Got difficult liquids?

A very large part of a pump installation's success has to do with selection of the proper pump for the application. Improper selection leads to a shortened pump life span, increased repair costs, unnecessary downtime and higher production costs.

Knowledge and understanding of liquid properties are key to making the right pump selection. This article focuses on two of the more detrimental liquid characteristics ," abrasion and corrosion ," and discusses common ways to deal with each. Both centrifugal and positive-displacement-type pumps typically handle abrasive and/or corrosive liquids, and each has its own set of solutions. However, this discussion is limited to rotary positive-displacement pumps such as internal gear, external gear, lobe, circumferential piston and vane designs.

Rotary positive-displacement pumps are characterized by close-tolerance rotating elements that move liquid through expansion and contraction of the liquid. Unlike centrifugal pumps, which move liquid by imparting kinetic energy, positive-displacement pumps try to move the same amount of liquid for each shaft revolution. Because the pump has only a small amount of clearance, some liquid flows from discharge back to suction. This phenomenon is called slip and is common to all rotary positive-displacement pumps.

These clearances act like small orifices within the pump, meaning slip is like orifice flow. Clearance, liquid viscosity and differential pressure all have an effect on the extent of slip. Both abrasion and corrosion can result in the removal of material from the pump; therefore, pump performance ultimately is affected by these problems. As slip increases as a result of material loss, the pump experiences decreases in developed pressure, capacity or both.

Corrosion is defined as the process in which a material is destroyed through oxidation or chemical reaction. Corrosion shows up in a variety of ways ," perhaps in a rusted ferrous part, or possibly in a stainless steel part that has been eaten away slowly by an aggressive acid. Applications involving corrosive liquids are found throughout industry, but are particularly common in the chemical processing and pulp and paper industries.

Determining the corrosive properties of a liquid can be difficult. For more common liquids, several sources for corrosion data exist, including the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) and Compass Publications. NACE has a number of publications, and Compass publishes corrosion guides for both metals and nonmetals. Corrosion data normally are expressed as a rate (inches per year) and often are categorized by level (A, B, C, etc.). Note that corrosion rates nearly always are affected by temperature (a higher temperature can mean a greater corrosion rate), so it is very important to factor in temperatures during material selection.

Fewer corrosion data exist for less common liquids, mixes of liquids and unique concentrations. In these cases, historical data and the experience of others can be helpful.

Often, liquid manufacturers can provide useful information. Some pump manufacturers can perform corrosion testing, provided they have the means to handle the liquid safely. This process normally involves a simple immersion test of a proposed material in which weight loss is measured over a given period of time. From that, the manufacturer can calculate a corrosion rate.

Once the corrosion rate is known, the pump user can begin the pump and pump material selection process. External materials (housing) and pumping elements must be "reasonably" compatible with the liquid pumped. Most manufacturers provide materials of construction ranging ," at the very least ," from cast iron to stainless steel. Many of them also provide materials such as Alloy 20, Monel and Hastelloy for use with more difficult applications.

Material choice often is an economic issue because higher-end alloys always cost more than traditional pump materials. In some cases, a small amount of corrosion can be tolerated, provided the pump still offers adequate performance and an acceptable life. For example, for applications handling concentrated sulfuric acid, cast iron might provide a lower life-cycle cost than another material such as stainless steel featuring minimal corrosion. Cast iron has a "B" rating at ambient temperature, whereas stainless steel has an "A" rating.

Bear in mind, however, that safety comes first. Fluids that are corrosive to pump materials are often hazardous to human health as well. Any corrosion that compromises structural integrity or impairs product safety should not be tolerated. Most pump manufacturers will provide assistance in this area.

Many rotary positive-displacement pumps use bushings lubricated by the product to support the pumping elements. Corrosion factors must be considered here as well.

Improper selection can lead to a quick drop off in performance, as well as seal leakage. Again, most suppliers provide a wide range of bushing materials.

Carbon graphite is a nearly universal cost-effective choice, but it does not fit all applications. Silicon carbide is an excellent choice for highly corrosive liquids, but it is also very expensive. If the application warrants, other materials such as Colomonoy, tungsten carbide and a variety of composites are available.