In its various incarnations, stainless steel often seems like an industrial standard for pumps and various other applications. The exact grade of stainless steel may vary, and end users may find themselves combining it with various polymers and other exotic materials, but stainless steel is the standard — right? Well, not exactly. For many applications, ceramic makes much more sense. Why? There are multiple reasons.
Traditionally, manufacturers have used stainless-steel shafts and carbon bearings in pumps. Yet these familiar materials face definite drawbacks. Susceptibility to corrosion. Limited operational effectiveness. Difficulties dealing with limescale and other kinds of particulate matter.
That’s why ceramic has become popular for certain applications. It addresses these issues and more. While it’s true that some ceramics are brittle, newer formulations show surprising strength. Once fired, they can become so hard that only diamond outclasses them. This strength allows pumps with ceramic parts to function for thousands of operational hours.
Such hardness also deals well with particles that work their way into the bearing area. In applications involving a wet-running pump, specks of sand, rust, or some such similar matter get ground up into an easily manageable size. Not only do ceramic shafts and bearings last longer than various grades of stainless steel, they won’t corrode, making them ideal for dealing with highly caustic substances.
Of course, not all industrial ceramics are created equal. Some can become brittle. Others with less high-quality compositions might suffer from porosity. Fortunately, March Pumps uses Alumina ceramics, a particularly hardy and versatile type of industrial ceramic.
To start, Alumina ceramics can withstand temperatures of 1200° Celsius. This make them ideal for applications that involve high temperatures. However, such heat resistance comes with compromises. Once temperatures reach 1000° Celsius, ceramics experience reduced thermal shock resistance.
There isn’t just one Alumina ceramic either. Alumina products range in purity from 96% to 99.9% pure. This affects their color, as well as their ability to serve as electrical insulators. As the purity increases, so does its insulating properties. All ceramics do well when it comes to dealing with corrosive substances, and an extremely pure ceramic does even better when pumping caustic chemicals.
While industrial ceramics offer numerous benefits for pumping applications, not every end user will find them ideal. Why? Ceramics have a relatively high cost when compared with stainless steel. Still, some have found that their long operational life more than makes up for it.
So should you use industrial ceramics? Contact March Pump via phone (847-725-0580) or through our contact page, and let us help with your decision. We’ve worked in the industry since 1954 and more than understand how chemical ratings can influence your final selection.
]]>Containing approximately 18% to 20% chromium and 8% to 10.5% nickel, 304 stainless steel offers all of the attributes you’d expect. Ease of fabrication. A wide variety of electrical, chemical storage, furnishing, and piping applications (just to name a few).
On paper, 316 stainless steel looks very similar to 304 stainless steel. However, a slight variation in the metals mix leads to very different results. What are they, and how does 316 differ from 304?
Like 304 stainless steel, 316 contains chromium and nickel. However, it also has molybdenum (2% to 3%) as part of its makeup. That small addition of atomic number 42 lends some unique characteristics to 316 stainless steel.
For one thing, 316 stainless has a stronger resistance to various chemical agents that might damage or corrode 304 stainless steel. It can tolerate fatty acids, sulfuric acid, tartaric acid, and chlorides, even at high temperatures. That makes it ideal for applications in surgical tools, food-related products, and various aspects of pharmaceutical production.
However, 316 stainless steel also excels at resisting brine. That makes it ideal for working in marine applications. Expect to find it in products as diverse as handrails, lamps posts, ladders, various deck components on watercraft, and propeller shafts. Steel with higher levels of molybdenum (up to 6%) appear in oil-platform components.
When temperatures get higher, 316 stainless steel gets tougher. Though it remains just as easy to fabricate as 304 stainless steel, it will not harden under heat treatment. If your application requires annealing, know that you will need to first heat it between 1,900 and 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit prior to quenching.
This incipient toughness means that 316 functions well when used in applications such as jet engines, furnaces, various kinds of manifolds, and (naturally) pump parts.
There’s one quirk of 316 stainless steel to be aware of: Though it’s naturally non-magnetic, it can become magnetic when cold worked.
Selecting from types of steel can seem a bit bewildering. Fortunately, March Pumps has been working with steel since 1954. We understand the ins and outs of all sorts of metals — and we particularly know how they work with pumps. We’re happy to answer any and every question about your application. Reach out to us via phone at (847) 725-0580 or through our contact page.
]]>What kind of material should the pump be constructed of? Should it use a particular kind of motor? Will traditional mechanical seals pose a problem with the specific type of material the pump will move? March Pumps has over 60 years of experience in dealing with these sorts of questions — including the importance of choosing between flanges and threaded connections.
At its most basic level, a flange connection involves joining two pieces of material together by means of an internal or external lip. A gasket gets fitted between that pair of pieces to prevent any leakage. Then installers generally use bolts to seal them tight. (Some applications will weld the pieces together rather than employ bolts.) Flanges come in a variety of styles, everything from slip-on flanges and lap-joint flanges to weld-neck flanges and socket-weld flanges.
Though this wide variety of flanges may seem confusing at first, know that they also offer the widest array of application options. Flange connections can work well with multiple pipe sizes, open or constricted areas, jobs requiring high joint integrity, and with caustic or hazardous liquids or gasses. End users may also install flanges made from standard materials (e.g., stainless steel, carbon steel) or exotic materials designed for special jobs.
Threaded connections are almost the polar opposite of flange connections. Rather than fitting pieces together using multiple parts, threaded connections are rimmed with matching grooves, one on the outside of a piece and the other on the inside. Assembly is simple, because the sections simply screw together.
These grooved connections provide a number of advantages and disadvantages when compared with flanges. For one thing, they often tolerate pump vibrations better. Since they don’t use bolts, their connections will never need retightening. However, few threaded connections can tolerate high-pressure or high-temperature applications. And then there’s another matter where these two most basic types of connections differ: price.
Overall, threaded connections generally cost significantly less than flange connections. This mostly owes to the multiple parts and configurations of flanges. Of course, the relative cheapness of grooved parts is balanced by their operational inflexibility. There’s a reason why threads typically only appear in various low-pressure utility applications.
The originator of the centrifugal sealless magnetic drive pump, March Pumps has worked across industries since 1954. Companies have used our pumps for chemical transfers, desalination, bio-fuel transfers, battery manufacturing, carbon arc furnace cooling, and many more applications. We strive to modify our pumps to fit every customer’s unique situation. Call (847) 725-0580 or contact us today so that we can learn more about your application.
]]>Multistage pumps are centrifugal pumps in which the fluid flows through several impellers fitted in series. This is as opposed to a single stage pump which only has one impeller. The more stages the pump has, the higher the final discharge pressure.
Multistage chemical pumps are unique in that they are able to produce increasingly higher pressures with the addition of every stage while the flow range always remains constant for a given rpm.
As opposed to the mechanics of the multistage pumps, single-stage pumps only have one pump impeller. The amount of pressure generated by the impeller/volute combination depends on the diameter of the impeller and the speed at which the impeller is turning. For a single-stage pump, the impeller is the sole element for transferring energy to the pumped liquid.
Multistage pumps can increase energy efficiency in the systems they are used in if replacing a single-stage setup. Multi-stage technology offers several advantages over traditional single-stage pumps when used to pump liquids that do not contain abrasives, solids or stringy material.
On the other hand, a disadvantage of very large numbers of stages is the increasing sensitivity of the pump rotor to external or natural vibrations. Multistage pumps maintenance is considered by some to be relatively more difficult than single stage pump. Because of the construction of multistage chemical pumps, each impeller/volute combination can be smaller in diameter and operate with a smaller gap between impeller and volute. This tight clearance between impeller and volute means that multi-stage pumps are not recommended for applications pumping liquids containing solids, abrasives, or stringy material.
For engineers and decisionmakers looking to switch from single-stage setups to multistage, developments in multi-stage technology have eliminated the need for piping and pump support rework when retrofitting a multi-stage pump for a single stage pump, making it easier than ever to consider multi-stage pump replacement of traditional single-stage pumps.
Multistage pumps provide engineers with a flexible range of flow and head, along with their high degree of energy efficiency. For those reasons, multistage pumps are a great choice for many applications.
March Pump offers a multistage pump, the TE-3MS-MD, which is made to accommodate various industrial settings. It is made from Polypropylene plastic, which is better able to handle various chemicals, compared to 316SS. The pump can handle chemical recirculation, chemical transfer, and deionized water systems. Its unique multistage design makes it perfectly equipped to accommodate higher heads. Able to work with lower flow rates, the TE-3MS-MD multistage pump is still unique in that it offers 87.0 FT of maximum head.
March Pump has an extensive history in assisting clients with diverse business and engineering challenges. The March Pump team works to resolve those challenges with the help of the appropriate pump.
March Pump has been providing unique business and pump solutions since 1954. We have grown extensively since then, serving clients from a variety of industries both domestically and internationally. The team at March Pump always asks that clients contact our experts directly, so that we may diagnose your situation and any chemical challenges you are facing.
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March Pump’s chemical pump models that utilize 316 stainless steel include:
Stainless steel is a low carbon steel containing chromium. The chromium provides corrosion resistance, in part by creating a film on the surface of the steel that allows the steel to “heal itself” if it is damaged.
316 stainless steel is considered an austenitic stainless steel and has a high nickel content. 316 stainless steel is one of the more commonly used austenitic stainless steels. Austenitic stainless steels are often used when a product of system will need to withstand corrosive environments.
Stainless steel pumps are often used in industries like chemical production, food production, mining, pharmaceutical development and petroleum production. Some other examples:
The TE-5S-MD can be used in small scrubbers, chemical transfer, refrigerators, computer cooling and more. It is equipped to handle chemicals such as Acetic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, various Waters and Potassium Hydroxide, among others. The TE-5S-MD is a serious pump with an intense max flow rate of 18 Gallons Per Minute at 29 FT for a 60HZ model.
Born of the same materials and goals as the TE-5S-MD, the TE-5.52-MD 1 & 3 Phase Magnetic drive pump steps up its maximum flow rate to 30 Gallons Per Minute at 41 FT. Like the 5 series, this pump is made to handle chemicals that can often be highly corrosive or toxic, like Potassium Hydroxide, Formaldehyde and Sodium Hydroxide.
This seal-less centrifugal magnetic drive pump is ideal for applications like chemical transfer and scrubber systems, among others. This pump makes the use of 316 Stainless Steel crucial to help its long-term operation and durable construction.
The TE-7S-MD also uses 316 Stainless Steel by necessity. This magnetic drive pump has similar applications as those in its family, but really steps up its flow rate potential. At 57.5 FT, this pump’s 60HZ model can pump up to 53 Gallons Per Minute. It comes in explosion proof options and is available with other tweaked specifications.
The TE-7S-MD is equipped to handle corrosive and toxic chemicals and can be applied to a wide array of heating, cooling and other systems.
The TE-8S-MD is a magnetically coupled pump available in 316 Stainless steel. The TE-8S-MD is ideal for applications that call for durability and handling corrosive or toxic chemicals. The TE-8S-MD has a potential flow rate of 120 Gallons Per Minute at 90 FT for a 60HZ model.
At March Pump, we offer 316 stainless steel pumps to help meet our clients’ needs in a variety of industries and applications. Contact us today for a personal consultation. We are happy to work across a wide-range of industries and our team of experts understand the ins-and-outs of each of these pumps. Our team can also help you with a modified version of a pump to respond appropriately to your exact needs.
]]>The following list represents some of the most common and largest applications of Ferric Chloride:
Figure 1: Ferric Chloride Concentration and Pump Materials
A single or collection of material/s may be rated for a higher temperature/s then the pump as a whole is capable of. It is important to contact a March representative to determine if the pump as a complete unit is suitable for the concentration and temperature of any chemical.
To handle Ferric Chloride at room temperature, it is recommended to use a centrifugal sealless magnetic drive pump made of Kynar Plastic or Polypropylene and Encapsulated Impeller. Magnetic drive pumps are particularly effective in handling this corrosive and toxic acid, which can easily contaminate the surrounding area or endanger workers with the slightest leak.
When using Ferric Chloride with a magnetic drive pump, the design eliminates the need for traditional mechanical seals, which would be quickly suffer from wear related to heavy contact with the mating seal faces. The magnetic drive coupling concept is free of these seals and makes a fully sealed pump unit possible.
March Pump manufactures chemical pumps specifically designed to handle Ferric Chloride in ranges of 5 GPM to 200 GPM. For assistance with selecting the correct Ferric Chloride pump for your specific concentration, temperature, gravity and application, get in touch with the March Pump team of engineers and experts today.
]]>The most commonly known application of hydrofluorosilicic acid is water fluoridation at water treatment plants. It is up to 5 times less expensive than sodium fluoride, an alternative that can also be used to treat drinking water. As a result, hydrofluorosilicic acid has seen a major surge in demand in recent years. However, concentrations above 20 percent are more dangerous to store and handle than sodium fluoride and need adequate care and equipment.
The largest quantity of hydrofluorosilicic acid worldwide is converted to cryolite and aluminum fluoride. These materials are key in the process of converting aluminum ore into aluminum metal.
Hydrofluorosilicic acid is also used as an electrolyte in the Betts electrolytic process for refining lead and as the active compound in some rust removal cleaning products.
Hydrofluorosilicic acid can be the most dangerous chemical at a particular facility. In the case of evaporation, it releases hydrogen fluoride that is extremely corrosive and will harm the lungs if it is breathed. In addition, hydrofluorosilicic acid interacts with metals and produces a flammable hydrogen gas. These dangers, along with potential corrosion or leakage, can cause imminent harm to working personnel and equipment. Safety precautions should be a key consideration when choosing the right pump for handling hydrofluorosilicic acid.
Figure 1: Hydrofluorosilicic Acid Concentration and Pump Materials
A single or collection of material/s may be rated for a higher temperature/s then the pump as a whole is capable of. It is important to contact a March representative to determine if the pump as a complete unit is suitable for the concentration and temperature of any chemical.
When pumping hydrofluorosilicic acid at room temperature, it is strongly recommended to choose a sealless magnetic drive chemical pump made out of Polypropylene. Hydrofluorosilicic acid is extremely corrosive and interacts with all kinds of metals. An Encapsulated Impeller, Carbon Bushing, and Viton O-ring will prevent all forms of leakage and ensure the safety of your working personnel and equipment.
March Pumps offers chemical pumps that are specifically designed to handle hydrofluorosilicic acid. These pumps cover the whole range from 1 GPM to 200 GPM. Yet, the type of chemical pump you choose will greatly depend on the acid temperature, the concentration of the acid in use, its specific gravity along with a host of other factors. While a certain chemical pumps may seem appropriate for a particular application, it may not be the most cost effective solution or may even present safety concerns for your facility and staff.
If you need assistance with selecting the right hydrofluorosilicic acid pump, get in touch with our team for assistance and to discuss the options.
]]>Currently, 20 million tons of hydrochloric acid are produced annually on a global scale. It is used in the production of PVC plastic, polyurethane, household detergents and the food industry.
The largest quantity of hydrochloric acid is used for steel pickling, oil well acidizing, in the production of calcium chloride, in the food industry and for ore processing. Following is a short description of some of these applications:
For pumping hydrochloric acid at room temperature, it is best to choose a centrifugal sealless magnetic drive pump made with Kynar Plastic or Polypropylene, with an encapsulated impeller, and Mica Teflon or Carbon Bushing.
Depending on the concentration and temperature, hydrochloric acid can be heavy. In cases where the specific gravity is above 1.1, using a trimmed impeller is strongly recommended to prevent decoupling or overloading the motor.
Figure 1: Hydrochloric Acid Concentration and Pump Materials
A single or collection of material/s may be rated for a higher temperature/s then the pump as a whole is capable of. It is important to contact a March representative to determine if the pump as a complete unit is suitable for the concentration and temperature of any chemical.
At March Pump, we offer chemical pumps that are specifically designed to handle hydrochloric acid ranging from 5 GPM to 200 GPM. However, your pump selection greatly depends on the acid temperature, the concentration of the acid in use, its specific gravity and many other factors to take into consideration before choosing a pump. For example, with hydrochloric acid, if the fluid or pump has a presence of oxidizing contaminants, it can negatively affect the pump’s resistance to corrosion. So, while some types of pumps may seem appropriate for a particular application, they may not be the most cost effective solution or may even be dangerous to personnel.
Please contact the friendly March Pump support team for assistance with selecting a hydrochloric acid pump to meet the needs of your specific application and requirements.
]]>Considering the toxicity, and volatility of formaldehyde, it poses a significant danger to human health and should be handled with great care and contained at all costs.
Some of the common use cases of the chemical are as follows:
Formaldehyde is highly corrosive and extremely volatile. It is also extremely toxic and very small amounts can be deadly to humans and animals alike. These properties make a leak-free high-quality system for handling formaldehyde imperative. For pumping the chemical at room temperature, centrifugal sealless magnetic drive pumps built with Kynar Plastic or Polypropylene are recommended. Encapsulated Impeller and Teflon O-Rings will help to avoid any leaking of formaldehyde.
Depending on temperature and the concentration, formaldehyde can be heavy. To handle cases where specific gravity is more than 1.1, it is extremely important to use a trimmed impeller to avoid decoupling or overloading the motor.
While some metals like Hastelloy “C” can handle formal formaldehyde, plastics are more resistant to the chemical and bestow the pump with a longer leak-free life. In particular, Ryton, Polypropylene, Delrin, and Kynar show enhanced endurance when coming in contact with formaldehyde, but on the other hand, Nylon is not recommended at all. For bushings, Carbon, Ceramic, Mica Fill Teflon, and Ryton Teflon Carbon are all good choices depending on specific gravity and temperature. For O-rings, Teflon is recommended, while Viton should be avoided at all costs and Buna “N” shows performance problems and is not very wise to use.
Figure 1: Formaldehyde Concentrations and Pump Materials
A single or collection of material/s may be rated for a higher temperature/s then the pump as a whole is capable of. It is important to contact a March representative to determine if the pump as a complete unit is suitable for the concentration and temperature of any chemical.
Here at March Pumps, we offer a wide range of chemical pumps that cover virtually over any industry and special use case. The type of the pump you choose greatly depends on the concentration of the chemical, its temperature, specific gravity and many other factors.
For further info, we encourage you to have a look at our specially designed pumps for handling formaldehyde and contact our friendly support team for further assistance. Please give us a call or contact us online.
The world annual demand of acetic acid is around 6.5 metric tons, which is used in the production of synthetic materials, in waste water treatment and the production of organic compounds to name a few.
Low concentrations of acetic acid in the air (10ppm) are toxic, causing irritation to eyes, the skin, and the respiratory system. Higher concentrations can cause severe medical injuries. Acetic acid at above 90 percent concentration, especially at higher temperatures, is flammable.
While acetic acid is classified as a weak acid, especially higher concentrations are corrosive to many types of metals and non-metallic materials.
The prevailing concern when handling acetic acid is its containment from the surrounding equipment and workforce. The sealing system and the chemical resistance of the inner-side materials are the two aspects that determine the risk of a leak in containment. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid pumps with sealing systems that rely on mechanical parts, like those found on shaft-sealed pumps. Otherwise, the wear on the rotating shaft will gradually affect the seal and eventually the seal will fail and consequently cause a leak.
A single or collection of material/s may be rated for a higher temperature/s then the pump as a whole is capable of. It is important to contact a March representative to determine if the pump as a complete unit is suitable for the concentration and temperature of any chemical.
Recommended materials for handling acetic acid include 316 SS, Polyproylene, Kynar and Ryton. An all 316SS Pump will be better at higher temperatures.
March Pump offers a wide range of chemical pumps that are specifically designed to handle acetic acid. These pumps cover the whole range from 5 GPM to 200 GPM. However, the type of pump you choose greatly depends on the acid temperature, the concentration of the acid in use, its specific gravity and many other factors that should be considered before choosing a pump. While some types of pumps may seem appropriate for a particular application, economically, they may not be the most cost effective solution in the long run.
For further info, we strongly encourage you to contact the friendly March Pump support team and our experts will be happy to offer a solution specifically tailored for your requirements. Please give us a call or contact us online with any questions.
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