There are many challenges when pumping hot liquids. Cavitation can occur if the liquid is too near its boiling point unless there is enough pressure applied to stop this. Flashing at the seal face can be a problem when pumping hot liquids so cooling and pump designs that ensure a higher pressure around the seal should be used.
Magnetic drive and canned pumps usually offer the safest and most reliable option for hot liquid applications as they contain the liquid while avoiding the problems of seal flashing.
When it comes to pumping cold liquids the problems can be surprisingly similar to hot liquids. Cavitation is often a problem due to the thin and very low boiling points of many refrigerants. Lubrication can be a problem and off gas if pumps with mechanical seals are used.
Handling Thermal Service Fluids
- Magnetic Drive and Canned Pumps: For hot liquid applications, magnetic drive and canned pumps emerge as the safest and most reliable options. These pumps encapsulate the liquid, eliminating seal flashing issues and ensuring efficient transfer even at high temperatures.
- Pressure Control: Proper pressure regulation is critical for preventing cavitation in both hot and cold thermal service fluids. Advanced pump designs with precise pressure control mechanisms help maintain stable flow and prevent damage.
- Material Compatibility: Selecting pump materials compatible with the specific thermal service fluid is paramount. AxFlow offers a range of corrosion-resistant materials, ensuring durability and longevity, even in extreme temperature conditions.
Examples of Thermal Service Fluids
- Heat Transfer Oils: Used in industrial heating and cooling systems, ensuring uniform temperature distribution in various processes.
- Refrigerants: Employed in refrigeration and air conditioning systems to maintain low temperatures, crucial for food storage and climate control.
- Molten Salts: Utilized in solar power plants and industrial applications for energy storage and heat transfer.
Thermal Service Fluids Applications
- Power Generation: Thermal fluids play a vital role in power plants, enabling efficient heat exchange and energy production.
- Chemical Processing: Used in chemical reactors and distillation processes, ensuring precise temperature control and efficient reactions.
- HVAC Systems: Thermal service fluids are integral to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, maintaining comfortable indoor environments.
The successful pumping of thermal service fluids demands specialized pumps capable of handling extreme temperatures, preventing cavitation, and ensuring efficient transfer. AxFlow's expertise, coupled with a wide range of pump options, guarantees optimal performance, reliability, and safety in thermal service fluid applications, setting new standards in industrial efficiency and productivity.
Specific thermal service applications:
Cryogenic Liquids
High Temperature Oils
Glycol
Our Wilden AOD pumps offer a cost effective and proven solution to pump liquids up to 176 oC, while our Almatec pumps over very high levels of product containment.
Or centrifugal pump portfolio contains many ranges suitable for use as high temperature pumps. This includes magnetic drive pumps, ISO pumps, canned pumps we can pump liquids with temperatures up to 450 oC.
Our range of ECP pumps from Waukesha can handle liquids up to 176 oC.
Most or our OBL and Pulsafeeder metering pumps can be constructed from a range of heat resistant materials and several can withstand temperatures of up to 370 oC.
We have three ranges of heat resistant vane pumps: SNP, SVM and P Series.
Our STM range of turbine process pumps can pump liquids with temperatures up to 300 oC.
We have three ranges of metallic gear pumps which can handle temperatures of up to 260 oC
