Desgaste de um rotor de ferro fundido cinzento revestido com camada de metal duro após 1.000 horas de bombeamento de vinhoto operando na condição de cavitação

Abstract

The Brazilian capability concerning to the world's leading producer of sugarcane ethanol can be joined together the vinasse production, which inherent amount discharged by distilling is from 10 to18 liters of vinasse per liter of ethanol produced. This vinasse has been applied in sugar-cane crops as organic fertilizer, where its pumping process is a critical element in this string. The aim of this work was investigate the main wear mechanisms of an impeller and parts of a centrifugal pump after pumping vinasse treated in reactor (pH 8,3±0,7). A tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC10Co4%Cr) film based hard metal of 360±35μm μm was applied on the grey cast iron pump impeller by HVOF thermal aspersion. Based on the 30 years of experience of the author in the design and mounting of pumping systems, a test rig was developed in Laboratory for 1,000 hours of pumping tests of vinasse at 27±2oC for a continuous service during 10 hours by day for a pump model 32-125, working under cavitation conditions through the calculation of Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH), A recirculating system of the vinasse was adopted and controlled by a discharge valve usually employed in the industrial processes. After the tests, both the coated rotor as the uncoated parts of the pump showed severe wear by cavitation-erosion, while parts of the rotor where the effects of cavitation are smaller, the coating showed a moderate wear.