custom-made pump for carbamate application

For the sophisticated pumping of carbamate solutions in urea production, Apollo Gößnitz GmbH implemented a custom process pump according API 610 with a barrel design. It is precisely designed for the critical carbamate fluid, high pressure, and temperature fluctuations.

Detailed view from above of a Carbamet barrel pump during a test run on the Apollo test bench.
We manufactured a custom-made carbamate pump unit for urea production. The pump unit, consisting of a base frame, electric motor, barrel pump with BB3 pump hydraulics, and piping for system connection, was installed during assembly in Apollo's production hall.
The detailed side view shows the jacket housing of a process pump for urea production. Piping, insulation, and system connections are also visible.

Why were the BB5 and BB3 pump types combined?
It is common practice for this medium because industry experience has shown that a BB3 pump offers better operational reliability, robustness, and maintenance requirements than a BB5 pump. Carbamate fluids tend to crystallize and places the highest demands on operational reliability and robustness. In this regard, the BB3 volute casing hydraulics offer clear advantages over BB4/BB5 diffuser pumps.

  • Fluid is highly critical and requires high pressure at slightly elevated temperatures.
  • Large flow chambers with only one or two channels per stage, which reduces the risk of deposits and blockage.
  • Split casing is significantly more robust with fewer components for the flow geometry.
  • Radial-static seal with fewer sealing points to the environment for higher operational reliability.
  • Robust deformation behavior during pressure and temperature changes.


Technical Highlights & Solutions

The customized design is based on a 25%Cr super duplex material to ensure high resistance to aggressive carbamate liquids. Both the barrel and the volute casing required sophisticated technological machining. The flow channels of the upper and lower parts were precisely aligned and machined complete an assembly.

Precise temperature management is a central element of the design. Calculating the temperature distribution in the casing ensures consistent heating over time, which reliably prevents crystallization. This is supported by a welded heating jacket in combination with additional electrical heat tracing. The amount of steam was precisely defined to prevent the medium from cooling down or overheating.

A newly developed special device was used for assembly and maintenance. Rollers and sliding surfaces on the spiral casing enable the safe handling of the cartridge. This allows for quick inspection after disassembly, significantly reducing maintenance costs and saving valuable time.

This custom-made product demonstrates how in-depth pump expertise, precision manufacturing, and application-specific design come together to create a reliable industrial solution.

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