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Materials selection for Pump (32% Caustic)

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jiang1976

Mechanical
Jan 2, 2008
18
I have fresh caustic feed pump (metering pump). It has 32% caustic. Can I use Carbon steel for it.

The design temperature 65C. If carbon steel selected, it should be PWHT. right?

Thanks.
 
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Do you have an existing pump or is this a new pump selection. If the former ask the manufacturer of the pump if the latter give the detail to the manufacturer and ask for their recommendation.
 
unotec, Artisi .

Thanks.

unfortunately, this is a new selection. I can not find the materials in API 610.
 
We have several carbon steel pumps doing very high pH's. The internals or rotary assemblies were replaced for 361SS, however these would probably be big for your aplication (Gormann Rupp T4's). For a metering pump you might want to try ceramics, plastics, polypropilene.... Talk to your pump suppliers, there are lots of options
 
An Engineered plastic pump is more than sufficient. We have a number of applications of Polypropylene on such diuties, however, at a temperature of 65'C would suggest you go to ETFE, PTFE or something like that. We use 60'C as the max temp for PP as it is heading toward its top end of temperature, and with the mechanical stresses that a pump generate, it is well worth upgrading materials to avoid potential long term problems.

What flow/head are you looking for ?

Ash Fenn

 
Are you heating the caustic up or is it supplied at 65degC max? If your heating it up your major risk areas are around your heating system (the system itself and the outlet nozzles).

Otherwise- if you've got a relatively stable temp carbon steel should be fine at that temperature- PWHT is recommended by the NACE chart- particularly if you expect to run that hot all the time
 
Carbon steel will have 20-50 mils per year of corrosion for 32% Sodium Hydroxide at 65 C.

Austentic stainless steels (304 SS, 316 SS, Alloy 20) should not be used above 140 F(60 C)due to onset of stress corrosion cracking. Nickel 200 is used above 140 F.

At 65 C you could use a teflon diaphragm metering pump with teflon ball checks.

Brands are American Lewa, Prominent, Bran+Luebbe, Milton-Roy, Pulsafeeder


 
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