Slurry pumps re-engineered to reduce maintenance and ‘cost of ownership’

Watson Marlow 06/12/2010

75 3 minutes read

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In response to increased demand for higher flow rates and faster delivery times, Bredel Hose Pumps has re-engineered its high capacity SPX280 and SPX2100 peristaltic pumps. The result of this product update is improved durability and further reduced maintenance downtime.

Furthermore, the pumps now come with a considerably lower price tag and can be supplied on short delivery times. This has been achieved by standardising the product and optimising the supply and value chain from manufacturer to end-user.
Additionally, the ‘total cost of ownership’ profile has also been addressed. For slurry applications, centrifugal pumps have been the historical pumps of choice, but this is now changing as, in practice, the latest peristaltic hose pumps can offer operating costs typically half that of a centrifugal pump.

Total efficiency
In peristaltic technology, nothing but the hose touches the slurry, and abrasive wear is negligible. Slurry is drawn into the SPX pump using a hose so the slurry never touches the pump, is trapped between two shoes and expelled. The complete closure of the hose gives the pump its positive displacement action, offering hydraulic efficiency of 100%.
One of the key application areas for the new pumps is the mining sector, which is currently booming in line with soaring prices for a number of raw materials. Here, the re-engineered SPX280 and SPX2100 are perfectly suited and will join hundreds of other high flow, high pressure Bredel SPX hose pumps in extremely tough environments.

Mining for benefits
Fluid characteristics in the mining industry include high dry solid content. The ability of the SPX pumps to handle extremely high dry solid content, even up to 70% by volume – some 3 times higher than centrifugals This implies a significant reduced need for process water, typically 4-6 times less. Centrifugal pumps offer limited ability to handle dry solid content. Slurry often needs to be diluted with process water before transfer. Furthermore, centrifugal pumps consume water to flush seals, whereas there is no such requirement with peristaltic technology.
The lower requested flow rate brings a number of benefits, such as reduced energy consumption for example. Centrifugal pumps will consume double the energy due to their higher design flow rate and lower hydraulic efficiency (65% for slurry handling).

Maintaining an advantage
Reduced maintenance is another huge advantage of SPX hose pumps over their centrifugal counterparts. If a blockage occurs in a pipeline flow in a hose pump can be easily reversed to blow out the obstruction at pump inlet. Yet this is not possible using a centrifugal pump.

Hose pumps have no seals, valves, diaphragms, stators, glands or other costly hardware to replace, ensuring they can be easily maintained in-place without the need to take the pump to a workshop. Only the hose requires occasional replacement, which is a simple task and can be performed in just 60 minutes. Effectively this is a complete revision of the pump as the hose is the part in contact with the slurry: new hose, new pump!
Other maintenance-based innovations built into the re-engineered SPX hose pumps include an innovative leak zone which has been created between the pumphead bearings and the gearbox bearing, providing protection to both and giving early warning in the unlikely event of a lubricant seal failure. Additionally, a transparent inspection window gives easy access for set up and maintainance, halving the time it takes to carry out such tasks on similar pumps.

Market choices
Aside from mining, there are many other markets where the SPX pumps will be of great benefit, such as for the cleaning of polluted soil in environmental applications, for instance. Users in sectors such as chemical and paint should also take note, as serious pressure on prices in these markets is driving demand for improved production processes.

Ultimately, Bredel hose pumps offer reliable, contamination-free metering and pumping, and have proven particularly successful where fluids are abrasive, corrosive, have a high viscosity and/or dry solids content, are shear sensitive or have a tendency to crystallise. The SPX range carries a two year warranty and will offer performance to 80 cubic metres/hour and pressures of up to 16 bar.

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Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions

01326370370
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https://www.wmfts.com/
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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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