FEAT RE FEA ATURE


BOILERS PUMPS & V LVS & VALVE S S, P,


STAY IN CONTROL OF DOSING WITH


AY IN CONTROL OF DO SIN G WIT H PC PUMP S


STAY


Lesley Eaton, business development and marketing manager at SEEPEX AD explains how operators can stay i sin


Lesley Eaton, business development andmarketi gmanager a t SEEPEX AD explains how operators can stay in control of dosing with PC pumps in industrial appliications


cont ol of th D s in in


osing pumps are an important piece of equipment for operators of


anaerobic digestion (AD) plants. But not all dosing pumps are the same – while most positive displaceme capable of dosing, progre


ssive cavity (PC) nt pumps are


pumps are fast becoming the dosing pump of choice for customers looking for superior performance.


Dosing pumps are specified when


accurate control of dispensing products is required. They are used whenever low to highly viscous media, media containing solids and chemically corrosive media are processed – for example, when adding digestate or other liquid to AD feedstocks to ensure the correct dry achieved, or when dosing


trace elements, solids ratio is


enzymes and nutrients to maximise biogas yields. It’s essential that the product being added is dispensed at a constant, proportionate rate to ensure even mixing and distribu tion. This will help to ensure that the feedstock is of a consistent and high quality, and will also help to optimise substrate digestion rates and control AD feedstock costs.


However, many traditional dosing pump designs such as piston pumps, air


diaphragm pumps and peristaltic pumps have a pulsating action. This pulsed flow means that once the pump has dispensed a product, there is a pause before it can dispense again. This resu lts in a gap i n the process and can cause uneven


distribution. Furthermore, some of these pump designs require check valves; if solid or viscous particles get caught behind the valves it can cause them to stick, blocking the pump and halting the process.


In contrast, PC pumps are virtually pulsation-free. They use a rotor/stator pumping action which de continuous flow into the


product stream, livers a


compared to the start/st op action of piston or other positive displacement pumps. In the case of SEEPEX’s PC dosing pumps, this produces a stable flow rate with a linear accuracy of +/-1%.


Another benefit of PC dosing pumps over the alternatives is their ability to handle highly viscous products, sticky


20 20 APRI MA 201 APRIL/MAY 2018 | IRISH MAN RISH MANUFAC ACTURI RING trial a ca io


dispense the correct amount of media every time, maintaining the quality of the final biogas or digestate. This


accuracy also reduces wastage, helping to keep down the costs of feedstock.


What’s more, as flow valves, ball valves and pulsation dampeners are no t required, installation and maintenance costs are reduced compared to


alternative solutions. System costs are also lower, as the lack of pulsation reduces the wear on pipework.


They are also highly flexible and can be specified according to customer demand. For example, the SEEPEX D range of PC dosing pumps is not only modular – meaning it can be scaled up or down as required – it can also be specified t o handle extremely viscous products; tailored for hygienic or industrial


materials and those that contain solid particles – essential when dealing with AD feedstocks such as agricultural by- products, molasses or food waste ‘slurry’. Crucially for AD plants that handle mixed feedstocks, a variety of different


such as ferric su also handle hars pressure or prod


facilities. Just as importantly, due to the


constant, pulse-free action of PC pumps, the addition of pulsation dampeners, flow control valves and ball valves is not required. This means that PC pumps can be used in complex applications. They are also able to handle corrosive and abrasiv e materials, and their ability to pump particulates makes them ideal for dosing into and from chemical tanks. Chemical particles can settle at the bottomof tanks and block valves, preventing other positive displacement pumps fromdoing their job, but not so in the case of PC pumps. The benefits to AD operators of using


p P


products of differing viscosity or solidity can be dosed by a single pump, since the flow rate of PC pumps is not affected by uct viscosity. They can h, abrasive chemicals, lphate dosing at AD


applications; or be made from chemical- compatible materials, depending on th e final use.


PUMPED UP ABOUT INDUSTRY 4.0 Whatever your reason for specifying a dosing pump, it’s important to keep in mind the impact that Industry 4.0 is set to have the AD industry in the near future. There’s a general misconception that enhanced connectivity, smart technology and Industry 4.0 are just for big operations with ultra-sophisticated data capture strategies but all AD plants, no matter how small, can benefit from preparation for future proofing – and this includes when selecting a PC pump. To this end, SEEPEX’s range of PC dosing pumps includes a Smart Dosing Pump (SDP). Users input just one


PUMPED UP ABOU INDUS Image 1: Image 1:


Seepex Smart Dosing Pump (SDP)


parameter – the pr oportional flow rati o – and the pump, featuring an integrated PLC monitor, will then make any necessary adjustments automatically. Once set, the flow rate is monitored and controlled entirely by the pump drive, which adapts to variations in operating conditions to ensure accurate, repeatable dosing. In addition, dry running and over-pressure sensors feed back to the drive to protect the pump from damage. Despite its enhanced capabilities, the SDP is easy to operate comprising a P C pump with an intelligent inverter drive which is programmed either locally via an HMI or centrally via a fieldbus interface.


, SEEPEX www.seepex.com www.seepex.com T: +49 2041 996 350 / HSIRI IRISHMANUF MANUFACTURING FACTURING


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