Creative impeller design from Amarinth keeps latex flowing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 22 January 2007
Creative impeller design from Amarinth keeps latex flowing
Amarinth has designed and commissioned an innovative pumping solution for Polimeri Europa which prevents the frequent clogging inherent in the existing centrifugal pumps used to move latex agglomerate around the plant. The new pumps have increased reliability by a factor of 15 delivering a return on investment in just nine months.
Polimeri Europa is one of the major world producers of elastomers at their plants in Hythe and Grangemouth, United Kingdom. Using a range of proprietary technologies and state-of-the-art production systems, the company produces basic chemicals, polyethylene, elastomers and styrenics for many of the world’s leading brands.
For years, the latex agglomerate used during production had tended to clog and accumulate behind the impellers of the existing centrifugal pumps. This overloaded the pumps causing gland leakage. Despite a regular maintenance schedule of stripping, cleaning and rebuilding the pumps and re-packing the glands, seizures would still occur each week, sometimes resulting in the failure of a shaft or bearings. The consequence was unplanned downtime and disruption to critical stages of the production process.
Polimeri Europa was unable to identify any standard products that would meet their needs and so it invited a number of ISO9001 accredited pump suppliers with proven track records to propose how they could resolve the problem. The design parameters were for a pump that could run for three weeks before requiring any maintenance.
Amarinth were selected for their ability and willingness to work with Polimeri Europa on optimising a design which would include special features outside of their standard catalogue. The base pump chosen was an N-Series which included a removable front suction cover enabling quick access for cleaning. A scalloped impeller was specifically designed to minimise clogging and an electro-polish was applied to the back-plate and impeller to create low cohesion surfaces. Finally, working in partnership with John Crane, a special mechanical seal was designed to contain the latex agglomerate.
The new pumps were delivered on-time and have exceeded the design expectations on this very demanding application. Reliability has improved by a factor of 15 and a quick internal jet-wash is all that is often needed. Previous pumps required cleaning and re-packing every few days, or even daily during difficult running conditions, a process that took 6 – 8 man hours for each pump. The resultant cost savings in parts and labour mean that the pumps will pay for themselves in just nine months.
Polimeri Europa are delighted with the results and has now brought additional pumps on-line and is working with Amarinth to enhance its existing pumping solutions in other applications.
Robert Pearce, Project Manager at Polimeri Europa, summed up his satisfaction: “We are delighted with the original thinking and design work undertaken by Amarinth in developing a pump tailored to our demanding application. They have successfully overcome the issues we have faced for the last 20 years of clogging when pumping our latex agglomerate. These new pumps were delivered on-time and have performed to specification, leading to a significant reduction in maintenance costs and eliminating expensive and disruptive unscheduled stoppages.”
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Amarinth is a carbon net zero organisation delivering world-leading expertise in the design, application and manufacture of centrifugal pumps and associated equipment for critical applications in many of the most arduous and hostile environments around the globe.
Founded in 2002, Amarinth has harnessed the skills, creativity and passion of people who have worked in the pump industry for decades, delivering bespoke API and ISO pumps primarily to the offshore and onshore oil & gas industries; nuclear and renewable energy generation; defence; desalination; process and industrial markets.
The company’s innovative approach, business agility and use of sophisticated computer applications enables it to deliver robust, reliable and sustainable pumping solutions on the shortest lead times in the industry.
• Process pumps – API 610, API 685, ISO 5199 horizontal, vertical and in-line bespoke process pumps, including ones that are hydraulically and dimensionally interchangeable with the former Girdlestone and other obsolete pumps.
• Skid packages and modules – Supplied with a variety of drives for applications including de-sanding, mixing, filtration and chemical injection and tailored for the oil & gas, water treatment and power generation industries.
• Condensate recovery – Cutting-edge design providing low NPSH up to 98°C with variable speed drives to reduce cycle time and lower operating costs, available in stainless steel, galvanised or copper tanks for light or heavy industrial uses.
• Seal support – Integrated pressurised and vented seal support systems designed and delivered to API 682 and ISO 5199 standards and specific site specifications and requirements, working closely with AES, Eagle Burgmann, John Crane and Protect System.
• Spare parts – Critical spares for all Amarinth pumps and related components can be dispatched the same day, reducing potential downtime, and in addition components for the former Girdlestone and other obsolete pumps can be re-engineered often improving the performance of existing assets.
• Services – A full range of pump related services, delivered from UK head office or on-site globally, onshore or off-shore, including full commissioning and start-up support; also strip, report and refurbishment of any pump regardless of manufacturer.
Amarinth operates globally from its base in Rendlesham Suffolk, United Kingdom and offices in the Middle East and Malaysia with a global customer base, including BP, Shell, ADNOC, NOV, ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, COSCO, EDF, GlaxoSmithKline, Saudi Aramco, Pfizer, Diageo, Kuwait Oil Company, AMEC, Fluor, LUKOIL, Halliburton, and Babcock.
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Comment:
Alex Brigginshaw
Commercial Director
Amarinth Limited
Bentwaters Park, Rendlesham
Woodbridge IP12 2TW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1394 462131
Mobile: +44 (0)7703 681821
Alex.Brigginshaw@Amarinth.com
Media Relations:
Phil Harland
B6 Solutions Limited
29 Swan Drive
The Wharf, Aldermaston
Reading RG7 4UZ
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)118 971 3271
Mobile: +44 (0)7880 748380
Phil.Harland@B6solutions.com
