NEW YEAR‘S-NEWSLETTERNo. 37 / January 2017

NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS

Dear Readers, Dear Friends of Rheinhütte Pumpen,

2017 is still young, and we hope it began happily and free of cares for you.

As you are already aware, the business activities of Division Rheinhütte Pumpen were transferred from FRIATEC AG to RHEINHÜTTE Pumpen GmbH last year in the context of a spin-off. Greater con-sideration is now given to our business model within the Aliaxis Group, and de-cision-making processes are now shorter and more flexible.

December 2016 saw us successfully achieve certification for the implemen-tation of an environmental and energy management system pursuant to ISO 14001 and ISO 50001.

In business terms, 2016 was a difficult

year for Rheinhütte, as we did not achieve

the sales targets we had set ourselves.

However, what is optimistic about 2017 is

the development of incoming orders. We

already received an order from Saipem

(Italy) in March 2016 for the supply of 28 GVSO and RCE liquid sulphur pumps for

the operator Saudi Aramco’s Jazan pro-ject. This was followed in June by an or-

der from Petrofac (UAE), also for liquid sulphur. In the coming months, we will

supply 44 GVSO and RCE units for the Fadhili gas field project (also from Saudi

Aramco). Other interesting orders fol-

lowed in the last quarter, including Grasim

in India, OCP in Morocco and from some

European plant manufacturers. There will

be other major projects in the next few

weeks ready for awarding where we have

a good chance of success.

The picture in the regions continues to differ greatly. The MENA region shows very gratifying development. Despite continuing sanctions and the weakness of the rouble, there are promising projects in Russia and the CIS countries. Hardly any new plants are being built in Germa-ny, and there are currently few projects for our applications in the German plant construction sector. By relocating the Service Center from Duisburg (the Thys-sen premises) to Essen, we have laid the foundation for a special focus on service and the individual pump business in Ger-many. There are promising projects ready for awarding in some European countries (e.g. Italy and the Netherlands), and we expect short-term decisions here on the part of our customers. Asia continues to be difficult with, among other things, the Korean plant construction sector which had been so successful up until now hard-ly awarding any contracts for our appli-cations. Local competition continues to grow in India and China. In China, howev-er, we expect our prospects to be good in some solar projects.

Brazil shows the first cautious signs of an improving economic situation. In the US, it remains to be seen how the newly elect-ed president will exercise his office as of January. We see further potential for 2017 in Iran, although things were still rather slow here in 2016. There are enough pro-jects, but financing and the flow of money are still very sluggish.

At the moment, we are working on additions to our range of materials such as polymercarbid, PE 1000R and vari-ous ceramics, while also adapting pump designs (e.g. FNC standardised chemical pump made of Frikorund® ) to meet the increased demand for niche applications equipped for high temperatures and / or wear resistance. The area of numeri-cal simulation (including CFD and FEM) will be further expanded in 2017 in order to create an option for complete virtual prototype testing.

We are looking forward to facing exciting challenges together and, as regards 2017, we would like to wish you at this point the very best, professional success and, above all, good health.

© Pressefoto Wolfgang Eckhardt, Wiesbaden Castle Biebrich in Wiesbaden

Klaus Wolf Dr. Jürgen Weinerth

INNOVATIVE PROCESSES AND APPLICATIONS NEW APPLICATION AREAS FOR RHEINHÜTTE PuMPEN

DLR RESEARCH PROJECT– HIGH PERFORMANCE MOLTEN SALT TOWER RECEIVER SYSTEM (HPMS)

In a first research phase, the German Aer-

ospace Center (DLR) has, together with

a consortium, theoretically investigated

new receiver concepts for solar tower

power plants.

The result of this study indicated that the

full potential for cost reduction in salt

tower power plants is currently not ex-

hausted by the use of optimised concepts

and adapted solar high-temperature cir-

cuits. New concepts were developed

theoretically. Therefore, an optimised salt

circuit with a subreceiver will be set up

About 6 years ago, SMS Siemag started to

develop a new process for the treatment

of hydrochloric acid in pickling plants.

The process is called hydrothermal hy-

drochloric acid regeneration technology

and is far superior to previous processes

when it comes to energy use, efficiency,

space requirements and investment costs.

The critical pump positions are located on

the oxidizer and hydrolyzer, with high re-

quirements in terms of temperature and

wear.

The first real plant was built at Thyssen-

Krupp Steel in Alabama (USA). However,

this new acid treatment process was dis-

continued, due to the sale of the steel-

works at the end of 2012. Many technical

problems proved insolvable. Among oth-

er things, RCFKu pumps made of PTFE

supplied by us had service lives of less

than 3 months. A test pump was there-

fore developed together with FRIATEC

AG – Division Keramik, the business divi-

sion for ceramics in Mannheim using zir-

conium and aluminium oxide ceramic, but

this could not be tested because of the

closure. Now SMS is resuming develop-

ment of the process.

The RCFKu 125-80-250 CST test pump

was delivered to a test facility in Septem-

ber 2016 for further tests.

This process can now also be used in

red mud processing. Red mud is a waste

product obtained in the Bayer process

from ores containing aluminium (particu-

larly bauxite) during the production of

aluminium oxide, an intermediate product

during the production of aluminium. The

characteristic red colour comes from

solid particles of iron (III) compounds

suspended in sodium hydroxide solu-

tion. The amount of red mud produced

per tonne of aluminium depends on the

composition of the bauxite used which, in

turn, depends on its origin. It is estimated

that about 1.6 t of damp red mud can be

produced from tropical bauxite and about

3.2-3.7 t from European bauxite. World-

wide, red mud is today stored in some-

times exposed landfill sites or routed into

rivers (about 120 million tonnes per year).

and tested at the solar institute in Jülich in

the context of the HPMS Phase II project.

The aim is to test the concept developed

in HPMS Phase I under realistic condi-

tions. This step is necessary to enable re-

liable further development for a receiver

system with capacities usual in power

stations (700MWth). If the project is ap-

proved by the Federal Ministry for Eco-

nomic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), we will

deliver a GVSO 40/250 V in 1.4581 for the

test plant.

The project drawing with a description of

the planned project was submitted by the

German Aerospace Center (DLR) to the

BMWi as part of the 6th energy research

program in September 2016 and its eligi-

bility for funding confirmed. However, fi-

nal approval will not be decided until the

next round of applications. Other partners

are Babcock Borsig Steinmüller, Bilfinger

Piping Technology, Solar Institute Jülich

at the FH Aachen University of Applied

Sciences, TÜV Nord Systems AG, Salzgit-

ter Mannesmann Research, Eugen Arnold

GmbH and Rhein Ruhr Power.

RCFKu 125-80-250 CST TEST PuMP FOR THE PREPARATION OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID IN PICKLING PLANTS

Image: RCFKu 125-80-250 CST

INNOVATIVE MATERIALS

FOR LONGER SERVICE LIFE

Corrosion resistance and wear resist-

ance: two material properties which are

increasingly required in modern applica-

tions for centrifugal pumps, but which

cannot always be optimally combined.

Metallic materials can be adapted very

flexibly in terms of corrosion or wear re-

sistance by means of tempering and al-

loying adjustments. However, options for

the combination of both are often lim-

ited. Plastics have a very high resistance

to inorganic acids and alkalis, but usually

exhibit only low wear resistance. Due to

their complex production, extremely cor-

rosion and wear-resistant ceramic pumps

made of FRIALIT-F99.7® are only eco-

nomical viable for unusual applications.

RHEINHÜTTE Pumpen close this gap

between plastic and ceramics with two

innovative materials. Their exceptional

resistance enables the achievement of a

longer service life and makes the opera-

tion of centrifugal pumps more effective

in abrasive media.

POLYMERCARBID AND PE 1000R-

TWO STABLE PARTNERS

The special PE 1000R polyethylene offers

up to 30% higher resistance than conven-

tional PE 1000, due to a wear-reducing

additive. This means a significant improve-

ment in service life and, consequently, main-

tenance and repair intervals in wear applica-

tions. PE 1000R is available for all PE 1000

pump types from RHEINHÜTTE. The new

multi-component material Polymercarbid

is significantly more resistant to wear. The

secret of this material lies in the combina-

tion of an extremely hard silicon carbide

as a wear layer with a vinyl ester resin as a

binder. The material reaches a Mohs hard-

ness of 9.7, thus almost achieving the hard-

ness level of diamond.

Image: Impeller made of PE 1000R

THE RIGHT SOLuTION. FOR ANY FLuID.

Even media which encourage wear can be

conveyed efficiently through the combi-

nation of suitable pump designs and ma-

terials. New and innovative materials can

significantly reduce operating costs. With

its CPRF and RCFKu free flow pumps,

RHEINHÜTTE Pumpen provides proven

models for the conveyance of media

containing solids. Selection of the most

economical material by material special-

ists at RHEINHÜTTE Pumpen depends on

the one hand on the quantity, but mainly

on the quality of the solids involved. The

available spectrum ranges from UHMW-

PE, PE 1000R and polymercarbid to FRI-

ALIT-F99.7®, a highly wear-resistant ce-

ramic from FRIATEC AG. By standardising

pump components,

combinations of ma-

terials or subsequent

adaptations can

also be realised with

modified media data.

As a consequence,

these materials have

already solved the

most difficult applica-

tion problems to the

satisfaction of plant operators.

LONGER SERVICE LIFE POLYMERCARBID AND PE 1000R

WEAR-RESISTANT PuMPS FOR THE

MOST DIFFICuLT APPLICATIONS

Close cooperation between Nomig GmbH

and RHEINHÜTTE Pumpen GmbH led to

the development of a wear pump made

of solid polymercarbid. Tried and test-

ed designs were exploited in a practical

manner on the basis of the RHEINHÜTTE

CPRF and RCFKu free flow series. The

connection dimensions of these series

correspond to EN 22858 / ISO 2858 and

therefore permit easy replacement of ex-

isting standardised chemical pumps with

wear problems.

When compared to simple coatings or

thin-walled plastic inserts, solid volute

casings provide a considerably greater

material reserve against wear.

The use of free flow pumps is a logical

consequence when it comes to conveying

highly abrasive media and suspensions. In

the case of free flow pumps, the pressure-

generating pump impeller is not located

directly in the volute casing, but offset

from this so that only about 20% of the

medium volume comes into contact with

the impeller surface. Large flow channels

also enable the conveyance of large solid

particles.

Image: RCFKu made of Frikorund® technical ceramic with an impeller made of polymercarbid

AFTER SALES SERVICE NEW SERVICE CENTER

OuR SERVICE FOR YOu –

SPEEDY. RELIABLE. INDIVIDuAL.

The new RHEINHÜTTE Service Center started operations on

1. September 2016 at Adlerstrasse 28 in Essen. This means that

we now have a considerably larger Service center in the region

with state-of-the-art technology. Even the repair of larger sub-

mersible pumps poses no problems here. Sufficient storage

space for spare parts also ensures speedy on-site service with-

out long delivery times. The many years of experience gained

by our continuously trained personnel in the design and pro-

duction of pumps of various designs means that we can offer

you repairs and maintenance work for RHEINHÜTTE pumps and

pumps from other manufacturers. This ensures maximum op-

erational reliability, minimum downtimes and a long service

life for your pumps.

iMPRESSuM: RHEINHÜTTE Pumpen GmbHRheingaustraße 96-98 – D-65203 Wiesbaden Tel +49 (0)611 604-0 – Fax +49 (0)611 604-328 info@rheinhuette.dewww.rheinhuette.de

ENERGY AND ENVIRON-MENTAL MANAGEMENTSuCCESSFuLLY CERTIFIEDRHEINHÜTTE Pumpen GmbH has successfully passed certifi-

cation pursuant to DIN 50001 Energy Management and DIN

14001 Environmental Management. The certification audits

took place at the end of November 2016 and were conducted

by TÜV Süd. The certifications prove that we conserve natural

resources and make a sustainable contribution to environmental

protection. As a company active on an international level, we

also meet the high standards and requirements of our custom-

ers and suppliers in this manner.

Through the After Sales Service group established on 1 July

2016 in the context of the realignment and which includes the

spare parts and service departments, the Service Centers and

our worldwide service partners, we aim to provide reliable high-

quality services through the rapid supply of spare parts and

well-conceived service concepts for our customers.

With the expansion of our global service network with our own

Service Centers and service partners, all of which have to meet

a defined quality standard, we create the basic prerequisite for

acceptance as a partner of planning companies in the project

business.

Speedy, reliable and individual - our aim is to continue to en-

hance this service promise.

THE NExT GENERATION OF MOLTEN SALTS

In order to further increase the operating temperature and, con-

sequently, the efficiency of molten salts as heat accumulators

in power plants, molten salts with a high chloride content are

currently being tested in laboratory trials in the USA at tem-

peratures up to 800°C. Chlorides in the molten salt cause very

aggressive behaviour in chemical terms, so the standard ma-

terials used in our GVSO submersible pump can no longer be

used here. Following the successful laboratory tests, the inten-

tion now is to construct test plants with pumps in the uSA.

Corresponding inquiries for pilot projects have been placed.

According to the current state of the art, only the new Haynes

230 material, an Inconel material with a nickel-based alloy of

22% chromium, 14% tungsten, 5% cobalt and 3% molybdenum

is suitable as pump material. The high tungsten and chromium

content in particular results in very good strength values, even

at 800°C. The long-term stability of this material is outstand-

ing and surpasses all alloys typically used to date. In labora-

tory tests, this material has also shown itself to be stable in hot

chloride melts.

RHEINHÜTTE Pumpen will design a GVSO submersible pump in

Haynes 230 to also test corrosion resistance under flow condi-

tions.