Amarinth underlines its =
innovative=20
engineering skills with an advanced impeller and =
pump=20
design for Polimeri Europa, that allows latex =
coagulate=20
to be pumped reliably, saving 83% of maintenance =
costs
Polimeri Europa is one of =
the major=20
world producers of elastomers The pumping of =
latex=20
presents a particular difficulty because of its =
adhesion=20
and coagulation properties
A high cost maintenance =
regime,=20
involving numerous built-up spare pumps, =
stand-by pumps=20
and regular labour intensive overhauls and =
cleaning, was=20
used to keep process lines running.
Pumps were changed as often as on every shift =
during=20
certain product batches.
With no standard products =
available in=20
the market that could resolve the issues, =
Polimeri=20
Europa turned to specialists Amarinth to provide =
an=20
optimised design of pump which would include =
special=20
features outside a standard catalogue.
The design parameters were for a pump that =
could run=20
for three weeks before requiring any =
maintenance.
Starting with its proven and =
reliable=20
N-series pump, Amarinth applied its wealth of =
skills and=20
state-of-the-art computer equipment to design a=20
scalloped impeller that would minimise clogging =
by the=20
latex.
An electro-polish was then applied to both =
the=20
impeller and the backplate to create low =
friction=20
surfaces.
A removable front suction cover was designed =
to=20
enable quick access for cleaning and finally a =
specially=20
adapted mechanical seal was added to contain the =
latex=20
coagulate.
The new pumps were delivered on-time and are=20
exceeding all design expectations on this very =
demanding=20
application.
Labour costs are down by 85% and overall =
costs are=20
down by 83%.
These cost savings, in both parts and labour, =
have=20
meant that the pumps have paid for themselves in =
under a=20
year.
Despite having surpassed the original =
specification,=20
Polimeri Europa was keen to further develop the =
design=20
and achieve even better performance.
Ideas were jointly developed =
between=20
engineers from Amarinth and Polimeri Europa, and =
following FEA analysis by Amarinth it was found =
that=20
further small modifications to the impeller and=20
backplate could dramatically increase =
performance.
Andrew Maxwell, Plant =
Engineer for=20
Materials at Polimer Europa, has worked closely =
with=20
Amarinth on this new design and commented: "I =
have been=20
impressed by the repeated willingness of =
Amarinth to=20
further develop and improve this product.
Working with them and developing innovative =
ideas has=20
been a very productive and rewarding experience. =
The cost savings generated =
for Polimeri=20
Europa have been considerable and have turned =
one of our=20
most problematic maintenance issues into one of =
our most=20
reliable pumping systems".
Polimeri Europa now has a pump that has run =
for six=20
months without the need for any maintenance or =
cleaning=20
- far exceeding the original three week =
requested design=20
brief.
As an additional bonus the most recent design =
changes=20
are also delivering significant energy savings. =
Amarinth is a leading UK company specialising =
in the=20
design, application and manufacture of pumps and =
associated equipment. =
![](3D"http://www.idswater.com/RFPimages/whiteHoriLine.jpg"=20)