PUMPS FOR

MOLTEN SULPHUR
 n Rheinhütte Pumpen

Pumps for molten sulphur –

things are really hot up here!

Rheinhütte can provide the right pump for your molten sulphur application. Experience gained over
decades in pumping sulphur and sulphuric acid means that we can supply you with both vertical
and horizontal pumps for sulphur degassing, charging, granulation and sulphuric acid production.

A primary market participant for more than 150 years, the
FRIATEC AG - Division Rheinhütte Pumpen has successfully
become a high demand specialty pump provider on a glo-
bal level for sophisticated pumping applications - not only
for sulphur.
Rheinhütte has been involved in the pumping of molten sul-
phur for over 60 years and is very familiar with the unique
properties of sulphur (e.g. with regard to the anomaly of sul-
phur viscosity).
Our customers in the area of molten sulphur include refineries,
tank farms and transporters and manufacturers of sulphuric
acid all around the world.
Our molten sulphur pumps meet the highest of requirements.
They are used in the following applications:
Sulphur degassing
Sulphur charging
Sulphur granulation / pelletising
Sulphuric acid production
As an expert for the pumping of molten sulphur, we do not
simply regard ourselves as pump manufacturers, but distin-
guish ourselves far beyond this as a solution provider. We
cooperate with our customers to develop an ideal strategy
which can be implemented in a constructive manner to meet
all requirements. We also develop individual solutions to meet
unusual requests and address special problems.
When it comes to pumping molten sulphur, we focus in parti-
cular on plant conditions (e.g. whether pumping is realised via
a bypass). We offer flexible installation lengths and alternative
designs for all vertical submersible pumps, along with relia-
ble sealing variants which go far beyond mechanical seals.
We approach our customers’ design criteria in a flexible man-
ner and, in addition to the actual manufacture of pumps, pro-
vide a broad range of services, from pressure testing to test
bench trials and also including PMI tests and dye penetration
testing. It goes without saying that each of our customers
receives comprehensive documentation of his project from
our engineering and technical staff.

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 150 °C
Title photo and main image (page 2/3) with the

3
kind permission of Sandvik Process Systems
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GVSO (H) VERTICAL PUMP -
MORE THAN A SIMPLE STANDARD
Advantages at a glance
• Reliable operation free of leaks,
thanks to a simple shaft sealing
concept
• Maintenance-friendly machine
concept with simple dismantling
and inspection options
• High delivery heads can be achie-
ved, thanks to the multi-stage
construction (up to 3 stages)
• Specific temperature and medium
material combinations adapted to
suit requirements
• Cost-effective, thanks to the com-
pact design
Operating Parameters
3
• Flows up to 3000m /h
(13,200 gpm)
• Heads up to 125 m (410 ft)
• Pressure rating up to PN 25
• Modular submersion depths from
0.5 m to more than 17.5 m (1.6 ft
to more than 57.4 ft)
• More than 20 different radial
hydraulic sizes ideally suitable for
single or multi-stage designs
• Discharge flange sizes up to
450 mm (18 in)
4
The GVSO (H) vertical chemical centrifugal pump is mainly
employed in the area of sulphur degassing. It meets the special
requirements of this sophisticated application particularly well in
the heated version due to its flexible installation length.
The GVSO (H) vertical submersible pump can be heated with steam and is an
extremely robust chemical submersible pump used in particular for pumping mol-
ten sulphur. In addition to the sturdy and reliable design, our customers value
especially the variable submersion depths of these pumps which can be manuf-
actured to suit extremely short insertion variations (+/-100 mm). In the area of
molten sulphur pumping, Rheinhütte has delivered several pumps in this context
for use in extreme submersion depths of 11 to 17 m. These extremely long pumps
have already been operating for many years now to the complete satisfaction of
our customers.
The pump is fitted with a heating jacket to maintain the pumped sulphur at a
constant temperature and, consequently, unchanged viscosity. Each individual
segment of the pipe string is encased in its own heating jacket in this respect.
An intermediate bearing is utilised about every two metres to ensure reliable gui-
ding of the shaft at elongated submersion depths. The pump sleeve bearings are
lubricated with molten sulphur during operation. Individual segments are con-
nected together with the intermediate bearings, meaning the pump can be rapidly
dismantled for transportation and maintenance. In addition, varying lengths can
be realised with minimum difficulty as a consequence to meet specific require-
ments.
All GVSO pumps have a double volute which balances out radial loading and
ultimately ensures optimum levels of concentricity and quiet operation. This, in
turn, is of particular importance in the case of multi-stage designs when it comes
to higher pumping pressures. Although the discharge pipe and shaft column are
separated from each other, together they form a compact, space-saving assem-
bly. The optimized design resulting from this means smaller dome openings are
necessary in storage tanks and sumps.
GVSO pumps are available in grey cast iron, cast steel or stainless steel (1.4408)
for pumping molten sulphur. Versions are also available in super duplex or super
austenitic materials to meet special requirements.
GVSO pumps are also utilised without heating jackets in other application areas
to pump sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and brine. In the area of heat transfer,
GVSO pumps pump molten nitrate salts at temperatures exceeding 500 °C.
The GVSO (H) vertical chemical centrifugal pump is used in
sulphur tanks and sulphur pits of differing sizes. The com-
pletely-heated pipe string is illustrated in a sectional view.
The vertical pump has already been constructed with an in-
stallation length of up to 17 metres.

The shaft bush is sealed with a stuffing box with several

PTFE/carbon packing rings. In addition, it is recommended
that a gastight stuffing box will be fitted if even minimal tra-
ces of toxic H2S are present in the sulphur. Grease or nitro-
gen can be used as a sealing medium.

Multi-stage volute casings are utilised

for GVSO pumps to achieve extreme-
ly high delivery heads for molten sul-
phur. The image illustrates a two-stage
design.

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RCE HORIZONTAL PUMP -
A POWERFUL PARTNER
Advantages at a glance
• No wear in the sealing area,
thanks to hydrodynamic sealing
and, consequently, contact-free
running during operation
• Enormous flexibility, thanks to a
broad range of materials and more
than 40 pump sizes
• Safety, thanks to increased wall
thickness and optimum sealing
• Maintenance-friendly machine
concept with simple dismantling
and inspection options
• Reliable machine with a long
service life which contributes to
cost-effective operation
Operating Parameters
3
• Flows up to 1.000m /h
(4,400 gpm)
• Heads up to 180 m (590 ft)
• Pressure rating up to PN 64
• Pump sizes: DN 32 - DN 300
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The RCE horizontal centrifugal pump is a heavy-duty chemical
centrifugal pump which is used in practically every area of sulphur
pumping.
Thanks to its design and extremely robust construction, the RCE model chemical
centrifugal pump is ideally suitable for pumping molten sulphur. For example, this
pump demonstrates a particularly high level of flexibility with regard to optimum
adaptation to existing conditions, as a broad range of materials and more than 40
pump sizes are available.
The design phase provides for a heating jacket which has, in particular, proved to
be a sophisticated solution for this application, as the casing drain system, drain
and stuffing box chamber are also completely heated. This has the advantage
of ensuring that no sulphur residue solidifies and forms deposits in the shaft seal
chamber during pump start-up and shutdown.
A highly-effective hydrodynamic seal is particularly effective for shaft sealing, as
this seals the pump during operation with a liquid ring, ensuring complete free-
dom from leaks and no wear. This is achieved mechanically with a ring valve
when the pump is not in operation.
Many of our customers demand hydrodynamic sealing, as these functions wi-
thout adhesion and represent an absolutely low-maintenance solution. This
pump can also be fitted on request with different mechanical seal variants to suit
individual requirements.
RCE pumps made of cast steel or stainless steel (1.4408) are available for molten
sulphur. Versions are also available in super duplex or super austenitic materials
to meet special requirements.
The DWH design of this chemical centrifugal pump is utilised for all media which
require heating during pumping to avoid solidification (e.g. in the case of molten
tar, phthalic anhydride and molten urea).
RCE pumps are also utilised without heating in different application areas to
pump sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and brine.
Thanks to its cantilever design, the vertical RCE Type RCEV version is ideally sui-
table for applications involving media containing solids and is employed to pump
heavily-contaminated molten sulphur.
The heavy-duty DWH version of the
RCE chemical pump illustrated here
is utilised in sulphur plants where
horizontal pumps with a long service
life and a maintenance-free shaft seal
are required.

The ring valve is closed at all times

when the pump is not in operation. The
centrifugal force weights in the bearing
bracket open the ring valve as soon as
the pump shaft begins to rotate. The
pump is then sealed by the hydrodyna-
mic auxiliary impeller behind the main
impeller, ensuring complete freedom
from leaks.

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RMKN HORIZONTAL PUMP -
ABSOLUTELY SAFE
Advantages at a glance
• No leakage, thanks to the magne-
tic coupling and, consequently,
hermetic sealing
• No solidification of sulphur in the
magnet chamber, as the magnetic
drive can be heated
• Service and maintenance-friendly
machine concept with simple dis-
mantling and inspection options
• Cost-efficient operation and, ove-
rall, low life cycle costs
Operating Parameters
3 The non-contact SIC/SIC sleeve bearing is lubricated continuously by the medi-
• Flows up to 400m /h
(1,761 gpm)
• Heads up to 150 m (492 ft)
• Pressure rating PN 16
• Pump sizes: DN 32 – DN 150
8
The heated version of the RMKN magnetic drive pump is, on the
one hand, particularly suitable for sulphur processing where pure
sulphur is involved and, on the other, for use in processes where
pump usage is intermittent.
Where clean sulphur free of solid particles is involved, the RMKN horizontal cen-
trifugal pump proves to be a chemical centrifugal pump distinguished by its out-
standing suitability for pumping molten sulphur, thanks to its design and magne-
tic sealing.
Power transmission is realised in this pump via a magnetic coupling, dispensing
with the need for a shaft bush. An external magnetic rotor transmits the required
drive torque to an internal magnetic rotor separated by the so-called spacer can.
The internal shaft, which connects the internal rotor to the impeller, is reliably
guided by SIC sleeve bearings. The pump is hermetically sealed and runs com-
pletely free of leaks, thanks to the integrated magnetic coupling.
The design of this centrifugal pump incorporates heated chambers. The casing,
casing drains system, bearing bracket and magnet chamber are also completely
heated as a result, effectively preventing sulphur solidification inside the pump.
The RMKN meets all the requirements of DIN EN 22858 in this respect.
um during operation. The ball bearings in the bearing bracket are greased for life,
rounding off the maintenance-free operation of this pump.
Fewer components and its sophisticated process design enable rapid assembly
and dismantling of the pump. The casing can be left in the piping to facilitate
maintenance and any necessary service work on the pump. The back pull-out
design ensures ease in both removal and re-installation of the pump from service.
RMKN pumps made of stainless steel (1.4408) are available for molten sulphur.
Other materials of even more superior quality are available to meet special custo-
mer requirements.
Power transmission is realised in the
RMKN chemical centrifugal pump via
a magnetic coupling. A further special
feature: the volute casing, casing drain
system and magnet coupling area are
heated with steam (illustrated in red in
the image). This ensures reliable pum-
ping of sulphur.

The section depicted illustrates a de-

tailed view of the magnet coupling
area. The most important design fea-
tures can be seen here: lubricating
apertures, sleeve bearing, the internal
and external rotor fitted with perma-
nent magnets and the spacer can.

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Success is born of
experience

As a pump manufacturer in demand all around the world, FRIATEC AG - Division Rheinhütte Pumpen
has successfully become an expert for sophisticated pumping tasks.

We exploit extensive experience gained in the last 60 years the world. Furthermore, we successfully work together with
in the area of molten sulphur pumping, including applications notable plant constructors such as Petrofac, Dealim, GS En-
in modern sulphur plants. gineering, Hyundai, Chioda, JGC, Technip and many more.

Product innovation and a high level of quality represent con-
siderable success factors for our customers. As a conse-
quence, we have built comprehensive knowledge over several
decades in the manufacture of vertical and horizontal pump
designs for molten sulphur pumping.
Moreover, we have gained extensive experience in the ma-
nufacture of pumps up to and exceeding 17 metres in length.
For example, a vertical pump with a length of 17 metres has
reliably pumped hot molten sulphur for several years in the
charging terminal of a sulphuric acid plant in Sweden.
We are the market leader with our molten sulphur pumps in
the Middle East region.
With our tailored solutions for pumping molten sulphur and,
in particular, our comprehensive documentation requirements
and testing of pumps, we cooperate with our customers time
and time again to set new standards and, consequently, pi-
oneer new options in this field.

The exemplary quality of our employees and extensive ex-

perience gained by our personnel in the design of pumps for
molten sulphur and in the area of sulphuric acid production
means that our pumps have provided reliable service for
many years in numerous major plants. We are, consequently,
listed as a certified manufacturer by the largest refineries in

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 3.2.Molten Sulphur.e.1011

FRIATEC Aktiengesellschaft Division Rheinhütte Pumpen

Rheingaustraße 96-98 65203 Wiesbaden Germany
Tel: +49 611 604-0 Fax: +49 611 604-328
info@rheinhuette.de www.rheinhuette.de