Features
Medium-opening pumps designed for severe service prioritize thermal stability and mechanical robustness. A key feature is the centerline-mounted casing support, which keeps the pump shaft aligned during thermal expansion, preventing distortion at high temperatures. The heavy-duty bearing housings incorporate forced oil or oil-mist lubrication systems to handle sustained operation under high radial loads. The axially split design becomes even more valuable in refineries, as it allows rapid rotor access for inspection without dismantling complex high-temperature piping systems. These pumps often include oversized shafts with minimum deflection, double mechanical seals with quench connections, and cooling jackets on stuffing boxes. They reliably handle flows from 500 to over 20,000 gallons per minute at heads up to 500 feet, with temperatures ranging from -20°C to 250°C (-4°F to 482°F).
Material Selection
High-temperature service demands materials with excellent creep resistance. Carbon steel casings (WCB or WCC) are typical for temperatures up to 400°C, while chrome-moly steel (WC6 or WC9) is used for more extreme heat. Impellers are often made from CA6NM (a martensitic stainless steel) or 17-4PH for strength at temperature. For corrosive high-temperature fluids, duplex or super duplex stainless steel is chosen. Bolting materials must be high-temperature alloy steel, and gaskets are typically spiral-wound graphite or metal-jacketed types. Wear rings are hardened to avoid galling during thermal cycling.
Applicable Industries
This variant is essential in the petroleum refining industry for crude oil transfer, refinery feed, and tower bottoms service. The petrochemical sector uses them for hot oil circulation and hydrocarbon processing. Thermal power plants employ them for boiler feed and high-temperature condensate extraction. Steel mills rely on them for descaling and cooling roll applications. Any industry with continuous high-temperature liquid transfer requiring reliability over decades will select this pump class.
