www.worldpumps.com WORLD PUMPS October 2014 14 Product Focus Diaphragm technology with abrasive fluids A brasive fluids will impact both rotating parts and seals with which they come into contact, shortening times between maintenance, reducing system uptime and increasing the risk of leakage. If the process contains a hazardous fluid there are additional risks to health, safety and the envi- ronment. Excessive wear within the pump may also cause internal parts to break off and enter the fluid stream, posing additional problems for downstream equipment or presenting quality issues. With tech- nology such as progressive cavity pumps, abrasion may cause widening of clearances, creating slip and inefficient pump operation. If a rotary, gear, lobe or progressive cavity type pump is used, internals When fluids contain a particulate or ‘slurry,’ the solid content within the liquid may be abrasive. When selecting a pump to handle abrasive liquids, several factors need to be taken into account to ensure an efficient and effective solution can be offered and main- tained. The wrong choice of pump can lead to excessive downtime for repairs with lost production revenue and high maintenance costs. may be manufactured of hardened materials or lined to help resist abrasion but, as the liquid is in contact with the moving parts in the pump, some abrasion is unavoidable. Specialized sealing systems can be provided to prevent wear to seals but these can add further costs to the initial pump investment and their main- tenance needs to be considered. A reciprocating diaphragm pump offers an alternate technology choice which, depending upon the application, resolves some of the issues found with other tradi- tional pump technologies when handling abrasive fluids. Instead of having rotating parts in the liquid, the diaphragm separates the pumped liquid from the moving parts of the pump. The material from which the diaphragm and check valves are made can be selected to be compatible with the fluid and to be suitable to its abrasive nature. This separation from the internal pump parts means no special sealing systems, lower maintenance, less downtime of the system and lower stock- holding of spare parts. Hydraulically operated diaphragm pump The diaphragm in a hydraulically operated diaphragm pump moves with hydraulic oil which is pushed backwards and forwards using a plunger. As the diaphragm moves backwards it increases the volume inside the pumping chamber, creating a suction effect and opening the inlet valve. Equally, as the diaphragm moves forwards it reduces the volume in the pump which opens the outlet valve and pushes the liquid out. As such the diaphragm transmits the recipro- cating motion of the drive as well as sealing the liquid from the outside. Apart from the diaphragm, the only moving parts of the pump in contact with the fluid are the specially designed check valves on the inlet and outlet. Increasing uptime In designing the right pumping solution the slurry content, particle size and settling rate all need to be considered. Although slowing a pump down will reduce abrasive forces, this requires a larger, more costly system and a higher velocity may still be required to prevent solids from settling and causing blockages. A diaphragm piston pump offers the potential to significantly reduce the cost of ownership compared with alternate technolo- gies where moving pump parts are exposed to the abrasive fluid. It will perform the required pumping duty with higher energy efficiency, reducing utility costs. With fewer parts exposed to the pumped fluid, the overall increased reliability and uptime provided by this technology may, dependent on the criticality of the process, further negate the need for a duty/standby configuration. NOVADOS H1 diaphragm pumphead.
Transcript
www.worldpumps.com
WORLD PUMPS October 2014
14 Product Focus
Diaphragm technology with abrasive fl uids
Abrasive fl uids will impact
both rotating parts and seals
with which they come into
contact, shortening times between
maintenance, reducing system
uptime and increasing the risk of
leakage. If the process contains a
hazardous fl uid there are additional
risks to health, safety and the envi-
ronment. Excessive wear within the
pump may also cause internal parts
to break off and enter the fl uid
stream, posing additional problems
for downstream equipment or
presenting quality issues. With tech-
nology such as progressive cavity
pumps, abrasion may cause
widening of clearances, creating
slip and ineffi cient pump operation.
If a rotary, gear, lobe or progressive
cavity type pump is used, internals
When fl uids contain a particulate or ‘slurry,’ the solid content within the liquid may be
abrasive. When selecting a pump to handle abrasive liquids, several factors need to be
taken into account to ensure an effi cient and eff ective solution can be off ered and main-
tained. The wrong choice of pump can lead to excessive downtime for repairs with lost
production revenue and high maintenance costs.
may be manufactured of hardened
materials or lined to help resist
abrasion but, as the liquid is in
contact with the moving parts in
the pump, some abrasion is
unavoidable. Specialized sealing
systems can be provided to
prevent wear to seals but these
can add further costs to the initial
pump investment and their main-
tenance needs to be considered.
A reciprocating diaphragm pump
off ers an alternate technology
choice which, depending upon
the application, resolves some of
the issues found with other tradi-
tional pump technologies when
handling abrasive fl uids. Instead of
having rotating parts in the liquid,
the diaphragm separates the
pumped liquid from the moving
parts of the pump. The material
from which the diaphragm and
check valves are made can be
selected to be compatible with
the fl uid and to be suitable to its
abrasive nature. This separation
from the internal pump parts
means no special sealing systems,
lower maintenance, less downtime
of the system and lower stock-
holding of spare parts.
Hydraulically operated diaphragm pump
The diaphragm in a hydraulically
operated diaphragm pump moves
with hydraulic oil which is pushed
backwards and forwards using a
plunger. As the diaphragm moves
backwards it increases the volume
inside the pumping chamber,
creating a suction eff ect and
opening the inlet valve. Equally, as
the diaphragm moves forwards it
reduces the volume in the pump
which opens the outlet valve and
pushes the liquid out. As such the
diaphragm transmits the recipro-
cating motion of the drive as well
as sealing the liquid from the
outside. Apart from the diaphragm,
the only moving parts of the pump
in contact with the fl uid are the
specially designed check valves on
the inlet and outlet.
Increasing uptime
In designing the right pumping
solution the slurry content, particle
size and settling rate all need to
be considered. Although slowing a
pump down will reduce abrasive
forces, this requires a larger, more
costly system and a higher velocity
may still be required to prevent
solids from settling and causing
blockages.
A diaphragm piston pump off ers
the potential to signifi cantly
reduce the cost of ownership
compared with alternate technolo-
gies where moving pump parts
are exposed to the abrasive fl uid.
It will perform the required
pumping duty with higher energy
effi ciency, reducing utility costs.
With fewer parts exposed to the
pumped fl uid, the overall
increased reliability and uptime
provided by this technology may,
dependent on the criticality of the
process, further negate the need
for a duty/standby confi guration.NOVADOS H1 diaphragm pumphead.
WOPU0914_PF_SPX 14 29-08-14 09:46:21
www.worldpumps.com
WORLD PUMPS October 2014
15Product Focus
In applications typical for centrif-
ugal pumps i.e. low viscosity, free
fl owing liquids with little to
moderate solid content, a
diaphragm pump off ers signifi cant
benefi ts. The Bran+Luebbe three
head Novados series metering
pump is designed to optimize
uptime by minimizing the mainte-
nance required and off ers an effi -
ciently sized pumping solution.
SPX diaphragm pump technology
off ers many benefi ts which are
equally applicable for non-abrasive
as well as abrasive applications.
The double-acting diaphragm
pump head on the Novados
pump provides the capacity of
equivalent duplex pumps but in a
much smaller and lighter format,
making it ideal where space is a
premium. Its maintenance require-
ments are in line with a single
gear, thereby also reducing costs
and service time. Furthermore, the
pumps have an inbuilt control
device and do not require a vari-
able speed drive or control valve,
making their installation more
straight forward. Double
diaphragm protection prevents
leaks and produces a seal-less
design which further reduces
maintenance needs. Having no
spinning parts, the pump also
provides inherently quiet
operation.
Also within the Bran+Luebbe
range is the Novaplex Vector
process diaphragm pump. This is a
triple head diaphragm pump
which also reduces the required
NOVAPLEX Linde System.
About SPXBased in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPX Corporation (NYSE: SPW) is
a global, multi-industry manufacturing leader with approximately $5
billion in annual revenue, operations in more than 35 countries and
over 14,000 employees. The company’s highly-specialized, engineered
products and technologies are concentrated in Flow Technology and
energy infrastructure. Many of SPX’s innovative solutions are playing a
role in helping to meet rising global demand for electricity and
processed foods and beverages, particularly in emerging markets. The
company’s products include food processing systems for the food and
beverage industry, critical Flow components for oil and gas
processing, power transformers for utility companies, and cooling systems
for power plants. For more information, please visit www.spx.com.
