LKH Prime

Construction

Alfa Laval LKH Prime is a self-priming pump based on air-screw technology. It offers excellent operational efficiency, reducing energy consumption. The pump achieves capacities of up to 70 m³/hr and pressures of up to 40 m head.

The pump shares many common components with the Alfa Laval LKH pump range including the impeller, which can be trimmed to optimize pump performance according to its application. Dedicated components include the airscrew, casing, re-circulation pipe and cover.

Operating principle

On applications where the pumped media contains a mixture of air and liquid in the suction line, air-screw rotation causes the formation of a continuous liquid ring within the canister.

Due to the eccentric position of the canister relative to the air-screw, an air chamber forms between the liquid ring and the air-screw, as shown, which separates into air pockets between the air-screw vanes.

The continuous rotation of the air-screw forces air pockets through the canister into the suction stage of the impeller which are then pumped out via the discharge.

Liquid is returned from the discharge via the re-circulation pipe into the canister to ensure the liquid ring is maintained at all times.

When there is no air present, the canister and recirculation loop have no function and are fully filled with liquid. The liquid passes through the canister into the suction stage of the impeller, allowing the pump to act as a traditional centrifugal pump.

Pump configuration options

• Impeller with reduced diameter
• Motor with increased safety/flame proof motor
• Double mechanical shaft seal
• Product wetted surface finish Ra ≤ 0.8 µm
• Product wetted elastomers in EPDM, nitrile (NBR) or fluorinated rubber (FPM)
• Silicon Carbide rotating seal ring
• ½” tri-clamp drain connections (two connections)

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