Rotary lobe pumps are self-priming, valveless positive displacement pumps and operate on the principle of a rotating positive displacement pump. To generate the delivery pressure, a pair of symmetrical rotors are arranged within a housing and rotate in opposite directions. During one revolution, delivery chambers are formed between the rotor vanes and the inner wall of the housing, through which the fluid is pumped from the suction side to the discharge side. Thanks to the gentle, speed-proportional delivery provided by the rotary lobe pump, KD PUMPEN can also handle fluids containing large particles without difficulty.

KORTHAUS rotary lobe pumps offer a range of technological advantages and focus on enhancing machine robustness and applications in the heavy-duty sector for environmental applications.

 

Thanks to our patented KD.ROTOR design, the KD PUMP operates completely without contact within the pumping chamber. Jamming caused by contaminants or blockages is impossible, and the machine is guaranteed to be safe against dry running, even during continuous operation. In combination with our comprehensive KD.PROTECT protection concept, we achieve a service life for spare parts that is three to twelve times longer than that of conventional rotary positive displacement pumps. The integrated impact and cutting edge system in the inlet and outlet areas provides additional protection for the pump’s delivery chamber against major damage caused by foreign matter.

The drive train is comprehensively protected by a range of further unique selling points. The sealing system – which is fundamentally designed to operate even in the event of a failure and forms the heart of every pump – features a patented three-stage design that ensures absolute fail-safe operation and enables transparent monitoring of the seal’s condition. This means that the seal can continue to be used even when the first signs of wear appear, without jeopardising the pumping process. The gearbox incorporates integrated overload protection, which safeguards the drive train against mechanical overload in the event of excessive shock loads during the pumping process, thereby preventing costly faults. 

 

Design features aimed at improving the ease of maintenance of our machines are an integral part of our corporate philosophy.

 

When all its components are combined, the KD PUMP is
a heavy-duty pump designed for the most extreme applications
and maximised operational availability. 

Slurry Piston Pumps are a type of oscillating positive displacement pump, in this case fitted with a hydraulic control and drive unit. 

The hydraulic drive (hydraulic pump) drives a hydraulic cylinder. The KORTHAUS directional control block ensures smooth directional changeover at the end positions. The delivery piston is attached to the cylinder rod and pumps on the slurry side. The delivery valves are designed as self-acting non-return valves or as positively actuated poppet valves driven by a hydraulic cylinder. The start-stop valve allows the pump to be shut down whilst the engine is running. The pressure relief valve protects both the hydraulic side and the slurry side simultaneously. The hydraulic circuit is hermetically sealed and resistant to dusty environments. KH PUMPS thus represent an extremely robust and durable alternative to standardised pump types.

KORTHAUS heavy-duty pumps boast a range of technological advantages and are designed to enable pumping applications under extreme conditions. In addition to a delivery pressure of up to 200 bar, our KH PUMPS can be used at flow rates of up to 480 m³/h. The pumps are available in various models, meaning that a custom-designed unit can be supplied for every specific application. As a slow-speed positive displacement pump, the KORTHAUS reciprocating piston pump can, in principle, handle all pumpable media. Our long-stroke design, valves adapted to the pumping chamber, armoured liners and self-adjusting seals ensure minimal wear. All machine types (specifically the KH-V and KH-F models) are suitable for vacuum and dry-running applications.

 

Liquids containing solids that settle out – such as water/coal, water/chalk or oil/iron oxide – can be pumped extremely effectively using self-cleaning pump casings. It is also possible to restart the pump after a shutdown.

High-viscosity liquids can be pumped effectively due to low flow velocities and minimal valve resistance. In the case of extremely high viscosities or thick slurries (such as those produced downstream of chamber filter presses, dewatered sewage sludge or paint residues), the medium must be transported to the suction inlet using complementary products such as twin-screw conveyors and pumped through hydraulically actuated disc valves.

Liquids with a high solids or fibre content can be pumped using non-sensitive ball valves. Hydraulically actuated disc valves with an integrated cutting mechanism and several tonnes of closing force are also ideal for handling high levels of contaminants. 

 

When all its components are combined, the KD PUMP is
a heavy-duty pump designed for the most extreme applications
and maximised operational availability. 

Feeding and dosing systems can be essential for the pumpability of the solid-liquid mixture in various pump applications. If the medium to be pumped is not inherently free-flowing, or if thorough mixing of the solids with the liquid cannot be guaranteed, KORTHAUS employs double-acting feed screws as upstream systems prior to the KORTHAUS positive displacement pumps. Applications include thickened sewage sludge or biomass with a high proportion of organic waste, such as beet pulp, green waste, food waste or paper sludge. By combining the system with an upstream feed screw, the thoroughly mixed medium is fed into the KH PUMP or KD PUMP, thereby establishing a pumping action.       

 

The clog-free  pipe accumulators type SP from KORTHAUS act as energy accumulators or pulsation dampers and are installed upstream or downstream of pumps to prevent water hammering and to establish an even flow rate also during intermittent pumping. They also offer an alternative to diaphragm accumulators where these are at risk of becoming blocked by solids or subject to sedimentation. 

Pipe accumulators consist of a replaceable hose, which is housed within a pipe casing containing an elastic filling material. The hose is designed for long-term durability and can be replaced if damaged by solids. The pulsation dampers can be installed in any orientation and can be retrofitted into the pipework at any time. The pipe accumulators are maintenance-free. Only in the case of vacuum accumulators is the vacuum in the accumulator’s cavity checked at regular intervals using a designated monitoring device.

Pipe dampeners are used in particular as a compensation system for KORTHAUS KH PUMPS, which operate in a pulsating manner. KORTHAUS rotary lobe pumps operate pulsation-free due to their optimised rotor geometry and are therefore generally used without a pulsation damper. 

 

When handling fluids with high solids content, it is often desirable to install designated control points within a pipeline to trap contaminants and prevent blockages. Therefore, KORTHAUS has developed its own modular system of sedimentation and stone-trapping chambers of the SK type. These components are frequently used in combination with KD PUMPS. 

By deliberately increasing the fluid volume, the flow velocity on the suction side of the pump is reduced, allowing solids to sink to the bottom of the stone trap and thus preventing it from being transported into the pumping chamber. This protects the pumping elements within the pump and can prevent potential blockages caused by oversized solids or other contaminants.

There are cleaning openings at the bottom of the component for removing the debris. Additionally, inserts with various types of rakes are available. KORTHAUS tailors the stone traps to each specific application in terms of both dimensions and design. They can be requested in combination with our KH and KD pump series.

 

KORTHAUS offers solutions tailored to specific customer requirements. This also includes complete unit systems, which we have developed for our customers as standardised concepts using our existing product components. The focus here is on specific niche areas, such as redundant pump solutions for containerised plants or chamber filter press feeding systems. In addition to stationary units, KORTHAUS also offers mobile or semi-mobile solutions, usually incorporating our own control and measurement technology solutions. 

KORTHAUS sees itself as a full-service provider in this regard. In addition to on-site technical consultancy and bespoke solutions, we deliver the solutions developed in collaboration with our customers fully ready for installation.