Sparkling Performance from AxFlow’s WCB Universal Pump Series
21 May 2008
AxFlow has announced the introduction of Waukesha-Cherry Burrell’s new Composite Diamond Coated (CDC) Universal I and Universal II pump series, which has been developed to give greater levels of resistance to abrasion.
Initial reports from the offshore oil production industry where AxFlow has already installed units on produced water have revealed a 250% increase in working life between servicing intervals.
The Waukesha Cherry-Burrell Universal series is a rotary piston pump capable of handling varying or viscous products even with large particles that may settle in the pump. For the new version all wetted components have an FDA-approved highly abrasion resistant coating comprised of nano-particles of diamond embedded in a nickel/phosphate matrix, which provides non-galling wear protection.
Using a principle known as the external circumferential piston, the WCB Universal’s arc-shaped rotary pistons, or rotor wings, travel in annular-shaped cylinders machined in the pump body. The resulting long sealing path reduces slippage and produces a smooth product flow without destructive pulses or pressure peaks, and without the need for valves or complex parts.
When the CDC option on the Universal II pump is selected, the surface finish of the CDC coating is typically between 40Ra and 60Ra. The hard diamond coating provides extreme resistance to abrasion and increases wear life.
According to AxFlow, field tests undertaken by Waukesha Cherry-Burrell comparing the CDC pump with abrasion resistant 316 stainless steel and Armoloy coated stainless steel indicate a dramatic improvement in wear characteristics in abrasive applications.
“Our own experience, where a unit with a capacity of 10m3/h operating at 10bar has been used in a closed drain application with a mix of seawater, hydrocarbons and sand, supports the manufacturer’s claims,” reports AxFlow managing director Tony Peters.
