Meeting the challenge of ultrasonic cleaning

AFinish Thompson centrifugal pump is withstanding the rigorous conditions found in ultrasonic cleaning machines, including the need to transfer volatile, near boiling solvents. The pump was supplied to Guyson International for testing on a demonstration machine by UK distributor,Michael Smith Engineers.

The pump, a magnetically coupled centrifugal model in PVDF construction was selected by Guyson following in-service reports that identified the potential for failures of the main circulation pumps on some models of its solvent cleaning machines. Guyson identified that the combination of handling volatile, near boiling point solvents with a very low suction head had resulted in very low pressures at the pump inlet with NPSHa levels occurring of typically less than 1m. On some pumps this would cause severe cavitation and lead to failures.

The DB pump was tested on a demonstration ultrasonic cleaning machine and found to perform well without any failure under all test conditions. After extensive running it was stripped down and inspected for wear. It was found to be in perfect condition.