What makes bitumen emulsion difficult to pump
Low speed and a smooth, pulse-free flow protect the structure of the product.
How we build the pump for bitumen emulsion
| Recommended series | SB · NAV · CR |
|---|---|
| Flow range of these series | 15 – 4,292 l/min (0.87 – 258 m³/h) |
| Body material | Cast iron as standard; stainless steel NAV for aggressive variants |
| Heating | Not normally required |
| Speed | Low speed: a larger pump turning slowly, often with a gear motor or inverter |
| Shaft seals | Selected for the fluid and the working temperature |
| Connections | NAV: flanged DN 40 – DN 125 PN 16; SB: flanged onto the tank |
Why emulsions break in the wrong pump
An emulsion is droplets of bitumen held in water by an emulsifier. High speed, tight recirculation through a small orifice or a pump running dry heat and shear the product until the droplets coalesce. We size emulsion pumps on the large side and run them slowly, and on sprayers the SB selector valves let the operator recirculate through the tank instead of churning product in a closed loop.
Where bitumen emulsion pumps work
Applications: Emulsion plants (finished product transfer), tack coat and chip-seal sprayers, slurry seal and micro-surfacing units, storage tanks.
Typical markets: Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Morocco, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, Peru. For these sites we size for local conditions: the coldest night temperature, 50 or 60 Hz power, heating available on site and spare parts that can be kept in stock locally.
Recommended pump series
Data we need to size your bitumen emulsion pump
- Product name, producer or data sheet of the bitumen emulsion
- Viscosity at the pumping temperature, and the lowest temperature on site
- Flow rate required (l/min, m³/h or bbl/h)
- Discharge pressure, or line length, diameter and height
- Suction: tank, line length and diameter, liquid level
- Power supply: voltage and 50 or 60 Hz
Frequently asked questions
Which gear pump do you recommend for bitumen emulsion?
We normally propose the SB, NAV or CR Series. The SB is flanged directly onto sprayer and tanker tanks, with two selector valves. The final model depends on flow, viscosity at temperature and suction, and is confirmed by our technical office.
Will the pump damage the bitumen emulsion?
Not if it is sized correctly. A gear pump at low speed moves the product as a gentle positive displacement flow, with far less shear than a high-speed centrifugal pump.
Do you supply pumps outside Italy?
Yes. The pumps are built in our Bologna workshop and quoted for export. Write your country in the form and we will size the pump for your power supply (50 or 60 Hz) and site conditions.
This page also covers: Asphalt emulsion, Cationic emulsion, Acid emulsion.