How to Select a Pump for Demanding Bitumen Applications

When Nordasfalt needed to pump bitumen in its asphalt production process, it required pumps capable of handling a demanding medium while ensuring long-term reliability and maintainability.

In 2010, Fuglesangs supplied Nordasfalt with several Tuthill GlobalGear 550 pumps and modified them with Chesterton mechanical seals. The combination proved successful in the bitumen application.

The Challenge: Bitumen Has a High Viscosity at Low Temperatures

Bitumen is used as a binder in asphalt production and can become extremely viscous as the temperature drops. The pump solution must therefore be adapted to the properties of the medium and the operating conditions.

Nordasfalt needed a robust solution capable of handling bitumen over time while keeping maintenance costs and spare-parts requirements at a reasonable level.

The Solution: Tuthill GlobalGear with a Mechanical Seal

Fuglesangs supplied the Tuthill GlobalGear 550, an internal gear pump developed for demanding industrial applications.

Fuglesangs modified the pumps to accommodate Chesterton mechanical seals.

The GlobalGear series features a modular design that makes the pumps relatively easy to maintain. This can help reduce both maintenance time and the number of different spare parts required.

For this application, combining a robust internal gear pump with a customised mechanical seal was essential to achieving reliable operation.

From Delivery to Overhaul – Five Years of Operation

The pumps were commissioned at Nordasfalt in 2010.

They operated without problems until 2015, when Fuglesangs overhauled them.

Following the overhaul, the pumps have continued to operate without problems.

This provides a concrete example of how selecting the right pump and seal, combined with planned maintenance, can contribute to a long service life in demanding pumping applications.

Why This Solution Works for Bitumen

The combination of Tuthill GlobalGear pumps and Chesterton mechanical seals is suitable for applications with stringent requirements for robustness and ease of maintenance.

GlobalGear pumps are designed as heavy-duty internal gear pumps and are available in several configurations. The range can be used for bitumen and other demanding industrial media.

For Fuglesangs, selecting a pump is therefore not just about the pump itself. The medium, temperature, operating conditions, sealing solution and maintenance requirements must all be considered together.

The Results for Nordasfalt

• The pumps were delivered in 2010.
• The pumps were modified for use with Chesterton mechanical seals.
• The solution operated without problems until the overhaul in 2015.
• Fuglesangs carried out the pump overhaul.
• Following the overhaul, the pumps have continued to operate without problems.

This case illustrates the value of combining the right pump technology with the right sealing solution and maintenance expertise.

Do You Need a Pump for Bitumen or Other Demanding Media?

Pump selection should be based on the properties of the medium and the actual operating conditions. For bitumen, viscosity, temperature and the sealing solution are among the key factors.

Fuglesangs supplies pumps, sealing technology, testing, repair and maintenance services to Norwegian industry. Pumps of various types and makes are refurbished at the company’s own workshop, and Fuglesangs can also test industrial pumps at its in-house testing facility in Oslo.

Contact Fuglesangs to discuss the right pump solution for your application.