Posted to News on 15th Jan 2012, 13:10
Positive displacement pumps handle high-temperature glue
Hydra-Cell sealless positive displacement pumps are being used to pump a high-temperature, resinous glue that contains particulates, to the benefit of a manufacturer of timber-based products that was having to replace another type of pump three times in a month.
Pumping resinous glue at high temperatures presents a 'sticky' problem for some types of pump, especially when there is the added complication of the glue containing particulates. This challenging pumping application is part of the process of manufacturing oriented strand board (OSB), a timber-based material used in the building industry. However, Hydra-Cell sealless positive displacement pumps, available from Michael Smith Engineers, have proved to be successful in this application, where other types of pump have failed.
OSB is recognised as an innovative, environmentally sustainable, timber-based material for both structural and non-structural building applications and is manufactured by compressing strands of wood with resins at high temperature to create strong and versatile panels. Originally gear pumps were being used to deliver the resinous glue into a mixing chamber, where it is sprayed onto wood fibres in the early stages of the manufacturing process.
Problem solved
Chosen for their high-pressure capability, these pumps leaked persistently through their mechanical seals, causing damage to them when hardened resin became trapped between closely-meshing gears. This resulted in the need for the pumps and gearbox to be replaced three times in one month. The installation of a Hydra-Cell pump at this stage of the process immediately solved the problem by providing reliable, high-pressure pumping of the resinous glue. The sealless design of these pumps means there are no dynamic seals to leak, wear or replace, and their spring-loaded, horizontal disk check valves enable the pump to process liquids that contain particulates up to 500microns or more in diameter without problems. Following six months of trouble-free operation, the second pumping system was installed on the process with the same successful results for the OSB manufacturer.
The range of Hydra-Cell pumps covers flow rates from 0.4litres/min up to 128litres/min and pressures up to 172bar, providing repeatable and accurate output. They can handle dirty liquids and liquids with particulates and, because they are sealless by design, they are leak-free, self-priming and can be run dry. They are also suitable for cleaning-in-place (CIP) applications. Other applications include machine tool cooling, reverse osmosis and separation, spray drying and abrasives, paper mill applications, and oil production and refining.
Follow the link for more information about the Hydra-Cell sealless positive displacement pumps.
