Efficient Pneumatic Solution for Chemical Tank Trucks

Van der Lee, based in Delft in the Netherlands, transports bulk chemicals across Europe. Its tanker fleet handles products including sulfur dioxide, liquid sulfur, solvents, acids, alkalis and other potentially hazardous petrochemicals.The company had worked with Gardner Denver for more than 30 years and had progressively adopted larger pneumatic packages, including the G130, S420, RFL60 and RFL80.The next apparent step was the RFL100, an air-cooled vacuum pump capable of flow rates of up to 700 m³/hr. However, an assessment of Van der Lee's typical deliveries showed that this capacity would exceed its actual airflow requirements.Oversizing was therefore not necessarily an advantage. According to the case study, operating equipment that is too large for its intended application can be counterproductive and potentially damage the equipment.

• Correct equipment sizing matters: the RFL100's capacity of up to 700 m³/hr exceeded the airflow required for typical operations.
• Combined pneumatic technologies can optimize tanker operations: the SLS54 provides vacuum capability while the GD150 provides compressed air.
• Lower capacity can improve efficiency: equipment matched to actual requirements needs less power, helping reduce fuel consumption and emissions during deliveries.
• Existing vehicles can be accommodated: the complete system was fitted without modifying the existing fleet.
• Standard products can reduce complexity: selecting equipment from an existing portfolio avoided the additional cost and delays associated with a more tailored design.
• Application engineering is critical: equipment selection considered both Van der Lee's airflow requirements and vehicle dimensions.