Swiss Kronospan site, Menznau

Hot technology for hot boards: Innovative KSB technology for handling thermal oils

Producing particleboard requires high temperatures – KSB and its high-performance heat transfer fluid pumps make sure the thermal oil used is transported smoothly.

1. Customer

Kronospan Schweiz AG is part of the Swiss Krono Group, a leading company specialised in producing and refining wood-based materials. The company's facilities in Menznau produce particleboard and fibreboard for furniture and interior finishings as well as high-density fibreboard (HDF) for laminate flooring. Since 1969, when the first chipboard left the factory, the company has trusted in KSB pumps for handling thermal oils – a long partnership that is still going strong.


2. Project

Producing wood-based chipboard is quite a hot process: First, the wood chips are dried in a rotating drum with hot gases at temperatures around 350 °C. After the dry chips have been bound together, they are pressed to form the actual board. This requires temperatures of up to 285 °C.

To be able to use such high temperatures continuously and evenly, thermal oils are used. At Kronospan the oil is heated up using recycled wood, which is burnt in a special wood energy production system. Once the oil is heated, it is transported to the production facility.


KSB Etanorm SYT heat transfer fluid pump

KSB Etanorm SYT heat transfer fluid pump

3. Challenge

What was special about this project were the tough demands the production process places on the thermal circuit – especially the high temperatures that would be enormously challenging for any pump system. The fluid to be handled was mineral thermal oil of the type Transcal N, which is characterised by a high thermal stability and a good thermal conductivity. Transporting such thermal oils in these temperature ranges requires pumps of extraordinary robustness and maximum operating reliability.


KSB Etanorm SYT heat transfer fluid pump

KSB Etanorm SYT heat transfer fluid pump

4. Solution

In the Kronospan facilities in Menznau, located in the Lucerne hinterland, more than 50 heat transfer fluid pumps made by KSB carry out their responsible task. The heating and control circuits alone are fitted with 40 Etanorm SYA and Etanrom RSY pumps of various sizes. In the main

energy centre, which was inaugurated in February 2010, the modern plant is equipped with another six Etanorm SYA and three Etanorm RSY pumps as well as pumps of the new KSB type series Etanorm SYT. Another four Etanorm SYA and Etanorm RSY pumps were installed as part of modification work at the heat energy supply system in the production facilities.

When the heat is on, experts are needed – for example Etanorm SYT with the new VenJet® venting feature. These systems are perfectly prepared for their hot and oily work. KSB’s patent-pending VenJet® venting contour ensures that the gases contained in the fluid handled can be separated and collected in a different chamber. This allows them to be released in a controlled manner via a screw plug. The pumps are especially sturdy in design and remain torsion-resistant, also in hot temperatures. Further benefits of Etanorm are its low heat transfer to the bearing bracket, low maintenance requirements and, as a result, its excellent operating reliability.

The pilot pump is an Etanorm SYT 150-400 with a flow rate of 470 m³/h, a head of 46 m and a remarkable efficiency of 83.8 %. For decades KSB service specialists have been supporting the site with great care to prevent failures and costly downtimes. The proven benefits of Etanorm SYT are more than ready for the future.


Data I Facts I Figures

  • The company: Kronospan Schweiz AG
  • Founded: 1966
  • Employees: 434 (April 2010)
  • Production of particleboard: 410,000 m3/year
  • Production of medium-density fibreboard (MDF): 223,000 m3/year
  • Engineering contractor: Ness Wärmetechnik GmbH, Remshalden
  • General planning: Richard Kablitz & Mitthof GmbH, Lauda-Königshofen
  • KSB type series used: Various Etanorm models, some with VenJet® venting contour
  • Fluid handled: Thermal oil type Transcal N
  • Operating temperature: 280 to 290 ºC
  • Commissioned: February 2011

Products used

Etanorm SYT

Etanorm SYT

Horizontal volute casing pump in back pull-out design, single-stage, with ratings and dimensions to EN 733, radially split volute casing with integrally cast pump feet, replaceable casing wear rings, closed radial impeller with multiply curved vanes, single mechanical seal to EN 12756, double mechanical seal to EN 12756, drive-end bearings: rolling element bearings, pump-end bearings: plain bearings, with magnetless KSB SuPremE motor (exception: motor sizes 0.55 kW / 0.75 kW with 1500 rpm are designed with permanent magnets) of efficiency class IE4/IE5 and PumpDrive variable speed system; ATEX-compliant version available.

KSB – endüstri armatürlerinin ve pompalarının dünya lideri üreticisi

KSB, 1871 yılında Frankenthal'da (Almanya) kurulmuştur ve 100 yılı aşkın süredir pompa ve endüstriyel armatürlerin lider üreticilerinden biridir. Dünya çapında 15.500'den fazla çalışanı bulunan KSB; kendine ait satış şirketleri, üretim tesisleri ve servis işletmeleriyle, çeşitli uygulamalar için özel pompalar geliştirir ve üretir.

Uzman pompa üreticisinin ürün yelpazesi; yapı ve endüstri teknolojisi, su taşıma ile atık su temizliği ve elektrik santrali süreçlerinde kullanılır. Yenilikçi araştırma ve geliştirme işlemleriyle KSB, çeşitli müşteri taleplerini karşılayabilmektedir. Saygın pompa üreticisi olarak KSB, uzun yıllara dayanan tecrübelere ve teknik bilgilere sahiptir.

Pompa üreticisi KSB: sisteminiz için en iyi çözüm
KSB'nin endüstriyel pompa ve armatürleri, geniş bir uygulama aralığı için uygundur ve enerji açısından oldukça verimlidir. Yenilikçi teknolojilerle kendilerini kanıtlayan ürünler, uzun yıllardır sistemlere başarılı bir şekilde takılmaktadır (bunların arasında Etanorm su pompası da bulunur). 1,5 milyondan fazla satılmış agregayla Etanorm, dünya çapında en başarılı su pompaları arasında bulunur. KSB'nin Yedek parçalar ve servis performansları, KSB endüstri pompalarının ve endüstri armatürlerinin işletim güvenliğini sağlar. Hidrolik, malzeme teknolojisi ve otomasyon pompa üreticisi KSB'nin teknolojik güçleridir ve yüksek performanslı pompalarının başarı sırrı ise bunlara dayanır.

En başından itibaren yetkili servis
Çok sayıda üretim tesisiyle pompa üreticisi KSB, müşteriye yakınlığı ve birinci sınıf servisi garantileyebiliyor. Kapsamlı tecrübe birikimine sahip sertifikalı uzmanlar mükemmel kalite sağlarlar. KSB Service; pompalarınızın, armatürlerinizin ve tüm sistemlerinizin bulunduğu konumda işletime alınmasını, muayenesini, bakımını ve onarımını üstlenir. KSB ayrıca hızlı yedek parça teslimini de sağlar. Böylece doğrudan pompa üreticinizden en iyi servisi elde etmiş olursunuz.