Mechanical Technology June 2015

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Pump systems, pipes, valves and seals

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Mechanical Technology — June 2015

ith the locally economy

feeling the pinch of un-

stable world markets,

made worse by mining

industry strikes and lower commodity

prices, the growing export order book

for locally developed and manufactured

magnetic drive pumps is a welcome

boost for South Africa’s pump manufac-

turing industry.

The advanced home-grown hermeti-

cally sealed RPHmdp API685 magnetic-

drive pumps were originally developed

for Sasol Secunda more than a decade

ago to simplify the operation and main-

tenance of the company’s many pumps

in hazardous environments. With a solid

track record at Sasol, other hazardous

materials plants around the world are

currently scrambling to switch to KSB’s

RPHmdp ‘PI682 Plan 53’ pump design,

which completely excludes materials be-

ing pumped from the drive-end, making

for a safer and less complex pumping

environment.

Simply and safer

According to KSB Pumps and Valves

Product manager for API and multi-stage

pumps, Jan van Vuuren, the success

of the new type of pump is its intrinsic

safety and comparatively simple con-

struction and setup. Old Plan 53-type

pumps have mechanical seals that re-

quire additional hydraulic systems and

Exports of highly advanced magnetic-drive pumps for the

petrochemical and hazardous materials industries have

buoyed local manufacturer KSB Pumps and Valves in the

face of somewhat suppressed sales in traditional southern

African markets.

Jan van Vuuren of KSB Pumps and Valves with a cut-

away RPHmdp mag drive pump for use in hazardous

applications.

International standards are adhered to in

order to ensure that every pump manufac-

tured by KSB Pumps and Valves meets and

surpasses all requirements.

Mag drive exports

buoy local pump manufacturer

pipes to be installed

in order to seal the

fluid line and prevent

leaks; whereas RPHm-

dp pumps are standalone

and do not require any seal-

ing systems.

This has led to companies like

PCK Schwedt Refinery, one of the big-

gest key supply refineries in the world,

Petrobras refinery in Brazil, Ancap refin-

ery in Uruguay and the BASF Lemongras

chemical plant in Malaysia placing

orders for the KSB pumps. “Many more

enquiries are currently being handled and

looking at the amount of interest this year

and the amount of quotes that we are

working-on, it is safe to say that we will

be exporting many more pumps in future.

“Our magnetic drive pumps are be-

ing recognised and are in demand in

flammable, aggressive chemical and

explosive industries. Tightening legisla-

tion in Europe and the rest of the world

has also become far stricter and our

solution makes it easier to comply with

legislation.

In high demand

“So far there are quotes for more than

100 pumps in industries working with

anything from hot oils to propane, liq-

uid gas, petroleum and by products as

well as refining chemicals. We are also

receiving enquiries about our pumps from

companies handling Avgas, ethanol and

any number of other dangerous, toxic,

flammable or hazardous materials,” says

Van Vuuren.

Sales manager for chemical, petro-

chemical and industry for KSB Pumps

and Valves, Kenneth McGeehan, explains

that the pumps are certified by all rec-

ognised authorities, including ATEX for

safety as well as the CE rating for safe

assembly and quality standards from

design to manufacture. They also carry

AEC approval for Russian applications.

“The good news locally is that we

are awaiting the passing of clean fuels

legislation, which will require refineries

to upgrade parts of their refineries to

process clean fuels. This will be a big

boost to the whole local pump sector in

southern Africa. We have already had

success with the installation of RPHmdp

pumps at Sasol Wax for hot oil pumping,

Senmin for caustic soda pumping, Sasol

Secunda for propane, propylene, meth-

ane and methanol pumping, as well as

many others.

Full product line-up

“The pumps are available in different

sizes in a number of different materials

and configurations to suit individual

companies’ requirements. Ultra-efficient

Peek-Can composite material pumps

with minimal eddy-current losses are also

available,” adds McGeehan.

KSB Pumps and Valves has also

been supplying training on American

Petroleum Industry (API) standards and

has done training in Asia, Germany,

France, South Africa and Russia for

the chemical, petroleum and mining

industries.

“Once companies are familiar with the

operation of the new pumps there will be

very little reason to make use of dated

technology and our pumps are expected

to become standard across the globe

wherever dangerous substances are being

pumped,” he concludes.