MechChem Africa June 2017

June 2017

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MechChem Africa

⎪

Pump systems, pipes, valves and seals

⎪

Pump and Abrasion Technologies® (PAT)

unveiled its new Curve™ range of pumps

in September 2016. Among the first South

African companies to adopt this newtechnol-

ogy was Hernic Ferrochrome who currently

plans to retrofit all the pumps at their OB-

Plant to the Curve range.

“The Hernic Ferrochrome retrofit was in

effect the first true test of the Curve S150

pump,” says James Pienaar, PAT sales direc-

tor. “The changeover of all existing pumps at

Hernic Ferrochrome’sOB-Plant to the Curve

range is a process that takes time, but we

are currently standing at close to 10 pumps

installed and operating at the OB-Plant.”

The S150 offers several innovative fea-

tures that make it an ideal candidate to meet

Hernic Ferrochrome’s operational needs.

These include: a one piece volute liner; fully

profiled impeller vanes; adjustable throat-

bush; enhanced cutwater profile; and a clip-in

suction joint. Sealing performance and life

have been addressed by a larger diameter

expeller and high chrome shaft sleeve and

lantern ring. The Curve S150 also features

a discharge piece designed to eliminate the

need to remove the discharge pipe during

routine maintenance.

AccordingtoPienaar:“Themajorbenefitin

investing in the Curve is cost saving. Through

the use of the latest design and technology,

these pumps are more efficient and highly

durable and thereby reduce the Total Cost

of Ownership.”

PAT has been monitoring the perfor-

mance of the first pumps installed at Hernic

Ferrochrome’s OB-Plant on an on-going

basis and the results underline the Curve’s

operational performance. “One of the most

astounding results we have seen so far is a

73% reduction in downtime. The pump is

only opened every third maintenance cycle

due to its longerwear life. Thiswasmeasured

in comparison to the wear life and required

maintenance of the previously installed

pumps,” Pienaar says .

Along with this, maintenance on the pump

was reported as being easier for the client as

compared to their experience with previous

pumps. This is due to inherent features such

as: the pump’s encapsulated one-piece volute

linerreducesopeningandclosingtimeby80%;

eye bolts allow for safe removal of the casing;

the casing assembly is abalanced load for safe

handling; and the discharge pipe no longer

needs to be removedwhen opening the pump

thanks to thenewlydesigneddischargepiece.

Pienaar says that the pump also reduced

electricity consumptiondue to its efficient de-

sign. “An8.0%power reductionwas reported.

This power saving is achieved through the

improved impeller and volute profile design.

Slurry follows through the pump in a more

natural flow pattern. A uniform wear design

means that thehydraulic profile ismaintained

and efficiency remains higher for longer.”

Additional benefits that the client re-

ported with this pump include quick and

easy dismantling, inspection and reassembly;

improved safety when working on the pump;

excellent sealing over the trial period; and

zero choking.

KSB Pumps and Valves’ new

Etanorm pump follows an 80- year trend of

proven reliability.

Hernic Ferrochrome is currently retrofitting the pumps at its OB-Plant with Curve S150s from Pump and

Abrasion Technologies.

being manufactured at four different sites

– in Germany, India, China and South Africa

–which all complywith the samequality stan-

dards. This makes global procurement much

easier and insures pumps and spare parts are

readily available.

with flow rates in excess of 1 000 m³/h.

Responding to this latestmarket trend,

Verder South Africa has launched its

Colossus pump, an extension of Packo’s

MCP3 and MFP3 pump range. It weighs

1.6 t, and offers a flow rate of 1 200 m³/h

from its 200 kWmotor.

While many breweries still use cast-

iron pumps for higher flow rates, the

stainless-steel design of the Colossus

is much more hygienic. “It is likely to

become the standard in the food and

beverage industry in the future,” Fourie

comments.

The MCP3 and MFP3 pumps are also

energy-efficient and easily maintained,

with an electro-polished finish that is

highly corrosion-resistant and easy to

clean. Applications include dairies, brew-

eries, and distilleries. The pumps are a

particularly reliable option for filtration

applications, pasteurisation, yeast propa-

gation, and in cleaning systems.

Fourie reveals that Packo itself is un-

dergoing an expansion and renovation of

its facilities, whichwill allow it tomanufac-

ture and test pumps with a flow rate of up

to 2 000 m³/h.

Curve pump

proves its capability