Chemical Manufacturer Reduces Maintenance Costs by Switching to Submersible Slurry Pumps
When one chemical manufacturer pulled their sump pump, they made the decision to replace rather than rebuild.
Replacing rather than rebuilding helped the plant achieve reliability and process goals.
WHEN A PUMP needs to be pulled from service, the maintenance manager often needs to make the decision to either have the pump rebuilt or to replace the pump entirely.
Money is often the biggest motivator when it comes to making that choice. Maintenance dollars only go so far, and when older pumps are involved, the cost to rebuild can be higher due to the difficulty of sourcing some of those replacement parts.
When one chemical manufacturer pulled their sump pump, they made the decision to replace rather than rebuild.
Chemtrade Logistics Inc. provides several types of chemicals to industrial companies around the globe. One of their production facilities in Virginia manufactures alum.
Alum, which is also known as aluminum sulphate, is used for wastewater treatment, pulp and paper, and industrial processing applications.
The chemical manufacturing plant worked with their service provider to select a pump that would allow them to reduce maintenance costs and improve pump reliability.
The chemical manufacturing plant’s central drainage sump relied on an old vertical pump to pump slurry that was collected in the sump. The sump collected rain water and water from the plant’s mud wash process.
The mud wash process involves setting a filter press to press water out of the mud so that the remaining “cake” can then be processed for proper disposal.
In addition to the stormwater and water from the mud-wash process, the sump also collected the wash down water. When the process area was washed down, bauxite (the principle ore of aluminum) would also get washed into the sump, creating a thick slurry that frequently clogged the vertical pump.
