Bituchem solves latex pumping with sealless DP pump 26 November 2014

Bituchem Building Products is reporting success with pumping latex – well known for its difficult pumping characteristics – on a production line producing bituminous road materials.

The Gloucestershire-based company approached pump specialist Michael Smith Engineers with the requirement, which was to pump 2—20 litre/minute of a latex solution with a viscosity of 600 cP at 10 bar discharge pressure.

The application required that flowrate be adjustable using an inverter, with pump speed maintained in proportion to the flow through the bitumen pipeline.

John Shirley, engineering manager at Bituchem, explains, that the firm recommended a Wanner Hydra-Cell Model G25, sealless positive displacement high-pressure diaphragm pump.

He says the pump, which has a stainless steel wet end and operates between 70 and 650 rpm, has been successfully pumping latex ever since its installation and commission nearly a year ago.

"We were aware of the problems involved when pumping latex ... but we have not had any issues from day one,"" states Shirley.

"The pump saves us time as we now add the latex as part of the overall process. We also appreciate how the pump operates with the combination of low speeds and medium to high pressures."

Michael Smith Engineers makes the point that positive displacement diaphragm pump technology does not have the disadvantages of other designs when handling emulsions, such as latex.

This pump's sealless, leak-free configuration ensures total product containment, while the design of the wetted path reduces internal friction – enabling the pump to deliver the level of shear-sensitive operation that is so important when working with latex.

Brian Tinham

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