Pressure pumps solve resin mix problem
7 Mar 2012
Woking, UK- Hydra-cell high pressure pumps have helped solve a sand resin mix dispensing problem at a manufacturer of ceramic shower trays.
According to the group, the use of conventional metering pumps to dispense controlled amounts of a special sand and resin mixture into moulds was proving to be a difficult challenge.
Due to the highly abrasive nature of the mixture, which had a viscosity of between 10,000 to 15,000 cps and with suspended solids content of approximately 80%, the conventional metering pumps were failing. This was primarily as a result of their valves and diaphragms becoming clogged and wearing out due to the effects of the highly abrasive mixture.
To solve the problem hydra-cell high pressure pumps were installed on the dosing machine which needed to deliver the sand and resin mixture at flow rates of between 6 to 7 lit/min and discharge pressures of between 5 to 6 bar.
The Hydra-Cell G25 pump selected to operate on this slow running, medium pressure pumping application featured a cast iron pump head, Buna diaphragms with 316 stainless steel valves and seats. To ensure the necessary flow for this application the feed tank was installed 2 metres above the pump and fitted with a large diameter inlet pipe to ensure a good feed.
Despite nine months of almost continual operation, the Hydra-Cell pumps required no maintenance and therefore the problems of pump failure and the resulting downtime were been eliminated. In the future, to extend the mean time between servicing, the group plans to install even harder wearing ceramic valves and seats instead of the existing stainless steel parts.
