Viking pumps at Kelair Pumps Australia for abrasive applications

Kelair pumps was approached by a major carpet manufacturing company in Victoria to assist them in finding a solution for pumping a very abrasive product.

The product was bitumen containing up to 60% fly ash. Not only is the product abrasive, it is highly viscous with a product viscosity of 50000cps. To maintain this viscosity the product had to be kept at 165°C. The customer was using a non-Kelair brand gear pump that had 3" ports, standard bronze bushes, hardened steel internal components and was running at 130RPM.

With this pump construction the idler pins were only lasting two weeks (see photos). This was totally unacceptable to the customer and we set about finding an adequate solution. In consultation with Viking pumps and the customer we offered Viking pump model VP-K224-STSGR2S.

This pump was selected to meet the following application criteria;

1. As the actual product is highly abrasive we selected a pump that runs at 90RPM. As this is significantly lower than 135RPM it will reduce the wear effects of the product which means that the pump could run longer before failure.
2. Further, to ensure the internal components of the pump lasted longer, we upgraded the material specs so the pump had a tungsten carbide idler pin, tungsten carbide idler bush and silicon carbide bracket bush.
3. As the product viscosity is 50000cps, to ensure that adequate amounts of product enter the pump, we offered it with enlarged 4" ports.
4. To ensure the product's temperature is maintained at 165°C, the pump comes complete with heating jacket on the bracket and casing.
5. To minimise paperwork modification the pump was selected to have an integral pressure relief valve (PRV). Note, the PRV is non-nonjacketed and will be heat-traced by the customer to ensure the product is kept at 165°C, if the PRV is activated.
6. To fit into limited space footprint, the pump will have a shortened base plate with the motor part of the geared motor mounted vertically.

The customer was sold on the pump and the reasoning behind why this pump was selected. As a result the customer has purchased 1-off pump, complete with base plate and geared motor and 1-off bareshaft pump as a back up.

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