PFA-Lined Pumps for Hydrochloric Acid Applications

Handling concentrated hydrochloric acid presents a demanding pumping challenge, requiring careful consideration of material compatibility, fluid containment and operating conditions.

A leading UK chemical manufacturer approached CDR Pumps looking for a safe and reliable solution for unloading 36% hydrochloric acid from tankers, with the capacity to unload two tankers simultaneously when required.

The application involved varying flow requirements and operating temperatures of approximately 30–40°C – above typical ambient conditions. At these temperatures, containing hydrochloric acid and its associated fumes was an important consideration, alongside the highly corrosive nature of the fluid itself.

Flow requirements ranged from 12.5 m³/hr for recirculation to 73 m³/hr for tanker unloading, meaning the pumping system also needed to accommodate significantly different operating duties.

Plastic-Lined Magnetic Drive Pumps

Hydrochloric acid is highly corrosive and can be harmful through direct contact or exposure to its fumes, making effective fluid and vapour containment an important consideration when selecting pumping equipment.

For this reason, four close-coupled, PFA-lined UTN-BL magnetic drive pumps were selected for the application.

The magnetic drive design removed the need for a dynamic mechanical seal, eliminating a potential leakage point and helping to keep the hydrochloric acid and associated vapours contained within the pump.

Why PFA Lining for Hydrochloric Acid?

The fluoropolymer PFA (perfluoroalkoxy) was selected as the lining material for the pumps because of its suitability for highly corrosive chemicals, including strong acids. It also retains its properties at elevated temperatures and offers excellent resistance to stress and cracking, making it well suited to demanding chemical processing applications.

CDR has developed considerable expertise in lined pump manufacture at its facility in Italy – a resource-intensive and technically demanding process requiring specialist manufacturing capability.

The PFA lining on CDR pumps is applied using a specialised transfer moulding process in which the lining becomes mechanically keyed to the metal structure of the pump, securely retaining it within the casing during operation.

For our customer, this provided the reassurance of a robust and reliable pump construction with the chemical resistance required for handling 36% hydrochloric acid.

Managing Variable Flow Requirements

The substantial difference between the recirculation and tanker-unloading duties meant that the pumps needed to operate across a range of flow requirements.

Variable speed drives (VSDs) were therefore incorporated into the system, allowing pump speed and performance to be adjusted to suit the required duty.

This gave the customer the flexibility to accommodate different operating conditions using the same pumping system, while helping to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and reduce associated operating costs.

From Manufacture to Delivery in Six Weeks

The four PFA-lined magnetic drive pumps were ordered, manufactured, tested and delivered within six weeks, allowing the customer to benefit quickly from a pumping solution better suited to the hydrochloric acid application.

With decades of experience supplying pumps for chemical processing applications, our engineers can help identify the appropriate pump technology and materials for corrosive and hazardous fluids.

To discuss your chemical pump application, contact the CDR Pumps team on 01933 674777 or at sales@cdrpumps.co.uk

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