Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm Plus Pumps
Featuring One-Nut® Technology
Our hygienic range of diaphragm pumps offers a versatile and robust answer to your liquid transfer needs, with One-Nut® technology that takes AODD+™ pump performance far beyond the traditional. This fast maintenance concept literally turns the conventional pump inside-out.
Other AODDs keep your maintenance team in the pits for up to two hours. The Flotronic® One-Nut® AODD+™ can return you to the race in just 15 minutes, and your team can turn to other tasks. That’s no small improvement; it’s a game changer.
Why This AODD Won’t Lose Time in the Pits.
AODD pumps with older designs can require more than 30 bolts or fittings to strip down manifolds and body and take as long as 2 hours to strip, clean and return to service. The Flotronic AODD+ uses the patented One-Nut design to provide access to the diaphragms by removing just one, single nut.
Calculate Your Pit Stop Savings. Minutes Matter!
Use the AODD calculator to compare your current cleaning time, labor costs, and lost production time against a Flotronic AODD+ design. Flotronic wins the cleaning race by 1 hr 45 min, every pump, every shift. It’s the fastest clean in the race!
- 15 min — Full strip-down to restart, vs. 2 hours for older AODD designs
- 60% — Less product waste during cleaning. Fully drainable after CIP.
- 1 nut — Single access point. Inline diaphragm removal, no pipework disconnect required.
- Smaller footprint than other AODDs
- 100,000 cP — Viscosity handling beyond what traditional AODDs can manage
You May Have Tried an AODD Before.
But that’s nothing like a Flotronic AODD+. Here’s what changes when your maintenance team stops living in the pits.
| FLOTRONIC® ONE-NUT® AODD+™ | Traditional AODD |
|---|---|
| One nut to open the pump: no pipework to remove, no disconnecting from the line | Piping must come off first: extra time and steps before you can even open the pump |
| Inline diaphragm removal: immediately accessible, no tools needed | Diaphragms buried under multiple layers: requires tools and more steps to access |
| Fewer parts : nothing small to lose, nothing to risk back into the food stream | Many small parts: easy to lose, risk of contamination back into product |
| CIP self-draining: 60% less product hold-up and waste per cleaning cycle | High product hold-up: more waste per cleaning cycle |
| Smaller footprint: more floor space per pump position | Larger footprint: takes more floor space on your production line |
| Handles viscosities up to 100,000 cP | Typical AODDs range from 20,000-50,000 cP |
| Back on track. Fast. | Stuck in the pits. |
Watch the Race. Live.
See it here in this real-time demo. Watch us strip down a Flotronic One-Nut pump next to a traditional AODD. Same start time, same hands, but a very different race time at the finish line. One is done in 15 minutes. The other is still going while our tech has time to enjoy a cup of coffee and maybe watch some cat videos. This is the race you’re running on your floor, losing lap times with every single cleaning cycle.
Flotronic® Good Food Pump- Food Grade AODD Pump
Double Diaphragm Pump ideal for pumping your food products, especially on high viscosity low shear applications. Designed for ‘quick strip’ which is tool free or the pumps can be ‘cleaned in place’ (CIP), manufactured throughout from FDA compliant approved materials. The 'Good Food' pump gives food industry customers very specific benefits.
A compact and self-draining Diaphragm Pump available in FDA approved 316L stainless steel, aluminium, Duplex 22, and Hastelloy®; used in an array of industries.
Flotronic® 710 Series Stainless Steel Pump
Fabricated 316L stainless steel or Hastelloy® on all wetted metal parts offers unrivaled versatility. These FDA compliant Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm Pumps are used extensively throughout the industry.
Flotronic® Sanitary AODD+ Pump
Designed with 3A in mind using FDA, USP Class VI and (EC) 1935/2004 approved materials; our range of Sanitary Diaphragm Pumps help maintain and improve hygienic conditions on your site.
Flotronic® One-Nut Double Diaphragm Pump Accessories
A wide range of additional accessories and customization options to ensure your Flotronic® One-Nut pump meets your application requirements.
Traditional AODD vs Flotronic AODD+™
You may have tried an AODD before. But that’s nothing like a Flotronic AODD+
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an AODD pump?
An AODD (Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm) pump is a positive displacement pump that uses compressed air to move two flexible diaphragms in alternating patterns, creating suction and discharge to transfer fluid. The design creates a balanced condition with air pressure acting on the entire diaphragm surface, making these pumps suitable for various viscosities and shear-sensitive fluids. Unibloc Hygienic Technologies offers innovative Flotronic® AODD+ pump, with its unique One-Nut® design, greatly accelerates cleaning and maintenance times compared to a traditional AODD pump.
Can an AODD pump run dry?
Yes, AODD pumps can run dry indefinitely without damage to the pump or its components. This capability makes them extremely versatile for applications where running dry is a concern, such as tanker unloading, product transfer between tanks, or processes with intermittent fluid flow. Rotary pumps may be damaged by running dry because fluid is not present to dissipate the heat generated by the friction of a rotating component. In contrast, AODD pumps continue operating without harm, and contributes to their popularity in various industries. Like traditional AODD pumps, the Unibloc® Flotronic® AODD+ pump can run dry when necessary. Unlike traditional pumps, it also offers easier maintenance and an accelerated cleaning cycle because of its unique One-Nut® design.
What is the working principle of AODD pump?
Air-operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps utilize compressed air to create reciprocating motion in two diaphragm chambers. As one chamber fills with fluid, the other discharges, creating a continuous flow. The reciprocating action is driven by an air distribution system that alternately pressurizes and exhausts each air chamber, while check valves ensure directional flow control. This simple yet effective design enables reliable fluid transfer without electrical components.
What is the difference between an AODD pump and a centrifugal pump?
AODD pumps use positive displacement through reciprocating diaphragms, while centrifugal pumps rely on rotational energy to generate flow. AODD pumps excel at handling viscous fluids and can run dry without damage, maintaining consistent flow rates regardless of discharge pressure. Centrifugal pumps offer higher flow rates but are pressure-dependent and require priming. AODD pumps also provide superior solid-handling capabilities and gentler product handling. Centrifugal pumps, should not be used with shear sensitive liquids and when the integrity of solids must be preserved.
What is the maximum discharge pressure for AODD pump?
AODD pumps typically achieve discharge pressures up to 125 PSI (8.6 bar), though specific models can reach higher pressures. The maximum pressure is directly related to the input air pressure, usually with a 1:1 ratio. However, for sanitary applications in food processing, most operations run at lower pressures to ensure gentle product handling and maintain diaphragm longevity.
How efficient is the AODD pump?
AODD pumps achieve mechanical efficiency rates of 65-80% depending on operating conditions. Sanitary diaphragm pumps comply with FDA and 3A standards, featuring materials like 316L stainless steel and food-grade elastomers. These standards regulate surface finish (typically 32 Ra or better), material compatibility, cleanability, and CIP/SIP capabilities. Modern designs emphasize energy efficiency while maintaining strict sanitary compliance.
Are diaphragm pumps sanitary?
Hygienic diaphragm (AODD) pumps are sanitary when designed to meet specific standards. FDA and 3A standards establish strict requirements for material compatibility, surface finish (typically 32 Ra or better), cleanability, crevice-free design, and CIP/SIP capabilities. The 3A standard in the United States requires the pump body to have specific characteristics intended to reduce points where bacteria could hide and to enhance cleanability. The pump manufacturer must submit drawings to the authority to receive sanitary certification. Some pump manufacturers offer pumps that meet the requirements without a certificate as a way to lower pump cost. Compliance with the FDA standards basically means that wetted parts are made of stainless steel and food-grade elastomers; FDA compliance is typical of any hygienic pump. The FDA does not certify pump designs, but 3A does.
