TPI July 2014

products & developments Venturi effect ram pump

by Eng Luca Posca, Lati Industria Termoplastici SpA

compound is formulated so as to ensure excellent mechanical performance combined with a lightweight advantage over metals, thanks to a density (1.57g/cm 3 ) that is less than one fifth that of steel and almost half that of aluminium. From a structural point of view, it should be considered that the pressure inside a pump exploiting the high hydraulic pressure effect of water can reach very high levels, but thanks to the stress at break of Latigloss, which exceeds 2,000kg/cm 2 , all final testing and field tests were successfully passed. The use of such a high performance compound was necessary to prevent failures due not only to the internal pressure of the pump assembly, but also the possible mishandling of the pump during assembly and operation. Considering that it could be used in locations such as mines, fields crossed by tractors, and on farms, inherent strength must be also associated with resilience, which is obtained by combining glass fibres with specially selected thermoplastic matrices capable of gaining impact resistance thanks to the natural affinity of polyamide with ambient humidity. The pump reliability has to be guaranteed even in the management of polluted waters such as those in urban streams, industrial reservoirs or drains, and floodplains. In these cases, the polymer matrix based on polyamide 66 ensures maximum inertia towards organic contaminants of all kinds: hydrocarbons, oils and solvents, sewage and other inorganic agents. Latigloss 66 H2 G/50 F2 is also designed for the transport of cold and warm drinking water, as recognised by all major certification bodies. Certifications of suitability for contact with drinking water issued by KTW, NSF, ACS and WRAS can be found on Lati’s website. Latigloss does not release any harmful metallic pollutants such as lead, zinc or copper into the environment. Lati Industria Termoplastici SpA – Italy info@lati.com www.lati.com

such as sand and small particulates. In addition to these difficult working conditions it must be extremely reliable, and the Papa pumps need to contribute very quickly at very low running costs, so ease of transport and assembly is essential to the overall cost equation. The combination of cost-efficiency and ease of use allows the pumps access to interesting but complex markets, such as in developing countries, where the need for water is associated with heavy use conditions. In order to develop an innovative product meeting the project requirements, Papa Ltd decided to abandon the use of metal and instead adopt a polymer compound route, not only ensuring robustness and light weight, but also a low environmental impact in line with the company’s green aspirations. Papa’s engineers focused their attention on Latigloss 66 H2 G/50 F2 after rejecting the option of using thermoset materials and compounds, which are robust but non-recyclable, and thus environmentally unfriendly. Manufactured on a Nylon PA66 matrix with 50 per cent glass fibre reinforcement, Lati’s injection moulding

Moving all kinds of water, wherever necessary and in any quantity, but without using electricity is a key challenge in the world today. This is the challenge that the UK company Papa Ltd decided to accept by introducing into the marketplace a new line of Venturi valve pumps capable of moving up to 20,000 litres of water per day, without interruption, and with low cost maintenance. Based on its technical capability and knowledge of historical metal pump production, Papa further reviewed the overall objectives with the design of a much lighter, more practical and cost- efficient range of pumps, ensuring performance comparable to traditional models in steel and bronze with a minimum inlet flow rate of less than ten litres per minute. The new range of Papa pumps are also designed for use in particularly stringent applications such as agriculture, for pumping polluted water in cases of emergencies such as flooding, and for the efficient management of water storage. Overall the pump is required to operate even in the presence of very dirty and contaminated water containing debris

Comprehensive inventory of alloys

Speciality divisions of the company include Plus Ten Stainless located in Benicia, California, and Vulcanium in Northbrook, Illinois. United Performance Metals is one of 14 brands owned by O’Neal Industries, Inc. With sales of approximately $2.3bn in 2013, O’Neal Industries is based in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, and has more than 90 specialised facilities throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. United Performance Metals – USA sales@upmet.com www.upmet.com

United Performance Metals is a supplier of stainless steel, nickel, cobalt, aluminium and titanium. The company’s inventory of high temperature, high strength and corrosion resistant alloys includes sheet, coil, strip, plate and near net shapes that can be processed to customers’ exact specifications using its proprietary Firstcut+ ® services. Headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio, USA, United Performance Metals maintains branches in La Mirada, California, and Houston, Texas, as well as sales and stocking locations worldwide.

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