Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Why High Pressure Process Pumps Are Highly Revered

By Daphne Bowen


A pump is a device that moves fluids by means of mechanical action. High pressure process pumps move the fluid by trapping a given fixed amount and displacing the trapped amount through the discharging pipe. They are more preferred to their counterparts the centrifugal types since their capacity is not affected by the pressure under which they operate. They are also known as constant volume pumps and are divided into three main categories namely the rotary, reciprocating and linear drives. These classifications are usually made according to the mechanism used to transmit the fluid.

Rotary drives are used in situations where the liquid that is being moved is thick or in scientific terms possesses a high level of viscosity. They cannot therefore be operated dry for extended durations. This would imply that abrasive fluids such as water will not be transmitted with the required efficiency. The only exception is air and vapor but this also has to be done under strict time constraints. Circulation of lubricant oils through turbines and engines is a common application of the rotary pumps.

If you are in search of a drive that can transmit abrasive fluids and still maintain its ability to move viscous fluids, then the reciprocating drives would be a much better pick. They operate by moving a plunger back and forth in a cylinder with a predetermined volume. They are very efficient but tend to be slower. They are applied when low volume fluids are moved at high strain levels.

The most popular of the three has to definitely be the linear pump. Two factors that contribute to this is the ability to construct it with local materials such as a rope, PVC piping and a wheel. The other is ease of installation and usage. It is widely used as a pump for wells and boreholes.

Installation is major factor in ensuring maximum utility of the pumps. Proper installation would usually imply that the pumps will be able to operate at their best. Every manufacturer has a mandate to ensure that proper guidelines are provided to aid in the installation process.

A most basic approach would be to ensure that a solid foundation on which the pump would rest on is built. The best foundation is usually reinforced concrete. The weight will determine the strength of the foundation. The pump and the driver are bolted to the concrete slab via a secured steel base plate. This and a proper application of the user manual is all that is needed for installation.

Whilst in the process of selecting the type of pump you would like to use, one may consider whether they would want to transmit a viscous fluid under higher strains or not. Slight changes in viscosity can be accompanied with unprecedented changes in the rate of flow of the fluid and efficiency.

Another consideration revolves around pressure. There is a direct correlation between the changes in the strain and the rate of flow and efficiency. Pressure pumps have long been advocated since they maintain high efficiency levels and a constant rate of flow even with huge changes in pressure and viscosity.




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