauces with pieces. In warm, humid surroundings with frequent washing, the closed stainless wetted parts and drainable head limit the risk of residue and contamination between batches.

Information to send with an RFQ

• {pn} head size or nameplate data of an existing pump.
• Product, viscosity and temperature data.
• Flow and pressure.
• Seal, elastomer and finish requirements.
• ATEX and documentation requirements.
• Port orientation and delivery form, and destination site.

Documents and quotation

We do not host a datasheet for the SX on this page. Send us the pump size or nameplate data and we will confirm which official documents are available for it.

Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier in Muscat and quotes against the data you give us, with availability and lead time in the reply.