Neptune Mechanical Diaphragm Pumps Provide Solution to Sulfuric-Acid Handling
A pump’s ability to handle 98% sulfuric acid at leachate treatment plants that are located at sanitary landfills is a crucial consideration during the process of treating for ammonia in the plant’s wastewater operations.
Neptune Series 7000
During this application, the 98% sulfuric acid is introduced to the wastewater-treatment stream during the nitrification/denitrification process. Therefore, the pumps that are used to successfully complete the introduction process must be robust enough to handle the sulfuric acid, while also possessing the lift to move the product from tank to tank.
To accomplish this task, sanitary landfills have begun turning to the Series 7000 Mechanical Diaphragm Metering Pump from Neptune Chemical Pump Co., Lansdale, PA. This style of pump can handle the plant s needs because it has been created for water, wastewater and chemical-process applications. These pumps have been designed without the need for contour plates on the liquid side of the diaphragm. This straight-through valve-and-head design allows for improved flow characteristics and the ability to handle corrosive liquids. The pumps can handle viscosities in excess of 5,000 cp and pump capacity can be adjusted through the use of a micrometer dial while the pump is running. In addition, the suction lift of the Series 7000 pumps is so good that they are able to pull the sulfuric acid as much as 25 feet from tank to tank (the equivalent of pulling 45 feet of water).
The sealless design of the Series 7000 pumps eliminates the catastrophic breakdowns that can plague other pump types. Pumps that feature seals are prone to product leakage that allows the sulfuric acid to enter the pump’s gearbox. The result is damage that destroys the pump’s interior and components. Hose-type technologies have been found wanting because the hoses are often not compatible with sulfuric acid, making them susceptible to bursting that can damage the pump’s gearbox.
