Lead Acid Battery Slurry Pump

A Pennsylvania-based company which recycles used batteries needed a pump capable of pumping a heavy slurry (which settles to the bottom of a basin) to a plate and frame filter press for dewatering and eventual reuse. Difficulties with this application included:

• The slurry contained up to 25% sulfuric acid.
• The solids content (i.e. thickness) of the slurry could vary dramatically.
• Battery caps and other large particles could possibly enter the settling basin.
• The discharge pressure changed as the press filled — from 0 to 100 psig.
• The pump had to be capable of being immersed in a settling tank.

A NEMO^® Pump Model 2NT40A in 316 stainless steel construction with Viton® elastomers and stator, and a strainer threaded on the end of the stator, was recommended.

The NT-style pump allowed immersion of the pump into the basin. The material selections of 316 stainless steel and Viton® were selected due to compatibility with sulfuric acid.

Several advantages of the NEMO^® Pump made it particularly suitable for this application:

• The progressing cavity design allowed for efficient handling of varying solids content.
• Because the NEMO^® Pump is a positive displacement pump, performance was not affected by the varying discharge pressure.
• The strainer prevented any large particles from entering the lead cavity of the rotor and stator. (The 2NT40A has the capability of handling up to a 0.47" solid.)

The NEMO^® Model 2NT40A pump handled all of the customer’s demanding requirements and provided a compact, efficient pumping system.

Viton® is a registered trademark of DuPont Dow Elastomers.