Manual distribution group

After the preparation tank, paint is transferred to the production tank, which will supply the different application stations in the production lines. It is continuously agitated, to keep the paint homogeneous. Sometimes, it can be temperature controlled, with a double skin tank receiving tempered water or with heat exchangers further in the supply pipes.

The main component in a PCS (Paint Circulating System) is the circulating pump. It has to provide the paint at the right pressure and the required flow for all the application stations. The dynamic pressure needs to be as stable as possible, to limit the interferences for the application devices usually sensitive to pressure peaks leading to variations in the application flow. The pump ratio needs to be sufficient to supply the required pressure.
The pump volume has to be adjusted according the required maximum flow, in order to limit the strokes per minutes for a longer life (MTBF increased).

To absorb the pump output pressure peaks, we can use surge tanks acting as a dynamic capacitor reducing the peaks. Some pump technologies do not need any surge tank due to their stable output pressure.
Pressure gauges are used to monitor the pressure at the output of the pump, and then on the return line.

We install filters after the pump medium pressure cartridge filter adapted to the working conditions (mesh size & pressure), and then on the return line low pressure bag filters, to make sure that the paint is coming back clean in the production tank.
The back-pressure regulator (BPR) will adjust the last point of pressure before the production tank (no pressure). It will fix all the pressure points in the upstream paint distribution lines, depending on pressure drops linked to the flow, viscosity and line geometry (diameters, angle and inner shapes). Low shear BPR will be preferred, especially for waterborne paint sensitive to mechanical stress.