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A manufacturer of oleochemicals and additives was looking for a reliable pump for liquid detergent. Vegetable or animal fats are mixed with caustic soda and several other ingredients and homogenized in a mixer for making detergent. This mixture is then pumped to a reactor where a reaction occurs with the individual additives. This takes place at temperatures of approx. 120 – 130°C.

The previously installed rotary piston pump had cavitation problems at high speed and also caused severe vibration. The packing mechanical seals suffered leaks within a few days and had to be repaired and repacked which meant shutting down the plant.

The customer now uses a Boerger Protect Rotary Lobe Pump . The Boerger Protect is equipped with double-acting seal faces. These are pressurized via a thermosyphon system. The thermosyphon tank  is cooled using an internal cooling coil and the temperature is dissipated via a heat exchanger. The pumped medium is not allowed to cool down during the process. The pipes on the suction and pressure side are heated. The Boerger Rotary Lobe Pump was fitted with a steam heating cover. That then keeps  the medium at the required temperature while pumping. The task of the Boerger Protect is to circulate the medium in the reactor until a complete reaction has taken place. The plant is operated 24 hours a day.

Technical data