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 for users is improved durability and further reduced maintenance downtime.
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.
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.
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 three 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).
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.
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.
