Pentane, an organic compound with the formula C5H12, belongs to the alkane group and has three isomers: n-pentane, isopentane (also called methylbutane) and neopentane. n-Pentane in particular plays a central role in the production of polyurethane (PU) foam. Today pentane serves not only as a CFC-free refrigerant in refrigerators and air conditioners, but also as a solvent and for foaming phenolic resin and polystyrene.
Pumps used
- VANE-MAG® MPA – magnetic-drive rotary vane pump for PU foam production
In PU foam production, pentane acts as a blowing agent. It is added to the liquid PU mixture and evaporates during foaming and curing, creating small gas bubbles in the material. This gives PU foam its characteristic cellular structure.
Because pentane is highly flammable and highly volatile, with a boiling point of only about 36 °C, special pump and plant conditions are necessary. It is of central importance that the pumps are operated without cavitation. The NPSHA must therefore be determined carefully and compared with the NPSHR. As a rule, the following should apply: NPSHA > NPSHR + 0.5 m. It is also essential that no additional heat is added to the pumped medium, especially with such a low boiling point. Specific plant conditions, such as small flow rates at high differential pressure, also limit the choice of suitable pump types.
The magnetic-drive sliding vane pumps (also known as rotary vane pumps or vane pumps) of the VANE-MAG® MPA series offer ideal properties for this demanding process. The pump hydraulics, consisting of thrust bearings, stator and sliding vanes made of carbon graphite, offer excellent self-lubrication for this low-viscosity medium. Non-metallic containment shells, for example made of zirconium oxide, prevent additional heat input into the medium because there are no magnetic losses. The low heat generation, even in dry running, makes this pump ideal for use with pentane in an ATEX Zone 1.
