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Your centrifugal pumps consume up to 60% of your plant’s electric motor energy. And 85% of a pump’s lifetime cost is energy. So if there’s a way to improve pump efficiency quickly and easily, by as much as 25% a year, you need to know about it.
The Loctite Applicator Programme is the answer.
There’s a whole range of Loctite Protective Coatings to reduce friction, erosion and corrosion in pumps, and to increase efficiency and cut energy use. And now there’s a whole network of highly-trained Henkel Certified Applicators, to help you find the right Loctite product for your specific application.
Beware the wear
Even water can cause wear in a pump. More aggressive media cause even more wear. Then, once the pump’s internal surfaces have been roughened, fluids will pass through more slowly, and require more work from the motor to pump them. So while production becomes slower, the motor uses even more energy.
These losses in efficiency can occur anywhere from the impeller to the casing disc and the piping system. And as abrasion continues, over time it can lead to corrosion, erosion and degradation.
Of course there are ways to restore at least some of the pump’s efficiency. You can trim the impeller. Overhaul the installation. Replace the motor. Or as a last resort you can replace the pump itself. However these options are costly, and the return on investment (ROI) is slow.
Alternatively, you can consult a Henkel Certified Applicator, find the most appropriate Loctite Protective Coating for your application, and expect to see an ROI in just two to twelve months.
The solution is in the surface
The rougher the surfaces within the pump, the greater the hydraulic energy loss, the larger the loss of efficiency, and the greater the increase in energy use.
Loctite Protective Coatings provide the answer to all these problems, by creating a smooth and frictionless surface wherever transported fluids come into contact. The coatings have a low surface energy and high contact angle, to minimise friction losses and maximise abrasion resistance.
The latest formulations use a hybrid technology of epoxy and silicone, which provides better protection than regular reinforced epoxy products, and so optimises the efficiency increases.
But there’s no need to wait until a pump starts to underperform before you see the benefits of a Protective Coating.
Better than new
Why settle for a pump that’s as good as new, when you can have one that’s better?
By calling on the expertise of a Henkel Certified Applicator, you can enhance the efficiency and reliability of even a brand-new pump, through the application of the appropriate Loctite Protective Coating.
Case studies carried out in the water, refinery, chemical and steel industries have shown that the efficiency of a new pump can be increased by 3-7%, simply through the use of a Loctite coating. For a pump which has already been in operation for some time, efficiency increases range from 6-25%, depending on the pump’s condition.
Even worn pump components which would previously have needed replacing can be restored through the use of the appropriate coating. So you can save energy, reduce costs, and improve the sustainability of your operations.
The lows and the highs
One example of the new generation of Loctite Protective Coatings is Loctite PC 7337.
An epoxy/silicone hybrid, this coating has an impressively low surface energy of just 23mN/m and a high surface contact angle of 105°. This combination provides a surface that’s hydrophobic, glossy, smooth and low friction.
All of which helps to minimise energy loss caused by friction in the pump system, which in turn increases motor efficiency, lowers motor energy use, and shrinks the motor’s carbon footprint.
The proof isn’t just in the product performance. It’s also available through the Loctite pump efficiency calculator. A Henkel Certified Applicator can use this to show you the efficiency benefits and CO2 reductions achievable through the use of the appropriate protective coating.
To enhance the efficiency of your new pumps, restore or repair your older pumps, and get expert advice on Loctite Protective Coatings, pump your usual ERIKS contact for information about the Loctite Applicator Programme.
For more information, contact your local ERIKS Service Centre, who will be happy to discuss your options.
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