Mechanical Technology March 2015

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Pump systems, pipes, valves and seals

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Mechanical Technology — March 2015

he PPI range of sealless recipro-

cating diaphragm compressors

has launched in South Africa.

Well-known worldwide, and

with a reputation for very high levels of

service and support, the PPI machines

have become available locally through the

recent acquisition by Sundyne Corpora-

tion of Pressure Products Industries (PPI).

Sundyne products are marketed,

serviced and supported in South Africa

by AESPUMP.

PPI’s pedigree in the manufacture of

sealless reciprocating diaphragm com-

pressors goes back 60 years, and the

company’s installed base in the refin-

ing, petrochemical, chemical, LNG and

semiconductor markets exceeds 3 500

machines.

Built to comply with modified API 618

standards, PPI compressors are excep-

tionally durable and reliable, with each

unit being load tested at the USA-based

factory to ensure that it meets stringent

performance benchmarks for leak-free

performance in the non-contaminating

compression of critical gases.

PPI sealless diaphragm compressors

are available in single- and multi-stage

packages with displacements up to

255 m

/h; pressures to 1 170 bar; and

up to 187 kW of power. They are ideal

for cylinder filling, fuel cell technology,

handling dangerous or corrosive gases

under pressure, and transfer applications

that require high purity.

In South Africa, target markets will

comprise the petrochemical, oil and gas

markets, where machine modularity will

allow customisation to the unique needs

of each application. Crankcase and

motor size will be determined by duty,

while instrumentation, protective equip-

ment, gasket materials and materials for

O-rings and other components will be

determined by the details of the customer

specification.

“Users of other makes of sealless

diaphragm compressors have become

accustomed to an expensive, non-PPI

product with very poor after sales service,

Piping technology for beverage plants

he further developed version of the

proven Eco-Matrix concept for manual

piping technology was presented at

BrauBeviale 2014 held in Nürnberg, Ger-

many during November last year. Eco-Fence

is a “superior alternative to conventional

piping with pipe fence or swing bend panels”

for new brewery installations and beverage

plants as well as for upgrades. The innova-

tion is an alternative to conventional piping

and offers customers no oxygen uptake,

lowered costs and environmental protection.

The system provides roughly the same

technological benefits and cleaning advan-

tages as Eco-Matrix and is also based on a

compact tank outlet tree. The short vertical

pipe in combination with double-seal valves

as well as T-smart mix-proof butterfly valves

and air panel guarantees very good cleaning

conditions, minimum losses and maximum

product safety. An essential aspect of the

Eco-Fence design is the direct connection of

the valves for tank filling and emptying and

their inlet and outlet connections.

Conventional pipe fence and swing bend

systems have the disadvantage that the

piping system has to be opened for change-

over. Opening of the system means oxygen

uptake and the risk of contamination by

microorganisms. This is avoided with the

Eco-Fence solution.

The valves are operated via an air panel.

After the operator has set the desired transfer

path on the air panel, all program steps are

performed automatically. The system can be

operated either from next to the Eco-Fence

or from a remote location.

Compared to conventional solutions,

operator safety is significantly improved – no

operating activities required in the working

area, where cleaning and similar processes

take place. The air panel facilitates opera-

tion, and in countries with extreme climatic

conditions, it can be inexpensively placed in

an air-conditioned room.

Eco-Fence is a cost-effective alternative

to pipe fence solutions. Compared to the

conventional design with long pipes between

the actual tank connection and the valve

matrix, Eco-Fence is an ideal solution in

terms of process technology and hygiene.

Eco-Fence is patented in Germany with

international patents pending. EHEDG certi-

fied components are used.

The acquisition of Sundyne Corporation by

Pressure Products Industries (PPI) means

that PPI’s sealless reciprocating diaphragm

compressors have been launched in South Africa

and are now available locally from AESPUMP.

Modified API 618 sealless compressors arrive in SA

The PPI-1500

compressor.

The Series 7000 PPI

compressor.

and that is where I see the market gap,”

says AESPUMP sales and marketing

director, Neil Britz.

“The Sundyne PPI machines are

supported by an established service

network staffed by fully-trained techni-

cians. These compressors are designed

to safely operate in the most demanding

applications,” Britz says.

Sundyne PPI sealless diaphragm

compressors deliver total assurance of

non-contaminating gas compression.

Boasting a leak tight mechanism that

features static seals that do not need

to be purged or vented, they present

an absolutely zero leakage threat to the

atmosphere, providing an ideal solution

for safely handling ultra-pure, corrosive

and volatile gases.

Additionally, a set of metallic dia-

phragms in each machine isolates the

process media from the piston or piston

rings, completely eliminating the risk of

cross contamination.