Alongside pumps technology company Verder Pumps South Africa’s (VPSA’s) existing range of industrial pumps, the company exhibited its new Verderflex Dura 55 peristaltic pump for optimum performance and easy maintenance in heavy-duty applications at the Electra Mining 2014 trade show, in Johannesburg last month.

“The Dura 55 is the newest member of the Verderflex Dura family of peristaltic hose pumps,” says VPSA marketing manager Laetitia Möller.

She points out that the new pump is designed to deliver over 20% more flow than its predecessor, the Dura 45, thereby increasing the overall Dura hose pump family’s flow range.

“The Dura 55 is the class leader for this size of peristaltic pump, significantly outperforming its competitors in both continuous and intermittent duty applications. The addition of the Dura 55 expands the Dura range’s flow rates from less than 1 ℓ/hr to 15.3 m³/hr at pressures of up to 16 bar,” states Möller.

Further, she highlights that the Dura 55 complies with the growing market demand for a pump that can reduce life cycle costs, significantly improve plant uptime and incorporate special design features for arduous heavy-duty applications.

“The Dura 55 [addresses] pumping challenges associated with dry running liquid streams, shear sensitive polymers, high-viscosity sludge and pastes, variable-speed dosing, abrasive solids in suspension and off-gassing fluids. This makes the Dura 55 suitable for use in a variety of applications, including biogas production, brewing, fly ash recirculation, chemicals manufacturing, industrial processing, mining and water treatment,” notes Möller.

Improved Operating Efficiencies

he points out that the Dura 55 delivers more flow during each revolution.

“This significantly increases hose life by decreasing the number of revolutions required to pump a given volume, thereby ensuring a longer hose life and increased maintenance intervals,” explains Möller.

She adds that a key attribute to lowering the user’s life cycle costs is the high-quality Verderflex hose, which has the optimum design to ensure maximum strength and longevity.

Further, Möller notes that the Dura 55 has a unique – patent pending – port flange that completely encloses the hose.

“This Grade 316 stainless steel flange design also includes an innovative quarter-turn lock system, which halves hose change times, significantly improving plant uptime. The flange’s design also has optional polypropylene and polyvinylidene fluoride inserts for aggressive chemical duty options,” she points out.

Möller states that the Dura 55 heavy-duty design prevents blockages and chokes with its advanced stalled rotor protection technology, including visible slippage indicators.

“This advance eliminates potential rotor, rotor shoe or gearbox damage when the pumped liquid settles out, or a line chokes, reducing both maintenance costs and production downtime. This key design feature enhances the Dura 55’s suitability for pumping sludge, slurries and all types of viscous and waste liquids,” she says.

Möller adds that the pump’s heavy-duty design is reinforced by its casing and rotor, which is made from high-tensile-strength spheroidal graphite cast iron, unlike the lower-specification gray cast iron used by many competing products.