22 Challenging fluids
Finding the best solution for your fluid handling needs Suzanne Gill looks at a variety of different pumping solutions which have been specified for handling abrasive fluids.
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ovement of abrasive fluids demands equipment manufacturer. A further consideration was careful pump specification to ensure the the running costs of the pumps, which had escalated best solution to transport the medium over time.” The task facing IPL was to replace the four pumps efficiently, while minimising pump wear, with new units that would provide greater resistance maintenance costs and downtime. Operating conditions should always be taken into to wear, deliver optimum performance at all times account as this will have a significant effect on the and reduce running costs. service life of a pump system. Transferring fluids at Following discussions with lower speeds, for example will reduce any abrasive effect, so a common solution when pumping abrasive KSB UK, it was decided that the best solution fluids is to overspecify the pump to allow it to be would be the installation of operated at lower speeds and differential pressures. Careful pump specification can offer other benefits, two KSB Omega 200-250 AGBV1s in a duty/standby as one glass manufacturer has found out. By rethinking configuration. This would its pump requirements, the company has overcome allow the customer to the problems associated with pumping abrasive fluids have total control over the pumps at all times in order and has also benefitted from some impressive energy to adjust flow levels following production requirements. savings. The pumps are monitored 24/7, and if there is a power For many years the glass manufacturer had relied cut or loss of pressure in the operating pump, there is an on four split-case centrifugal pumps for the supply and immediate switch-over to the duty standby pump. circulation of process water around its plant. Excessive With corrosion resistance and energy savings high wear, caused by the level of work demanded of the pumps, resulted in signs of declining performance. on the customer’s agenda, the Omega was a natural fit as the corrosion and abrasion-resistant materials Numerous repairs and overhauls of the pump system used in the pump contribute to long service life by had been undertaken over the years, but, following one protecting key components. Further, being an axiallyinspection by Industrial Pumps Ltd (IPL), it became clear split case pump simplifies maintenance procedures, that further repair work was going to be uneconomic, enabling easy access to all parts for thorough cleaning. and the decision was made to look at replacement The interior of the pump is designed to transport water pumps. Based on the application details provided by the plant’s with the minimum of flow resistance, a factor that also contributes to its energy savings and reduced life-cycle pump engineer and a review of the nature of the wear on costs. the pumps, IPL recommended replacing all four existing IPL was able to convince its customer that two pumps with two KSB Omega pumps. Omega 200-250 AGBV1s, each delivering flows of The water used in the plant is drawn from two 700m³/hr at a head of 90m and power absorption large lagoons and pumped around the site to the of 206.7kw running at 1490rpm, would be more production areas. After passing through filtering than adequate to replace the existing weirs, it is returned to the lagoon. four pumps. They would also be far Commenting on the challenges more economical to run, of the application, David with a reduction Silverwood, IPL technical in the absorbed sales engineer, said: power being over “The pumped water 50%. contains quantities “As with any of glass, sand and project, capital various other solids investment costs and the cumulative were closely effect these aggressive examined,” particulates had on concluded the pump casings and Silverwood. “After other key components just 12 months meant that it became uneconomical to effect of continuous operation, the repairs. In addition, it new pumps was becoming harder The Omega’s axially-split case pump simplifies maintenance procedures, enabling ready access to all parts for thorough cleaning. to source spare parts have provided power savings of from the original
“The pumped water contains quantities of glass, sand and various other solids.”
Quarter 4 2019
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