Polymer vanes last three times as long in vacuum rotary pump

Vanes made of the bearing polymer Hitemp 150 have lasted three times as long as traditional vanes in servicing company Septic Tanks’ vacuum rotary pump, a Broom B35.

The pump is used to create a pressure difference that sucks up the waste liquids from septic tanks.

Ideally, the pumps involved in such operations should not come into contact with sewage. However, where septic tank pumping is not monitored continuously, overflow from the transport truck can make its way to the pressure vessel and on to the vacuum rotary pump.

The vanes in these pumps thus need to be cleaned.

In addition, the vanes need to be able to operate at high temperatures, since the pumps can overheat due to operation for long periods.

Armed with information about vane operating requirements — when the original laminate vanes in Septic Tanks’ Broom B35 pump needed replacing as frequently as every six months — the waste sector servicing company turned to Vesconite Bearings, the maker of various polymers, for a solution to this unique operating environment.

Vesconite Bearings technical sales consultant Phillip de Villiers recommended Hitemp 150, an engineered polymer that is wear resistant and can withstand temperatures of up to 150oC.

This material will not delaminate as does the original equipment manufacturer supplied material, a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin that impregnates layers of cotton to produce a hard synthetic plastic.

The trial result has been impressive; Hitemp 150 did not delaminate, unlike its competitor, and it was resistant to overheating. In addition, the new polymer vanes coped well with the frequent pump cleaning that was required when waste material accidentally entered the pump.

Septic Tanks owner, Charl Neuhof, is also pleased that the Hitemp 150 vanes continue to operate after a year and a half, while the phenolic alternative had to be replaced after six months.

Moreover, he is enthusiastic about the reduced maintenance costs that are associated with the product, which can be cleaned in-situ, unlike the previous variety of vanes that had to be removed prior to cleaning because of their high levels of swelling when exposed to water.

Since testing of the B35 vacuum rotary pump vanes has gone well, Mr Neuhof plans to replace the vanes on his fleet of truck pumps as they fail.

His four trucks are used in the Johannesburg North, Pretoria, Hartebeespoort and Brits areas of South Africa, with three out on the road daily, each carrying six 6000 litre loads of waste material a day.

The five vanes that were employed in the B35 pump measured 35mm by 6mm by 330mm and had chamfered edges, but vanes for the other pump models that will be introducing the Hitemp 150 vanes will have different dimensions.

Depending on the size required, the vanes will be cut from extruded or moulded Hitemp 150 plates, with Vesconite Bearings able to machine the vanes as a result of the company’s extensive machining capability, including more than 65 computer numerically controlled lathes and machining centres.

Mr de Villiers is excited about the use of Hitemp 150 engineered polymer vanes in vacuum rotary pumps employed in the septic tank servicing industry.

“Septic tanks are an important and reliable means of disposing of and treating household wastewater in South Africa and globally,” Mr de Villiers said. “The servicing of these tanks is equally important, as good hygiene practice requires that they be pumped out every year.”

This partner content is brought to you by VescoPlastics. For more information, visit www.vesco.com.au.

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