Challenges in Pumping Bitumen
Pumping bitumen and asphalt, essential materials in road construction and various industries, presents unique challenges due to their high viscosity, shear sensitivity, and high operating temperatures often exceeding 200°C. Efficient handling of these substances requires specialized solutions to maintain their properties and ensure seamless operations.
High Viscosity: Bitumen and bitumen emulsions are highly viscous, resembling thick tar. Pumping these substances demands equipment capable of handling high viscosity without compromising efficiency or causing blockages.
Shear Sensitivity: Bitumen is shear-sensitive, meaning it can change consistency under shear stress. Careful pumping is required to prevent altering the substance's properties during transportation or application.
High Operating Temperatures: The need to pump bitumen at extremely high temperatures, often exceeding 200°C, poses challenges in terms of equipment durability and heat resistance.
Specialized Pump Types for Handling Bitumen
- Vane Pumps: Vane pumps are suitable for handling highly viscous fluids like bitumen, providing a consistent flow under challenging conditions.
- Peristaltic Hose Pumps: Peristaltic pumps offer gentle pumping, making them ideal for shear-sensitive materials like bitumen.
- Lobe Pumps: Lobe pumps handle high viscosity fluids effectively, ensuring smooth transfer without compromising the substance's properties.
Temperature Control and Insulation
Proper insulation and temperature control mechanisms are crucial to maintaining bitumen's viscosity during pumping, preventing solidification and ensuring a consistent flow.
Precise Transfer and Loading/Unloading:
Pumps are used for various applications, including transferring bitumen between tanks, loading/unloading road and rail tankers, and supplying bitumen to mixing plants and weigh kettles.
Pumping bitumen demands specialized pumps capable of handling high viscosity, shear sensitivity, and extreme temperatures. AxFlow's wide range of positive displacement pumps, including vane pumps, peristaltic hose pumps, and lobe pumps, offers tailored solutions for various bitumen-related applications. These pumps ensure efficient and reliable handling, enabling the seamless execution of projects in construction, infrastructure, and industrial sectors.
