Pumps for the cassava starch production industry — starch slurry, starch milk & cassava pulp
Progressive cavity screw pump low shear, passing abrasive particles & fibres for grinding slurry, cassava starch milk and cassava pulp; centrifugal pumps for wash water/wastewater, high-pressure pumps for centrifuge chamber cleaning — including the stage of pulp separation & sludge dewatering by decanter centrifuge, select pumps by process stage.
Under the Sustainable Development Plan for the cassava industry to 2030, Vietnam maintains 480.000–510.000 ha cassava cultivation area and total processing plant capacity 12–14.2 million tonnes of fresh roots/year — each plant is a chain of pump application points from grinding slurry to wastewater. (Decision 1115/QĐ-BNN-TT, 17/4/2024)
Where are pumps used in the cassava starch processing line?
Each process stage involves different fluids and requirements. The diagram below matches the appropriate pump family to each pump application point — prioritizing screw positive displacement pumps for process fluids containing particles/fibres, centrifugal pumps for dilute water, and decanter centrifuges for pulp separation at the end of the process.
Root washing & process water supply
Clean water / dilute wash water — high flow rate, low viscosity.
Grinding & coarse grinding slurry
Starch + fibre (pulp) + fine sand — abrasive & fibrous.
Pulp separation & starch milk pumping
Starch milk — fine suspension with sand.
Cassava pulp pumping
Fibre + water, high consistency, prone to clogging.
Concentration & centrifuge feed
Concentrated starch milk ~18–20 °Be, requires stable pressure.
Dewatering · drying & CIP cleaning
Cleaning centrifuge chambers, floors, and equipment with high-pressure water.
Cassava pulp, sludge & wastewater
Wastewater contains sand/fibre/lost starch; pulp + sludge require solid–liquid separation.
8 pump application points in a cassava starch plant: wash/process water supply · coarse grinding slurry transfer · starch milk pumping · cassava pulp transfer · concentrated starch milk feed to centrifuge · centrifuge chamber cleaning (high-pressure) · wastewater transfer · pulp separation/sludge dewatering (HAUS decanter). Match Q × H × °Be for each actual operating point — contact for datasheet
Three challenges in cassava starch plants — and how to address them
Abrasive sand from cassava roots, clogging-prone pulp fibres, and concentrated starch milk with particles are the three recurring problem groups at process fluid pump points. Each card below describes the mechanism causing the problem and the corresponding technical solution.
Abrasive sand damaging impellers & seals
Cassava roots carry fine sand; sand particles in grinding slurry and starch milk erode high-speed centrifugal impellers and mechanical seals → seal leakage, rapid failure, downtime.
Pump progressive cavity screw pump (positive displacement) with no mechanical seal in the working zone; rotor/stator wears gradually rather than failing suddenly. The line includes a desanding stage (desander) to protect downstream equipment.
Pulp fibre clogging & thick slurry
Cassava pulp with high fibre content tends to wrap around or clog closed impellers; grinding slurry and starch milk concentrated to ~18–20 °Be have high consistency and particle content, challenging for standard centrifugal pumps.
Screw pumps deliver a steady, low-pulsation flow, passing particles & fibres without clogging; hopper configuration for thick fluids that do not flow freely, such as cassava pulp — providing stable feed to the pressing/dewatering stage.
Pulp & wastewater sludge requiring dewatering
Wet cassava pulp and wastewater sludge containing sand/fibre occupy large volumes and are difficult to handle and transport; wastewater carrying lost starch requires solid–liquid separation for recovery.
Centrifuge decanter HAUS for dewatering cassava pulp and wastewater sludge (wear-resistant scroll, reinforced bowl for abrasive fibres) — the solid fraction is used as animal feed/fertilizer. This is a solid–liquid separation machine, not a pump.
Nova Rotors screw pumps for starch slurry, starch milk & cassava pulp
Select by process stage — from grinding slurry transfer and starch milk pumping to high-fibre cassava pulp. General range specifications per Nova Rotors published data; specific operating points per plant are noted as "contact for datasheet".
Diamond DN-JN screw pump
Suitable stage: grinding slurry transfer, starch milk — abrasive particulate fluid.
- TypeProgressive cavity (PC) screw pump
- BodyAISI 316 (manufacturer data)
- Solids contentup to ~28% · contact for datasheet
Diamond DH-JH hopper screw pump
Suitable stage: thick cassava pulp, high fibre content, does not flow freely (hopper configuration).
- TypePC screw with hopper
- For use withThick fluid / high fibre content
- Per-dutycontact for datasheet
HE Hopper Trolley Screw Pump
Suitable stage: cassava pulp / thick fluid requiring mobile feed at the plant.
- TypeMobile hopper PC screw pump
- For use withPulp & thick slurry
- Per-dutycontact for datasheet
Diamond DV vertical screw pump
Suitable stage: suction from pits/tanks, starch slurry — vertical installation saves floor space.
- TypeVertically mounted PC screw pump
- For use withPit/tank suction for slurry
- Per-dutycontact for datasheet
Diamond DX-JX sanitary screw pump
Suitable stage: plants with food-grade/modified starch lines (EHEDG/3A, CIP).
- TypeSanitary PC screw pump
- StandardEHEDG · 3A · CIP (manufacturer data)
- Per-dutycontact for datasheet
Terminator TG Grinder
Suitable stage: grinding coarse debris/fibre upstream of the pump to prevent pipe clogging.
- TypeTwin-shaft grinder
- For use withCoarse fibre/debris upstream of pump point
- Per-dutycontact for datasheet
Nova Rotors model range & process-stage selector
General range specifications taken from Nova Rotors published data. Per-duty figures for each cassava starch pump point (Q × H × °Be fluid) no dedicated cassava case study available from the manufacturer — noted as "contact for datasheet" — no figures inferred.
| Series / Model | Type | Cassava starch process stage | Operating point |
|---|---|---|---|
| DN-JN | Standard PC screw pump | Ground slurry · milk powder · centrifugal feed | contact for datasheet |
| DH-JH | Hopper PC screw pump | Thick cassava pulp / high fibre | contact for datasheet |
| HE | Mobile hopper PC screw pump | Thick pulp / slurry mobile feed | contact for datasheet |
| DV | Vertical PC screw pump | Pit/tank suction for slurry | contact for datasheet |
| DX-JX | Sanitary PC screw pump (EHEDG/3A) | Food-grade/modified starch line | contact for datasheet |
| HTS | Sanitary twin-screw pump | Viscous sanitary fluid (≤1,000,000 cps) | contact for datasheet |
| DM / MX | Metering screw pump (industrial / sanitary) | Additive / enzyme solution metering | contact for datasheet |
| TG | Twin-shaft grinder | Coarse debris/fibre grinding upstream of pump | contact for datasheet |
Pump selection guide by process stage
- Wash water / process water supply: horizontal centrifugal pump — dilute water, high flow rate.
- Grinding slurry & starch milk (with sand/fibre): PC screw DN-JN / DV — passing particles, low shear.
- Thick cassava pulp, high fibre: hopper screw DH-JH / HE — stable feed to pressing/dewatering.
- Concentrated starch milk (~18–20 °Be) feed to centrifuge: PC screw / abrasion-resistant centrifugal — steady flow, low pulsation.
- Centrifuge chamber & plant cleaning: high-pressure pump (auxiliary group).
- Exact model match for each actual operating point — contact for datasheet
Screw (PC) or gear pump?
Fluid with abrasive particles + fibres (grinding slurry, starch milk, cassava pulp). Steady low-pulsation flow, low shear, passes particles/fibres without clogging.
Fluid viscous but CLEAN (downstream glucose/maltose syrup). Gear pumps are sensitive to sand/hard particles and are therefore not used for raw starch slurry.
Configuration & material selector by fluid
Body / rotor-stator configuration
- Standard PC (DN-JN)
- With hopper (DH-JH)
- Vertical installation (DV)
- Vi sinh (DX-JX)
- Titanium (XF)
Slurry/starch milk abrasive — recommended AISI 316 body (per manufacturer data); thick fibrous pulp — use hopper; for highly corrosive fluids consider XF (titanium).
Downstream syrup (Tuthill)
- GlobalGear®
- Series T / D
- D ORBIS™
- HD / 4000 / L
For use only at the CLEAN downstream syrup (glucose/maltose/HFS from starch). GlobalGear handles viscosity up to 1,000,000 ssu (~220,000 cst, conversion) — not suitable for raw starch slurry containing sand.
When to use centrifugal
Centrifugal pump suitable for clean water, wash water and dilute wastewater (high Q, low viscosity). Avoid standard centrifugal pumps for starch slurry/pulp with sand & fibres — closed impellers wear quickly and can clog. Feeding concentrated starch milk to dewatering centrifuges requires a steady flow; use screw pumps or abrasion-resistant centrifugal pumps.
Matching material & configuration precisely to each fluid and operating point — contact for datasheet
Passes abrasive particles & fibres
Progressive cavity positive displacement pumps transfer ground mash, starch milk and cassava pulp containing sand + fibres without clogging — where closed-impeller centrifugal pumps wear rapidly and become entangled.
Steady flow, low pulsation
Steady (pulsation-free) flow, low shear force — feeds dewatering centrifuges steadily; suitable for thick, particle-laden fluids such as concentrated starch milk ~18–20 °Be.
Reduced seal failure
No mechanical seal in the working zone; rotor/stator wear gradually rather than failing abruptly — reducing downtime caused by sand particles destroying seals.
Three brands, three roles in the cassava starch plant
Screw pumps transfer process fluids with particles/fibres, gear pumps serve the clean downstream syrup stage, and decanter centrifuges handle pulp separation & sludge dewatering — a complete solution covering the entire processing cycle.
PC/lobe/twin-screw positive displacement pumps for ground mash, starch milk and cassava pulp — abrasive fluids with sand and high fibre content. Steady low-pulsation flow, low shear force, passes particles/fibres; AISI 316 body (per manufacturer data). Core of this page for process fluid pump points.
View Nova Rotors brandInternal gear pump for viscous but CLEAN fluids — suitable for downstream processing of glucose/maltose/glucose syrup produced from starch. Smooth filling/metering/transfer, steady low-pulsation flow. For raw starch slurry with sand/fibres, use screw pumps instead of gear pumps.
View Tuthill brandSolid–liquid separation centrifuge equipment (decanter centrifuge) for cassava pulp separation and wastewater sludge dewatering — not a fluid transfer pump. Wear-resistant scroll, reinforced bowl for abrasive cassava fibre; solids used as animal feed/fertiliser.
View HAUS brandClosing the processing loop: cassava pulp separation, sludge dewatering & recovery
Cassava pulp and wastewater sludge with sand/fibre require solid–liquid separation. The HAUS decanter centrifuge dewaters slurry/pulp — reducing moisture from approximately 60% to 35–40% (wet cake) at the process dewatering stage — with a wear-resistant scroll and reinforced bowl for abrasive cassava fibre. This is solid–liquid separation equipment, unlike fluid transfer pumps; solids are used as animal feed/fertiliser and water is recovered.
Learn about HAUS — decanter centrifuge & dewateringProcessing segments served
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Q&A on pumps for the cassava starch industry
Which pump is suitable for pumping cassava starch milk and starch slurry with sand/fibres?
Why not use standard centrifugal pumps for starch slurry and cassava pulp?
What pump is used for high-fibre, thick cassava pulp?
How does sand in cassava roots affect pumps, and how is it handled?
What characteristics are required of the pump feeding starch milk to the dewatering centrifuge?
At which stage in the cassava starch plant is the Tuthill gear pump used?
What equipment is used to process cassava pulp and wastewater sludge from the cassava starch plant?
What pump is used to clean centrifuge chambers and the plant facility?
Get technical consultation on pump selection for your cassava starch plant
Provide your process stage, fluid, flow rate, and wetted materials — enough for us to recommend the right model and configuration. Call us directly, message via Zalo, or submit your request using the form.
- Process stage
- Fluid
- Flow rate
- Wetted materials
- Concentration (°Be) / particle size