Gear pumps for the extrusion of polymers and thermoplastics
Gear pumps transport a wide variety of media in industrial production processes in general, in the chemical industry as well as in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The matching gear pumps and pump systems can be found in MAAG’s wide range of products by plant manufacturers and producers and processors of plastics.
CHEM-X™
CHEM-X™ pumps series is an innovative gear pump which improves efficiency and reliability in fluid transfer systems. Thanks to its optimized gear design, the new series aims to minimize pressure losses and maximize medium flow. This pump will be suitable for a wide range of industrial applications, including Chemical, Petrochemical oil & gas. Its threepiece… [...]
flexinox™
MAAG flexinox™ pumps are corrosion-resistant conveying units; they satisfy the stringent quality requirements of today’s chemical processing industry and their three-piece configuration facilitates maintenance and replacement of internal parts, such as gears and bearings. They can be heated either electrically or with fluid. Thanks to the extensive range of components and materials available, MAAG gear… [...]
dosix™
MAAG dosing gear pumps are corrosion resistant and electrically heatable conveying units, especially designated for the small tthroughputs; their three-piece configuration facilitates maintenance and replacement of internal parts, such as gears and bearings. Thanks to the wide range of components and materials available, dosix™ pumps can be configured to suit customers specific requirements and therefore,… [...]
refinex® refitherm®
Refinery and industrial plant applications are challenging. High process pressures and high temperatures are commonplace in such environments. Precisely in these environments MAAG gear pumps develop their full potential. Thanks to the extensive range of components and materials of constructions to choose from, MAAG gear pumps can be configured to suit customers specific requirements and… [...]
cinox® therminox®
cinox® and therminox® gear pumps are corrosion resistant and heatable stainless steel conveying units that satisfy the stringent quality requirements of today's chemical processing industry. Whether the applications involve highly pure, corrosive, viscous or very hot media, MAAG pump systems hold the solution to meet every pumping challenge. cinox® and therminox® are especially suitable for… [...]
cinox®-V therminox®-V
The pump models cinox®-V therminox®-V are discharge pumps. They have been designed for highly viscous fluids, which are gently extracted from reactors and degassing devices even when the inlet pressure is low, ensuring optimum fill characteristics and short dwell times. This new pump series combines the outstanding flow characteristics of the polymer pumps with the… [...]
hydrolub®
Continuously operated equipment calls for reliable components. Whether in lubrication oil applications or in processing plants, a pump is required to work reliably and longlasting. Thanks to the extensive range of components and pump sizes, hydrolub® can be configured to suit customers' specific requirements and therefore, are far superior to standard pumps in terms of… [...]
extrex® RV/RB
When it comes to manufacturing profiles and dealing with strainers, high requirements are placed on pumping consistency and extrusion lines. The new gear pump series extrex⁶ RV/RB from MAAG raises the performance of gear pumps for elastomer extrusion to new levels in terms of both economy and processing technology. Product quality is guaranteed by a… [...]
vacorex⁶ VX
MAAG introduces the vacorex®-x⁶ class gear pump. vacorex⁶ fulfills ideally modern polymer production processes which require pumps that can discharge at high pressure despite very low fill level and high vacuum conditions in the reactor/devolatilization vessel. MAAG vacorex⁶ process a wide range of different polymer grades without affecting their quality. Reliable, requiring little maintenance, and… [...]
thermorex⁶ TR/TB/TP/TO
Polymer processes require pumps that gently process both high and low viscosity plastic melt through the system. Specially designed low-compression teeth allow the thermorex®-x⁶ class transfer, booster or metering gear pump to achieve both high pressure and low shear. The plastic melt is conveyed with a constant, precise flow even at high discharge pressures —… [...]
polyrex⁶ PR
Processes in the manufacture of polyolefins require high-pressure gear pumps which build up pressure for the units after the compounder. The new performance driven geometry of polyrex® x⁶ class results in high throughput rates at high flow rates and low shear stress. polyrex⁶ can convey low viscosity polymers where earlier pump generations failed. Thanks to… [...]
viscorex® VR
Polymer processes in the polymer industry require units that gently discharge low and high-viscosity plastic melts from reactors and degassing equipment. The MAAG polymer extraction pump systems and viscorex® transfer gear pumps feature the excellent fill behaviour and short residence times that make them the ideal solution for such polymer applications. Their high efficiency and… [...]
thermorex® TRO/TRP
Polymer processes and polymer applications require polymer transfer pumps which will constantly and reliably feed oligomers and prepolymers through the system. The liquid polymer pump design is highly suitable for low viscosity. Thanks to thermorex® TRP and TRO, reactors no longer have to be pressurized. The good efficiency and long service life increase the efficiency… [...]
extrex⁶ GU
Extrusion operations require extremely reliable gear pump systems with high output consistency and a configuration to suit each application. The modular design of extrex® gear pumps easily meets the requirements for these diverse applications. The extrex⁶ GU gear pump is a general use design that elevates your process to the next level. With the new… [...]
extrex⁶ EP
The extrex6 EP gear pump is an intermediate pressure solution for applications requiring higher pressure, greater load bearing considerations for low lubricity products. With the new x6 class design you have additional benefits compared to the classic gear pump designs. [...]
extrex⁶ SP
The extrex⁶ SP gear pump is a high pressure gear pump for applications dictating high pressures and loads. With the new x⁶ class design you have additional benefits compared to the classic gear pump designs. All Pumps are available with ST design (flow optimized) and with the 5R design (Retrofit flange design classic pump). Extrusion… [...]
extrex⁶ MP
Extrusion operations require extremely reliable gear pump systems with high output consistency and a confi guration to suit each application. The modular design of extrex® gear pumps easily meets the requirements for these diverse applications. The extrex⁶ MP is a high pressure gear pump for the most demanding thermoplastic applications. With the new x⁶ class… [...]
extrex⁶ Recycling
Recycling operations require extremely reliable gear pump systems with high output consistency and a configuration to suit each recycling application. The modular design of extrex® gear pumps easily meets the requirements for these diverse applications. The extrex⁶ recycling pump differs from the general use (GU) pump in that it incorporates special components that allow foreign… [...]
extrex⁶ ER
Elastomeric processing requires positive displacement devices that gentle convey high viscosity rubber through the system. Specifically designed, low compression tooth design allow the extrex⁶ ER transfer, booster or metering gear pump to achieve both high pressure and low shear. The rubber compound is conveyed with a constant, precise flow even at high discharge pressures –… [...]
extrex® PFS - 20GP
The extrex® PFS gear pumps are specially designed for applications in the pharmaceutical industries. Such applications require specific design characteristics: high discharge pressure capability, constant throughput, gentle conveying, and narrow temperature ranges. In such an environment, the proven extrex® gear pumps unfold their full potential. [...]
Gear pumps for perfect plastics
Essentially, gear pumps are simple devices which transport plastic melts and other media, along with the empty volume of gear toothing in the pump shaft, in the extrusion process or in the process to manufacture plastics in the chemical industry. They comprise a small number of key components, such as housings, shafts, bearings, and shaft packing. On closer inspection, the simple system is seen to be much more complex. Since MAAG gear pumps usually process polymer melts, the behavior of these long-chain molecules must be understood and taken into account when subjected to the relevant stresses. Reaction to high temperatures and shear rates is of great importance here. The dwell time and the distribution of the dwell time in the melt pump must also be taken into account.
The plastics manufacturing industry needs maximum efficiency in production processes, and demands the lowest possible temperature rise in the bearings and in the polymer melt being processed. Less play between the components quickly improves efficiency. However, this can have a negative effect on product quality and affect the function of the gear pump in the extrusion process. There is a risk that shafts and bearings will seize up.
The research, development and manufacture of gear pumps for extrusion and other fields of application in the production and processing of plastics are part of MAAG’s corporate history. It has built up great knowledge over many decades of cooperation with customers worldwide, which is fully reflected in the x6 class melt pump. Gear pumps for extrusion and plastics production in the chemical industry are used today to pump a wide variety of polymer classes. New knowledge is continually flowing into the development and enhancement of melt pumps.
The ideal gear pump for extrusion of polymers
Good volumetric efficiency enables pumping at slower speed, reduced shear rate, lower temperature, and tight dwell time distribution. Improving these attributes results in better pumping rate, higher polymer quality, greater reliability, and longer service life. At the same time, energy consumption is significantly reduced. MAAG melt pumps and extrusion pumps adhere to that principle.
In the plastics manufacturing chemical industry, the pump geometry has a considerable influence on the degassing stage, where minimal filling levels in the tank directly connected to the gear pump lead to a shorter dwell time. This is especially interesting for manufacturers of easily degradable polymers because it means volatile compounds can be minimized. The x6 class gear pump in particular achieves an extremely low NPSHr (net positive suction head required) pressure value, and so can process polymer melts of up to 200,000 Pas (0 shear viscosity), depending on pump size.
The operating pressure of the gear pump has a major influence on product quality in extrusion. The higher the pressure, the finer the filters and screen changers that can be used downstream of the pump. High volumetric efficiency and low pulsation ensure consistent polymer quality and uniform output of the end product.
Gear pumps and extrusion pumps from MAAG
The smaller the pump the better for the customer’s plant planning. MAAG pumps are optimized to use the given installation space to attain maximum plant capacity.
Energy, energy cost and energy consumption are crucial aspects of plant planning. MAAG gear pumps optimize energy consumption.
MAAG pumps can be used for a wide range of polymers. There is a wide variation between high-viscosity and low-viscosity products. The pumping pressure can be increased when processing low-viscosity polymers.
MAAG extrusion pumps and melt pumps offer long service life. Even lower bearing temperatures of the x6 class melt pump generation – thanks to the high efficiency of the pump – extend it even further, and provide for an even more stable lubricating film between the shaft and bearing. That makes the pumps extremely reliable.
The optimal solution for discharge from reactors is an important aspect in polymer production. The key in this is the difference between extraction from containers in production processes entailing standard requirements for the NPSH value (such as PET) and other processes where the required filling level in the connected container must be minimized. MAAG offers different housing designs for extraction melt pumps to meet the different requirements, so as always to be able to realize an economical and technically optimal solution.
The increased torque load capacity of MAAG gear pumps (melt pumps) boosts safety during start-up and operation, and aids general safety in production.