Waterworks Replace PC Pumps with Apex Hose Pumps for Reliable Bentonite Pumping

Watson Marlow 05/11/2015

120 2 minutes read

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A major waterworks in South Africa is benefitting from the installation of Bredel APEX15 hose pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group

The APEX pumps have been preferred over progressive cavity (PC) pumps in an application that sees metering of bentonite into the source water to help flocculation.

Bentonite is a crystalline quartz (naturally occurring) clay product. The abrasive nature of the substance can cause costly damage to the PC pumps, a factor that is not encountered when using APEX technology.

State-owned Umgeni Water is the largest supplier of bulk potable water in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa. The organisation currently supplies 426 million cubic metres of potable water to its six municipal customers.

No blockages or abrasive wear

Conventional treatment methods for removal of suspended and colloidal material from water include chemical coagulation of small colloidal particles and flocculation of the small particles to form larger flocs or aggregates.

Bentonite is added when the water to be flocculated contains too few particles for effective flocculation.

Several Umgeni Water plants have experienced difficulties with their PC pumps as a result of bentonite metering, which typically takes place around once a month on average. Upon start-up, the PC pumps will immediately run dry due to the properties of bentonite. Suction lines can sometimes become blocked and the pump stator is subject to damage.

With this in mind, the introduction of bentonite metering processes at Umgeni Water’s Amanzimtoti waterworks a short distance south of Durban, set the company thinking about alternative pump technology. After a review of the market, the pump of choice proved to be a Bredel APEX15 hose pump from Watson-Marlow.

Improved reliability

The application at Amanzimtoti sees bags of bentonite offloaded into a 3000 litre holding tank and then mixed. Using the Bredel APEX pump running at less than 3 bar, the abrasive liquid is then pumped so that the solids are kept in suspension.

Crucially, the two APEX15 hose pumps, can be reversed if blockages are encountered, then run in the correct direction again once clear. As a result, reliability has improved significantly at the Amanzimtoti plant in the three years since the pumps have been installed

Designed to suit all metering and transfer applications from 2.8 to 6200 litre/hr flow across a broad range of applications, APEX pumps are now the first choice for processing plants worldwide.

Offering a robust and compact direct-coupled design, these innovative hose pumps are engineered for uptime and process continuity.

For further information please contact:

Heather Beale – Publicity Manager
Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group
t: 01326 370370
e: Heather.Beale@wmftg.com
w: www.wmftg.com

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Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

01326370370
info@wmftg.co.uk
https://www.wmfts.com/
Bicklandwater Road, Falmouth Business Park, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4RU GB

About us

Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) peristaltic tube and hose pumps meet requirements including: value for money; low cost of ownership; reliability and ease of maintenance to the food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, mining and many other industries.

We demonstrate how pumps deliver significant process efficiencies over the lifetime of the equipment. Whether performing flavouring addition in food processing, chemical metering in water treatment or mineral recovery, we have a solution which can cut pump downtime and reduce costs through higher accuracy metering and transfer. WMFTG has dedicated application engineers available to help customers make the right pump and tubing choice from a range providing microlitres per minute to 80 cubic metres per hour flow rates.

The only part of the pump to come into contact with the product is the tube or hose. This means there are no seals or valves that can wear or fail. Replacing the tube or hose can be performed quickly and safely. Peristaltic pump benefits include:

Total fluid containment with no seals No ancillaries Handle viscous and abrasive slurries and sludge Self-priming capability Dry running without damage to the pump In addition to their range of positive displacement pumps, Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group has added PTFE-lined chemical and industrial hoses to their range. Aflex hoses are reinforced to withstand the most severe conditions and use.

Where we supply to

Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, North America

Industries we supply to

Automation, Chemicals, Consultants, Components Electronics, Energy and Power, Food and Beverage, Glass Ceramics Cement, Metals and Minerals, OEM, Paper and Pulp, Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Toiletries, Plastics and Rubber, Recycling, Textiles, Tobacco, Water and Wastewater

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