Vapour-driven pumps to solve disposal problems

GEA Jet Pumps has launched a range of jet pumps that eliminate the need for effluent disposal. The new pumps maintain all the advantages inherent to jet pumps, but use process vapours to create the vacuum instead of the traditionally used steam.

Mechanical dry vacuum pumps are suitable for many applications, but when the product is corrosive or waxy, for example, they can become clogged or inefficient. For these applications GEA's product vapour driven jet pumps, which have no moving parts, are ideal, the company says.

Traditionally jet pumps works by emitting a high velocity jet of steam through a nozzle which draws in process gasses thus creating a vacuum. However, this motive steam must mix with the process steam, creating an effluent and a consequential disposal problem for the company.

Product vapour driven pumps use the process itself as the motive medium. This motive vapour may be drawn from the process itself, or created separately in a fluid evaporator. Any resultant condensate is thus compatible and may be returned to the process in a closed loop.

The pumps can be made from virtually any material, including ceramic, most metals, plastics, plus rubber or PTFE-lined composites. They can be made to handle any product including those that are corrosive, erosive, toxic, flammable or explosive, and can also be made to handle suction flow rates from as low as 0.1 m³/hr to in excess of 1,500,000 m³/hr.