Safely to the perfect solution: KSB products for heat transfer fluid systems

In many parts of the world, the use of synthetic high-performance heat transfer fluids are on the rise. For operators, this is an economic benefit. For KSB, it is a significant manufacturing focus, helping businesses manage these modern fluids' complex properties while ensuring maximum operating performance. As a leading supplier of pumps, valves, and automation solutions with a history spanning more than 150 years, we know what’s important – and offer reliable solutions.

Pumps are the driving force of thermal oil systems. They have to function precisely as needed for the overall system to operate reliably. The costs incurred by downtime can often exceed the total value of a pump. And, damage may result in the leakage of a fluid that may be hazardous and or combustible, presenting a considerable risk of fire and environmental pollution.

Fortunately, our Etanorm SYT volute casing pump KSB offers the best possible solution: The pump provides a high degree of operating reliability, minimum downtime, and advantages of low wear, low vibrations, and a very smooth operation.

All of the above – together with many other benefits – provide maximum reliability and safety, along with many years of economical system operation. Technical progress and comprehensive know-how have led to valuable energy savings and safety aspects for the benefit of the environment, too.

A critical point of heat transfer fluid pumps in particular is the mechanical seal. The 4EYS mechanical seal especially developed for the SYT pump type series operated in thermal oil systems offers many benefits for this application:

• The multi-spring arrangement provides an even spring load over a long spring travel. Tilting or jamming is almost impossible.
• The open-style design in the area around the springs allows leakage products to be easily removed.
• For more flexibility and less sensitivity to surge pressure a large O-ring is fitted in the rotating assembly of the mechanical seal.
• The mechanical seal complies with the EN 12756 standard, which means it can also be used for older pump generations without any additional measures.

In addition to a single mechanical seal, KSB offers a double mechanical seal, type 4EYT, for use with Etanorm SYT and operating mode to API Plan 52 (unpressurised tandem arrangement). To provide enhanced safety, this seal type should generally be used for synthetic heat transfer fluids which have a vapor pressure above 1 bar at operating temperature. 

A space filled with unpressurized compatible buffer fluid (e.g. mineral oil) between the inboard mechanical seal and outboard mechanical seal prevents any leakage of the fluid handled from escaping to the atmosphere. A supply system makes sure that this space is always filled with buffer fluid so the seal faces are lubricated reliably.