Page 184 - CW E-Magazine (30-1-2024)

Special Report Special Report

Chemical pumps – key to greater process reliability it must be optimised even at the level in higher investment costs, these costs
quickly pay for themselves in practice
of the individual pump components.
For instance, threaded sleeves that are in the form of longer service life and
iven the substances used, the environment, the focus is always on screwed into the plastic housing, are less maintenance effort,” says Stefan
complexity of the processes process reliability. Pumps are an inte- common on the market. External infl u- Anstöter. “This is something that users
Gand the potential risks to gral part of the process and they play ences such as signifi cant temperature in the chemical industry really appre-
people and the environment, process a particularly important role. They bear fl uctuations change the shape of the ciate. other industries often focus on
reliability plays a more important role a signifi cant responsibility; they ensure material, and the housing then tends to cost-optimised solutions, however, for
in the chemical industry than it does in that the process runs smoothly. For leak at the connections. Timmer, on the the chemical industry, process reliabi-
perhaps any other industry. The conse- example, pumps are used to convey other hand, uses a design for its pumps lity is the top priority.”
quences of failures, leaks and equip- liquids such as chemical solutions. that connects the highly-resistant plas-
ment damage can have far-reaching tic components that are in contact with In addition to reliable sealing and
consequences. Generally speaking, the Due to the associated high risks, media, by means of tie rods. The force durable pump materials, there is yet
greater the impact of a fault-related the chemical industry imposes special exerted by the tie rods is distributed by another factor that plays an important role
failure, the more important it is to use requirements on the process pumps of the the large-area reinforcement plates – in the chemical industry: Explosion pro-
reliable, verifi able components. This Mr. Stefan Anstoter systems. Correct selection, installation, a measure that signifi cantly mini- tection. ATEX stands for ‘Atmosphères
is essential, particularly in the fi eld of to employees. Extending beyond the maintenance and monitoring make it mises deformation of the plastic. The Explosibles”’and the ATEX Directive
pump technology. With its products, hazards in the workplace, the quality possible to carry out chemical proces- tim®FIX system developed by Timmer specifi es the product requirements for
Timmer GmbH demonstrates how of the manufactured products must be ses safely and effi ciently. The condition, uniformly distributes the forces of the explosion protection. Timmer designs
chemical pumps function as key com- ensured. If processes are not stable, i.e., the quality, of the pumps must also tie rods – and minimises plastic defor- and manufactures chemical pumps
ponents in chemical processes and how deviations from the product specifi ca- meet these special requirements. Com- mation. Whether food compatibility or explosion that meet the requirements stipulated
they take the safety of the entire plant to tions can occur. The result: inferior or ponents must be resistant to chemicals protection: Thanks to selected materials, in this directive. This means that
a new level. dangerous end products. However, it and corrosion, and often they must also To ensure maximum protection, the pumps from Timmer GmbH are well- Timmer pumps are ATEX-compliant – an
suited for a wide range of applications.
is not just people who are at risk due be explosion-proof. stainless steel sheets encompass the important and necessary characteristic
Extreme temperatures, hazardous to unsafe processes – the environment pump and provide stability for the Ingeniously designed: Optimal sealing depending on the system environment.
substances, high pressure: If processes is too. If the equipment leaks, chemi- Durable material for greater safety entire construction. However, the key optimal sealing of a pump is a ATEX-compliance is achieved in part
in the chemical industry are not car- cal substances that cause environmental “From the material to the design aspect here is: The fact, that in the inte- major aspect of process reliability. It is a through high-quality material selec-
ried out safely, the consequences are damage can escape. and the accessibility for repairs: Chemi- rior of the pump, metal does not come characteristic that plays a central role in tion and the combination of materials.
severe. In the worst-case, accidents cal pumps must function fl awlessly into contact with the medium. Plastic, product development at Timmer. In this For example, such material selection
and explosions can occur that endanger Wherever chemical processes are in practical application,” says Stefan and plastic only, which has been tested regard, the design follows a simple rule: and combination minimise potentially
human life and cause serious injuries involved, to protect people and the Anstöter, Product Manager at Timmer for resistance, completely encloses the The fewer sealing surfaces, the fewer explosive electrostatic charges. It also
GmbH. “We know: Here there is no processed medium – and such enclo- possibilities of a leak. Consequently, enables implementation of process-reli-
room for error. That’s why we have sure offers an additional advantage. chemical pumps from Timmer have able chemical pumps in different types
optimised our pumps so that they meet – The material is FDA-compliant and only four sealing points – signifi cantly of hazardous areas.
and even exceed – all industry require- thus it is food-safe. This is a property, fewer than pumps offered by other
ments.” This starts with deliberate use which at fi rst glance may not seem rele- manufacturers. A comparison: Conven- For a higher level of safety and
of suitable pump materials. For exam- vant in the chemical industry. However, tional pumps are sealed at as many as effi ciency: Easy access for repairs
ple, stainless steel, which has proven to in this regard it is worth taking a look twelve points in the media section. If in spite of high quality stan-
be effective in other industries, is often behind the scenes. The chemical indus- dards, a pump should fail, fast repair
not suitable for chemical applications try is signifi cantly involved in the man- Also the individual components is essential in the chemical industry. In
because it is subject to attack by alka- ufacture of pharmaceutical products. at Timmer are perfectly matched. the worst-case, potentially hazardous
lis and acids. Instead, the pumps in the Even if the end product, such as a com- Not only are the selected components substances will escape; this can have
tim®CHEM product line are equipped mon pain-relief tablet, does not come safe and leak-proof, they can also be health consequences for employees and
with a plastic housing. The polytetrafl uoro- into contact with the chemical pump replaced quickly if need be. The well the general public and it can also have
ethylene (PTFE) used is compatible – the specifi c substances that make up thought-out design also enables fast a negative impact on the environment.
with the chemicals that are used. the pain-relief tablet, do indeed pass and easy on-site service. In this area, In addition, long downtimes are always
through the chemical pump in various less is more, because the minimised associated with economic losses for
Reliable protection for the heart of processes. Thus, with Timmer chemical number of wear parts reduces main- users. Proactive maintenance and fast
the chemical plant pumps these upstream products only tenance effort and maintenance costs. repair enable companies to identify
The tim®CHEM series chemical pumps come factory-standard with a sensor that monitors The optimum choice of materials come into contact with materials that “Although design effort and use of potential problems early on and
the status of the pump and that can be integrated directly into the user’s process control system. must be considered holistically and are FDA-compliant. high-quality materials initially result rectify them before they result in major

184 Chemical Weekly January 30, 2024 Chemical Weekly January 30, 2024 185

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