PUMPS & TURBINES
THE DEVIL MAY CARE…
but we’re not fussed: techically speaking (and considered very theoretically),the term pumps refers only to devices which are used to transport incompressible fluids. Machinery for compressible media such as gases are technically known as compressors or fans – and these are not the only definitions available (see below).
However, we’re fond of all of them, since the three-dimensional shapes of pump housings, turbocharger housings, propeller blades, fan housings, or agitators all have one thing in common: they are more or less completely unsuitable for machined production from a block of solid material. Shapes such as these must be cast – and we’re happy to do so over and over again. The applications are as varied as the sectors that use our castings.
We supply castings for use in sewage pumps, dosing pumps, injection pumps (petrol, diesel), drum pumps, fire pumps, slurry pumps, hydraulic pumps, reciprocating pumps, fuel pumps, piston pumps, bilge pumps, oil pumps, acid pumps, waste water pumps, syringe pumps, irrigation pumps, tandem pumps, submersible pumps, water pumps, coolant pumps, boiler feed pumps, circulation pumps, pipeline pumps, and many others.
The stresses that our castings are subjected to fall along an equally wide range – a closer look at the details of a project often reveals hidden technical “devilry”. The slurry pump offers one example of this: at first glance, it conjures images of peaceful, grazing cows and rolling green landscapes; a technician could be forgiven for assuming that low-strength grey cast iron would be sufficient.
Unfortunately – not even close. There is hardly a greater challenge for a pump than this mixture of solid and liquid pig manure, with pH-values beyond the pale, a healthy dose of rust and iron particles from the sty, broken bits of hoof, gravel and stones, and all manner of bits and pieces that common sense would actually try to keep out of a pump. Such an application calls for SG iron at the very least; ADI or Ni-Resist would be still better. Often, however, the only option is to call in additional help in the form of a supplementary polymer lining – which must be detachably fastened, resulting in yet more requirements that the cast housing must meet. Yes, the devil is in the details…and knee-deep in slurry!