NEWS | NPE REVIEW


performance screenchanger and gear pump. Both are claimed to overcome the challenges presented by the material’s sensitivity to thermal exposure. “Rigid PVC is the material


that nobody designs for as it has its own particular processing problems,” said PSI general manager Don Macnamara. “Flexible PVC has a broad processing window and is quite easy to work with, but rigids are a different story.” The key challenge is the thermal sensitivity of the polymer. Extended interrup- tions of the melt flow, such as those required to change a screen filter, can result in material picking up heat and burning while any transi- tions or steps in the flow path can create shear heating, which has a similar negative result. PSI’s solution is to replace the mechanical clamping systems typically found on a traditional screenchanger with its own Expansion Plate design. This employs expansion and contraction of thermal bolts to allow the screenchanger plate to be released, moved then clamped again. In addition to speed – a full cycle takes around six minutes but melt


US extruder debut One of the key exhibits on the Battenfeld Cincinnati stand was a Solex NG extruder – the first of this machine series to be assembled at the company’s US facility. The Solex NG single


PSI’s ESC screenchanger is designed for use with rigid PVC


flow is only impacted for around 90 seconds – this arrangement also relies on direct metal-to-metal contact, so eliminates the need for seals that can often create flow path interruptions.


Gear control Gear pumps allow improved control of the extrusion process and can lift output rates. However, in many modern designs the polymer melt acts as a lubricant for the gears and bearings, which is not a viable option when process- ing rigid PVC due to its shear and thermal sensitivity. Macnamara said the new


Chlorinated Gear Pump is designed to draw heat away from the gears and bear- ings. Body and side plates are jacketed for heat


transfer media, extended gear shafts help move heat energy out from the bearings, and polymer used for lubrication is bled constantly (amounting to 0.01% of total throughput). “Our product will now allow customers running a thermally sensitive polymer to take advantage of the die pressure stabilisation, increased output, and reduction of extruder pressure benefits of a gear pump,” he said. Both products are late


stage prototypes but some gear pumps are already in beta trials, with screen- changer tests due to commence shortly, says PSI. The company expects to be able to put production versions on the market within six months.


screw extruder features an optimised processing unit that is claimed to lift output rates by 25% (compared to previous machines of the same screw diameter) and reduce melt temperatures by 10-15°C, saving energy in extrusion and down- stream cooling. The Solex NG 90-40 model (90mm screw diameter) shown at NPE was rated at an output of 1,620 kg/h in HDPE pipe applica- tions and had been sold to an undisclosed US-based pipe producer. It was equipped with the latest BCTouch UX control system, which offers Industry 4.0 connectivity and both multi-level and multi-lan- guage operation.


CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: � www.shell.us/poly-e � www.sabic.com � www.baerlocher.com � www.psi-polymersystems.com � www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com


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