Completely empty in hazardous area

Quickly-installable drum emptying system

Completely empty in hazardous area

The Viscoflux lite drum emptying system is now available as an Ex version. The system is designed for higher-viscosity media which are just capable of flowing. The Ex-protected version is now suitable for use in Zone 1 as well and to transport various flammable media in Zone 0 and 1. cpp spoke with Helga Bühnert, Product Manager at Flux-Geräte GmbH, about the new product at the Achema.

How did the idea of Viscoflux lite for the hazardous area come about?

Bühnert: Our customers were ultimately crucial for development. They have increasingly asked if we could offer a drum emptying system with which highly-viscous media can be transported in the hazardous area as well. Due to numerous requests from Germany and abroad, we were able to obtain a positive result in our profitability analysis. Hence, we have decided to develop an Ex version of the Viscoflux lite.

Which technical measures were required to make Viscoflux lite suitable for hazardous areas?

Bühnert: In order to convert the system for the hazardous area, material that was conductive, or static dissipative, was used for all components such as the pump centring plate, the follower plate with process seal and the compressed air hose. The pump centring plate is made of conductive polyurethane. The follower plate with the connector for the likewise conductive compressed-air hose is made of stainless-steel. The process seal, which strips of the drum wall during the transfer process, is made of static dissipative FKM. Comprehensive and precise potential equalisation can be carried out over suitable connections for earthing wires. The system components of the Ex version: pump centring plate and follower plate including process seal contain the II 1 G IIB TX labelling.

Which pump type is used?

Bühnert: An explosion-proof eccentric worm-drive pump with bearing flange or planetary gear, made of stainless-steel with a 50 mm outer diameter is used. The eccentric worm-drive pump transports the medium in a very careful and low-pulsation manner. In combination with a follower plate, a vacuum is created during pumping causing the follower plate to lower. In doing so, the process seal of the follower plate hermetically seals the pumped material thus preventing unwanted emissions and changes of the product. Even if the pumping operation should be interrupted, a maximum degree of process reliability is guaranteed. Almost no medium remains at the drum wall. Just less than 1 % of the medium remains in the drum.

Can the non-contact volume measurement device also be used for Viscoflux lite in Ex version?

Bühnert: No, not at the moment. This non-contact volume measurement is mainly used in the Viscoflux mobile drum emptying system – particularly in the food sector. The flow-rate is indirectly measured during the mechanical-volumetric process developed for the eccentric worm-drive pumps. It is based on a bearing flange with an integrated impulse generator. It is theoretically possible to use it in a hazardous area as well. However, we still require the appropriate certification for this.

Which new fields of application are opened up by the Ex version?

Bühnert: There are basically two different fields of application. On the one hand, the Ex version can now be used to transport non-flammable media in Zone 1 as well. Entirely new fields of application are primarily created in the chemical industry, where a large portion of the production area consists of hazardous areas. Typical examples here are supplying systems and machines with lubricating grease. With the new Ex version many different types of flammable media can be transported. For example, this allows a lot of applications to be implemented in the field of paints and varnishes, in which high-viscosity, solvent-containing media must be transported.

Is there already initial feedback from potential customers?

Bühnert: We encountered great customer interest when we presented our Viscoflux lite in its standard version at the European Coatings Show. A considerable amount of interested persons asked for the Ex version. Now that we are able to exhibit the new Ex versions here at the Achema, we look forward to great interest and inquiries from all over the world. Incidentally, this system is also quick to install, requires little space and, due to its low build, can also be used in working spaces with low ceilings.

Will the other Viscoflux systems also be available in an Ex version in the foreseeable future?

Bühnert: We have many applications in the food sector for our Viscoflux mobile drum emptying system. An Ex version is generally not required here. The system is disassembled for cleansing with solvents or alcohol and cleansed in a separate area. The same applies to applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry, in which pastes, ointments and concentrated mascaras and lip gloss are transported with our drum emptying system. These media do not have solvent-containing parts either. Should we receive requests for an Ex version of the Viscoflux mobile, we will definitely take them into consideration.

www.cpp-net.com search: cpp0315flux

Daniela Held

Editor,cpp chemical plants processes

An Additional Novelty at Achema 2015

Drum pumps transport small quantities from IBCs

Flux has presented a small, sealless Combiflux drum pump with the new 1200 mm immersion length. Now it is also suitable for transporting smaller filling quantities from IBCs. The pump is available in stainless steel and polypropylene with the new immersion length. This makes it suitable for aggressive media such as hydrochloric acid, acetic acid, phosphor, sulphuric acids and sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The Combiflux can be driven by the brushless FBM-B 3100 battery motor. The motor has a powerful exchangeable battery and provides the greatest possible flexibility; completely independent of the mains supply.

Depending on the selected Combiflux variant, the battery motor can be used to achieve flow rates from 12 to 60 l/min using its stepless speed adjustment. For example this means that a 200 l drum can be emptied in just three minutes. Using the lowest speed, even 10 x 200 l drums can be emptied – with just one battery charge.