ENERGETICS, NITROCELLULOSE AND EXPLOSIVES PRODUCTION
Market:
Explosives. Nitrocellulose
Product: :
A9 pump
Country:
USA
BACKGROUND
The manufacture of energetics, nitrocellulose, military explosives, and industrial explosives has evolved in response to technology, capabilities, and demand. Increase demand in the industrial arena for explosives (demolitions, clearing, mining) has led to expansion of civilian production facilities. Aging military infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with increased military demand and has also spurred several significant upgrade projects.
CHALLENGES
The manufacture of energetic materials, nitrocellulose, and other explosive materials often includes movement of components and ingredients in liquid or slurry form. As liquids, these materials are not difficult or dangerous to handle. When the liquid evaporates, the residue left behind is often very combustible or explosive. As such, equipment designed to be used in these services need to focus on solutions to this issue.
THE SOLUTION
Wilfley pumps work well in various explosive duty applications due to several engineering design considerations and modifications to standard products. Beginning with the materials of construction, pumps in these types of services are often specified as low carbon stainless steel construction. Wilfley has standardized on 316L as our standard material for energetic services. To reduce areas where the explosive residue can accumulate, there are several engineering modifications also made to the standard product. First, the pump is supplied with a packed shaft sealing arrangement. This ensures flow from the packing into the process, not allowing residue to accumulate in the sealing portion of the pump.
A significant feature of pumps for these types of services include an integrated impeller/shaft sleeve that is machined in one piece out of a piece of 316L billet.
Our technology eliminates the need for packing, mechanical seals and flush water. This sealing technology has proven that Wilfley pumps can operate trouble and maintenance-free as compared to conventional seals saving the customer on downtime, lower maintenance cost, and thousands of dollars of water usage.
THE RESULT
Customers in Australia, Indonesia and other countries have full confidence in the safety and reliability of Wilfley pumps. Many continue to order new pumps with full safety features provided by Wilfley.
Recently most have upgraded older pumps with increase in the number of thermowells (not only on the case discharge, but also the seal area and expeller area as well) to enhance safety. The older Drylock 1 static seal as been upgraded to the newer Drylock 3 to increase longevity of seal and ensure safety. The upgrade has provided for a safe working environment for all as well as top grade product quality (no dilution), another big concern of our customers with pumping systems that use flush for mechanical and compression packing seals from competiors.
Wilfley Model A9
Key Features / Benefits
- Waterless sealing technology.
- Leakless seal operation
- Operational abuse tolerant
- Product dilution eliminated
- Wear resistance material of construction
- Heavy-Duty construction
- Longer L10 bearing life