EDUCTOR SOLUTION AGITATION IN METAL FINISHING APPLICATIONS
Solution agitation is essential for the mechanical scouring action to maintain solution homogeneity. This sounds very simple, but as in all real-world situations, things aren’t as simple as they first appear.
A complication with air agitation systems in metal finishing applications is that it encourages toxic gassing of the solution to rise in the bath, bursting at the solution level. Gases form at the plated surface during electroplating. Air rapidly moves gases to the solution surface where they release creating a toxic environment for the tank operators, causing them to wear protective respirators.
Recent guidelines established by OSHA and the SCAQMD are addressing the need for change to prevent this condition from happening. The solution – Penductor Eductors by Penguin.
Eductors work on the venturi principal. A pump propels the primary solution under pressure at a high velocity through an eductor nozzle mounted inside a flow-through venturi bell, which induces a large secondary stream that is designed to prevent clogging and internal buildup and drastically reduce, or eliminate aeration. This means that the eductor can pull in or “entrain” up to four additional gallons of surrounding solution for every one gallon pumped through it.
The liquid pumped through the eductor can be channeled towards the plated surface where it flushes the surface with fresh solution thus preventing gases to reach the surface.
The number of eductors to install is dependent on tank turnovers, which we may define as the number of times the entire liquid contents of a tank are pumped through the eductor(s) per hour.
Eductor configurations and mounting are unlimited. However, there are some general rules that should be considered to include manifolds which may be simplex, duplex or multiplex (more than two) Manifolds must be sufficient diameter to maintain low friction losses and manifold ends must be capped.
Eductors are available in a wide range of materials: 316SS, Polypro, CPVC and PVDF
Eductor systems may be installed:
(1) Directly onto the outlet side of a filter chamber in series using one pump.
(2) Directly into a bypass line in parallel to the filter chamber, using one pump.
(3) Directly into the discharge line from a dedicated pump.
U.S. Department of Energy Integral Horsepower Motor Rule
The motors regulated under expanded scope meet the following nine characteristics:
1. Is a single speed motor,
2. Is rated for continuous duty (MG 1) operation or for duty type S1 (IEC),
3. Contains a squirrel-cage (MG 1) or cage (IEC) rotor,
4. Operated on polyphase alternating current (AC) 60-hertz sinusoidal line power,
5. Has 2-, 4-, 6-, or 8-pole configuration,
6. Is rated 600 volts or less,
7. Have a three or four digit NEMA frame size (or IEC metric equivalent), including
those designs between two consecutive NEMA frame sizes (or IEC metric
equivalent) or an enclosed 56 NEMA Frame size (or IEC metric equivalent).
8. Has no more than 500 horsepower, but greater than or equal to 1 horsepower (or
kilowatt equivalent), and
9. Meets all the performance requirements of a NEMA design A, B or C electric
motor or an IEC design N or H electric motor.Filter Pump Industries, in anticipation of the upcoming ruling, has redesigned their motors and are currently in compliance with the rule.