3 Types of Industrial Pumps and Their Uses
Posted on: 15 July 2020
Whenever a liquid or gas needs to be moved from one place to another, you'll need some kind of pump. Pumps can be found almost everywhere, including tiny water pumps in espresso machines, hand-powered air pumps designed to inflate bicycle tires, and heavy-duty industrial pumps, which move everything from thick slurries of wet concrete to hot pressurized steam. This article covers three types of industrial pumps and how they are used.
1. Chemical-Resistant Pumps
Although each product consumers buy and use needs to be safe to handle once it gets to them, the chemicals used to create a product may be caustic or otherwise dangerous. Common examples include acetone, sulfuric acid, and ammonia. Some of these chemicals are used to make cleaning products that are safe when fully mixed but contain chemicals that are dangerous in large quantities. These chemicals frequently arrive at factories as liquids that emit toxic gasses.
As these liquids enter the production line, they must be kept contained. Chemical-resistant pipes, pumps, and dispensers keep dangerous chemicals contained while transporting them along the production line. Chemical-resistant pumps are made with non-reactive materials so they can handle strong acids, bases, or otherwise aggressive fluids.
2. Barrel Pumps
Although some industrial pumps are built into production lines, barrel pumps are designed with flexibility in mind. As fluids arrive at a factory in barrels, workers can simply transport the barrels to the production line, insert barrel pumps into designated locations on the barrel lids, and hook the pumps directly into the production equipment. Once a barrel is empty, workers simply switch it out for a full barrel. The size and shape of the barrels can change without affecting the production line, which makes changing suppliers or working with multiple suppliers easy and convenient. These pumps are often used in food production to pump sticky liquids like corn syrup and molasses that could gum up more complicated machinery.
3. Metering Pumps
Some of the most sophisticated industrial pumps are metering pumps. Many industrial processes require exceptionally precise measurements of fluids and gasses. Rather than investing in stand-alone metering equipment that checks chemical levels during or after pumping, many production line managers prefer to use metering pumps. These pumps meter chemicals as they pump, stoping chemical imbalances before they have the chance to start. They can be used with other external meters that double-check their accuracy for enhanced consumer safety. Metering pumps allow factories to produce perfectly balanced cleaning products, drinks, and more.
To learn more about industrial pumps and their many uses, contact an industrial pump supplier in your area.
Share