Types and Classification of Industrial Pumps

Publication Date:

12 September 2021 г.

A pump is a hydraulic machine that moves a fluid or other medium by suction and pushing under pressure. Industrial models are used in industry, agriculture, utilities, and by first responders.

Industrial pumps are intended to ensure the operation of equipment cooling, firefighting, irrigation, water and heat supply systems. They differ from household pumps by their higher power, capability to run non-stop for a long time, resistance to various negative environmental factors. Manufacturers offer a wide range of products that come in a variety of configurations tailored to specific applications and operating conditions.

General classification of industrial pumps

All pumping equipment is divided into surface and submersible. Surface models are installed on the floor or ground. Water or other liquid is sucked in using a hose. Surface pumps equipped with automatic on/off systems are called pumping stations. Submersible models include drainage and fecal pumps, lowered into boreholes or wells.

By power supply method, industrial pumps are divided into electric, gasoline, diesel. Liquid fuel pumps are called motor pumps. By pumped medium, there are pumps for:

• clean water;
• moderately contaminated water;
• highly contaminated water;
• high viscosity liquids;
• aggressive liquids.

Types of industrial pumps by principle of operation

By principle of operation, pumping equipment is divided into positive displacement and dynamic pumps.

Positive displacement pumps

These operate by displacing fluids from a confined space due to a constant change in the chamber volume. Positive displacement models are divided into:

• Diaphragm pumps. This is a relatively new type of pumping equipment, capable of pumping not only liquids but also gaseous media through a diaphragm or membrane. These come with one or two process chambers. Two-chamber models are used when high performance is required. The main advantages of diaphragm pumps are the wide range of media they can handle, compact size, low operating noise, easy maintenance and long service life.
• Rotary pumps. These models are valveless. The principle of operation is simple — water enters the process chamber, the rotor moves along the chamber walls thus reducing its volume, which leads to liquid ejection. The pros of employing this engineering solution are self-priming, high performance, pumping media of any viscosity and temperature, reduced noise, and zero vibration. The cons: It can break if particulate matter is sucked, it has a complex design and therefore is difficult to repair. Rotary pumps are used in food, chemical, oil industries, sea water applications. Screw pumps (a type of rotary models) are widely used in the oil industry.
• Piston pumps. These are the oldest types of pumps. Modern models have an improved design. Their pros: simple design, durability, reliability. To eliminate the main disadvantage of piston equipment, that is. uneven flow of liquid, several pistons are used rather than the only one, moving at a certain frequency. Double-acting models, in which the valves are mounted on both sides, are more effective. Their cons are a complex design, and, therefore, reduced reliability and costly maintenance. Piston equipment can be used for pumping not only water, but also aggressive chemical media, explosive mixtures. It is suitable for large volumes of liquids.

Dynamic pumps

Dynamic are pumps in which the volume of the process chamber remains unchanged, and the medium is moved by hydraulically actuated elements. This equipment is grouped into three types:

• Vane pumps. The main working element is an impeller. Most often such models are used in the energy industry. These are divided into centrifugal and axial.
• Centrifugal These are used to convert mechanical energy into the energy of flowing water or other medium by means of creating a vortex in the working space. Like centrifugal models, these are not intended for pumping viscous liquids or media with mechanical inclusions. They can be used to pump gasoline, aggressive substances, liquids containing gas or air.
• Ejector pumps. The working element in such equipment is the auxiliary medium which transmits the kinetic energy to pump the liquid.

The right pump type and specifications can be selected by professionals who can take full account of the planned operating conditions.