Diaphragm Pump For Tanker Offloading

World leading paint manufacturer needed to improve their tanker offloading of Acrylic Acid. Having used Flotronic Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm Pumps for many years throughout their site, they asked if Flotronic could help. The solution was a HiFlo 710 Series 316L AODP, complete with our 'Guardian' rupture protection and an integral pulsation damper. As a result, they saved at least one hour unloading, reduced blockages and achieved a greater flexibility of supply.

Their plant in the North of England produce a wide range of resins, in particular UV/EB curing chemicals for coatings, inks and adhesives. Acrylic acid is very susceptible to overheating which can cause a violent polymerisation, which may result in serious injury and/or loss of property. If using either centrifugal pumps or positive displacement pumps, which if 'dead headed' results in a temperature rise, then these must be protected with a temperature sensor and instrument interlocks.

However a better solution is to use Air-Operated Double-Diaphragm Pumps, which if 'dead headed' will stop pumping, thus avoiding expensive and complicated instrument interlocks, resulting in a much safer application.

The Flotronic 'One Nut' fast maintenance 2" 710 series AODP, constructed in 316L stainless steel with Virgin PTFE / Teflon diaphragms unloads at a rate of 12 tonnes/hour of acrylic acid at a temperature of 17-25°C and a viscosity of 50 centipoise. It has a flooded suction and pumps the acid to two 30 tonne storage tanks with 5 metres head.

The pump is fitted with the unique flotronic rupture protection system, which consists of a secondary back up diaphragm behind each working diaphragm, creating an intermediate safety chamber. Should the working diaphragm rupture, these protect the pump air system from damage and contain the liquid within the pump. Tappings are provided to enable a signal to be sent to the control panel to alert the operator to the rupture so that he can either finish the pumping or shut the pump down.

The integral pulsation damper is fitted to reduce pulses which could cause pipework damage and/or upset instrumentation. The FPL dampers remove over 95% of pulses and are also fitted with the rupture protection system. The "FPL double diaphragm pumps have proved very reliable in the past, and we particularly like the simplicity and ease of maintenance."

PROCESS DETAILS

• Acylic acid
• Temp17-25ºC
• Flooded suction Viscosity 50 cp
• Flow rate 12 tonnes/hr

PUMP DETAILS

• 2" Hi Flo 710 316 stainless steel
• PTFE elastomers
• 150 ANSI flange Connections