Sandpiper Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps from Kelair

Case Study
Sales Engineer Mark Lewis (QLD)

A little Sandpiper goes a long way

Sandpiper air operated, double diaphragm pumps are well known right across the mining and industrial landscapes. Non-metallic and metallic Sandpipers are widely used in sizes that range from 3" in diameter right down to 1/4". The lion's share of 1/2" through 3" Sandpiper pumps in use in Australia today are easily recognised by their familiar appearance and broad distribution throughout the market place.

However the smaller 1/4" Sandpiper pumps are a very useful size in the range that should not be overlooked.

A Central Queensland customer was recently looking for a robust pumping solution that would be compatible with their tough industrial atmosphere as well the sour water and hydrocarbon mixture that needed to be pumped. Their alkaline environment dictated that only a pump constructed of materials resistant to chemical attack would be up to the task. The difficulty lay in finding a supplier with a product that could deal with the relatively small quantities to be moved as well as meet their stringent quality and testing criteria.

Kelair successfully proposed the 1/4" metallic Sandpiper E02 series pump which is ideal for intermittent/ondemand use, delivering flows of up to 19 litres per minute and pressures up to 8.6 bar. Weighing only 4kg, it is portable and able to handle moderately abrasive fluids and suspended solids, features end porting and is available with TPS (thermal plastic elastomers) and PTFE options in diaphragms and check valves. An ATEX-compliant version (X02) is available for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

The E02 was specified by Kelair for various but similar applications the customer had scattered through their operation. Its stainless steel construction configured with TFE/polyester diaphragms and TFE check valves with stainless steel seats and air body provided the customer with the confidence they required for the Sandpipers to qualify for service in their challenging environment.

To round out the supply solution Warren Rupp, the US manufacturer of Sandpiper pumps, provided the facility to test and certify the pumps to the customer's requirements prior to shipment. This service provided the certainty the customer required to be sure of the pumps' performance upon installation as well as for reliable service into the future.

Sandpiper also has small non-metallic pumps available in 1/4" and 3/8" sizes. The PB1/4-A is ideal for general industrial applications being available in Polypropylene, PVDF, Conductive Acetal and Conductive Polypropylene. While the 3/8" Polypropylene WR10 is ideal for the dispensing of car wash chemicals as well as pigments, inks, paints, additives and sanitisers.

No matter how big your application - or how small, Kelair and Sandpiper have an AODD solution to meet your needs.