Pumps for Hot oil or thermal fluid.

[op9]

I have used SIHI pumps for this application many times. I have now been offered a SALMSON pump.

The oil I am pumping is only at 200degC max. The pump curves for these two brands are almost identical as is their model numbers. The SIHI pump uses multiple lip seals bearing on a SS wear sleeve. The housing has cooling fins. The Salmson uses a mechanical seal which is separated from the main pump body by a finned housing also for cooling.

Has anyone had experience with the Salmson pumps for this application and are they reliable?

Thanks in advance.

Rod Nissen.
Combustion & Engineering Diagnostics

 

[micalbrch]

I never heard of Salmson pumps so far - but that does not have to mean anything. I would contact Cornell Pumps, too. I know they manufacture Special hot oil pumps.

 

[op9]

Salmson is actually French...if you do a search. A German company Wilo now owns them. Think they may now manufacture all over including "Asia".

Rod Nissen.
Combustion & Engineering Diagnostics

 

[TenPenny]

I think pretty much all of these hot oil pumps come with mechanical seals now instead of the multiple lip seals. I'm pretty sure the new generation of SIHI does as well.

Around here, we see SIHI, KSB, Allweiler, pretty much interchangeable.

 

[moltenmetal]

We've had one bad experience with a hot oil pump - American, brand name was Dean if I recall correctly. It had an extra-long shaft and a single mech seal at the motor end, separated from the volute by a cast housing with numerous undulations which were supposed to act as cooling fins. It was a very small pump- 1.5x1x6 or something of the sort. The shaft on this pump was so long that it was a wonder that it worked at all. However, some of our clients swear by them.

For small hot oil pumps, we tend to use high temperature magdrives. They're costly, but they're compact, and since the thermal fluid is pretty clean, they tend to give many years of worry-free service with zero risk of leakage.

 

[georgeverghese]

Take care with the selection of the mech seal on hot oil pumps - if the hot oil is operating at above its flash point, there is the risk of fires from hot oil shaft seal leaks. The fired heater can also thermally degrade the hot oil and alter published flash point if tube film temp exceeds that which is permissible for continous operation. The hot oil expansion drum may most likely need to be N2 blanketed.

If flash point is < max operating temp, you may need to go for plan 52 double seals at the least.