How to Select Industrial Liquid Handling Pumps
Image Credit: U.S. Plastic Corporation | Parker Hannifin / Hydraulics / Hydraulic Pump Division | Wilden Pump & Engineering, LLC.
Pumps, in their simplest form, are machines for moving liquids. Industrial liquid handling pumps include all pumps designed to handle industrial liquid media such as water, wastewater, chemical slurries, oil, coolant fluid, or sewage.
For a brief...
Learn More about Liquid Handling Pumps
Q & A on Liquid Handling Pumps
We asked our users for their input on Liquid Handling Pumps. Here are the results of 102 users familiar with Liquid Handling Pumps.
Who Took Our Poll? | Design Trends | Applications and Use | Features | Buying AdviceDesign TrendsTop
What new technologies are influencing industrial liquid handling pump design?
14 answers
Not much. New pump designs are usually cost-prohibitive, and of limited application. Older designs are usually cheapest and the best you can hope for is simply impeller volute optimization, improvements to cartridge style mechanical seals and possibly a suction inducer that works.
~Anton, Water Operator, Woodstock, Canada
For Agricultural uses transfer pumps must be able to handle a wide range of chemicals & fertilizers. Therefore pumps are to be constructed of material that will withstand these products. Some products are highly corrosive.
~Maintenance/Facilities Management, Clarksburg, Canada
New technology for transfer pump has to completed with Adjustable capacity, Flow monitoring, less power with high result in discharge pressure and Capacity.
See More Answers
~Sarwo P, Builder/Contractor, Jakarta, Indonesia
From your perspective, which companies are creating the most innovative industrial liquid handling pumps?
15 answers
Only recently I have evaluated Kubota power packs assembled in the US, as well as Doda chopper units in marine spill suction service.
~Jorge S, General Management, Panama, Panama
Met-Pro Corporation (Sethco,Fybroc,Dean Pumps)
Blackmer Pumps
Goulds
Grundfos
~Marketing/Sales, Baltimore, MD
Innomag, Wilden/Almatec, Mouvex, Kontro, Sundyne, Seepex
See More Answers
~Bill K, Engineer, Nazareth, PA
Applications and UseTop
What are some of the applications you have used industrial liquid handling pumps for?
29 answers
Discharging, loading, metering, boosting, draining, suction, vacuum, filtering, leveling, powering, pressure support, lubricating, painting, scourging, jetting, cooling, mixing
~Jorge S, General Management, Panama, Panama
Chilled water/hot water - closed systems. Cooling tower - open systems. Heat pump circuits- closed systems. Injection molding equipment cooling - open systems.
~Lou Bindner, General Management, Denver, CO
Simple transport, precision dosing, pulse free dosing. Circulation pumps in loop reaction systems, polymer melt pumps, slurry pumping.
See More Answers
~Engineering, Consulting, Geleen, Netherlands
Please share with us any “non-standard” applications that industrial liquid handling pumps have been used for.
8 answers
As I mentioned before they use open submerged chopper pumps in skimmer units with an oil water separation weir.
~Jorge S, General Management, Panama, Panama
I have used pneumatic teflon and rubber diaphragm pumps designed for pumping fuels to pump hot pepper mash
~HUMBERTO TENORIO, General Management, CALI, COLOMBIA
4000PSIG suction pressure, water , 30 GPM at 520'TDH handled with canned motor pump.
See More Answers
~Bill K, Engineer, Nazareth, PA
Do you know of any disastrous mistakes that occurred due to the incorrect usage of industrial liquid handling pumps?
8 answers
Most of mistakes is the user is not detailed. Think about proper application, including material resistance, not installed with standard safety installation and sometimes power source rating is not suitable.
~Sarwo P, Builder/Contractor, Jakarta, Indonesia
When pumping corrosive liquids care must be taken to flush immediately internals of the pumps where even stainless steel and bolts shear off leaving a worn impeller to wear its face off.
~Jorge S, General Management, Panama, Panama
Improper installation - not allowing minimal pipe run to allow pump to cruise to its desired operating points. Too many elbows to accommodate tight installation -compromises design.
See More Answers
~Marketing/Sales, Baltimore, MD
FeaturesTop
What would your design or feature "wish list" be for this product?
11 answers
High suction lift capacity, high discharge pressure capacity, chemical resistance, precise dosing, high capacity, simple operation and maintenance, good seals, quality materials, low cost.
~Anton, Water Operator, Woodstock, Canada
Full portability of large capacity flood pumps with various trash managing elements.
~Jorge S, General Management, Panama, Panama
Remotely operated pressure relief valve 6000 psi 100 gpm 1" npt in out
~Research & Development, Grande prairie, Canada
A pump handling the long fibres in waste water at the landries.
~Eivind K, Project Manager, Jørpeland, Norway
Totally non-corrosive and no downtime or very easy to service.
~HUMBERTO TENORIO, General Management, CALI, COLOMBIA
Self-locking impellers, non-reverse rotation
~Marketing/Sales, Baltimore, MD
Pumps with moderately sloped operating cures.
~Lou Bindner, General Management, Denver, CO
Long Life Materials on Seals & Shafts
~Salvador Tovar, Engineering Consultant, Mexico City, México
Low cost piston pump with min pulse
~Shashank N, Research & Development, Vapi, India
Never break down
~Rich D, Faculty/Staff, Concord, MA
Sealless
~Bill K, Engineer, Nazareth, PA
Is there any advice you want to share with users to help them avoid common errors in selection or usage of industrial liquid handling pumps?
8 answers
Ask a professional, check your pride at the door. Don't accept what you hear without a second opinion and do your homework. Many people think they can spec a pump and won't admit mistakes even after seeing failures.
~Anton, Water Operator, Woodstock, Canada
I usually would like to have about 300% over requirements and operate at 50% rated. This has provided me with 5 times the life expectancy in my pumps.
~Jorge S, General Management, Panama, Panama
For sea water pumps; bronze is not bronze. At least 5 different materials labelled as bronze. Select the best for your application.
~Tom K, Marketing/Sales, Sande, Norway
Positive displacement pumps are cheaper to operate than diaphragm pumps for pumping highly viscous food products.
~HUMBERTO TENORIO, General Management, CALI, COLOMBIA
Verify operating temperature and concentration of liquids - see question #8
~Marketing/Sales, Baltimore, MD
Stay away from pumps with extremely flat operating curves and see #8.
~Lou Bindner, General Management, Denver, CO
All at the Metal transfer at the Cast Hoses & Foundries
~Salvador Tovar, Engineering Consultant, Mexico City, México
Do not oversize
~Bill K, Engineer, Nazareth, PA
Buying AdviceTop
Do you have any advice for people relative to buying or using industrial liquid handling pumps?
9 answers
Try new products/suppliers in low volume/low importance applications. Seems obvious, but people don't. Don't buy products simply because someone buys you lunch and drinks. Test out tech support, and make sure of availability of parts, and how long are they going to be available.
~Anton, Water Operator, Woodstock, Canada
Every one who want to use a pump must think about proper application, End material construction, Rating of safety control & standard, Power consumption, Efficiency of the pump and have to think about pump life time and spare part supply if the pump is in trouble.
~Sarwo P, Builder/Contractor, Jakarta, Indonesia
Get to know your optimum working pressures for the flows in your cycle, corrosive elements that will impact casing and impellers, be interested in the performance curves of your equipment, and maintenance of lubrication indications.
~Jorge S, General Management, Panama, Panama
Know your product's temperatures (for pump material construction)
Know your product's solids / % of solids
Know your pump's "position and job" in the task required as it relates to other equipment in the line/end result required
~Marketing/Sales, Baltimore, MD
Deal with suppliers who are staffed with knowledgeable and experienced sales engineers.
~Lou Bindner, General Management, Denver, CO
Make sure you choose the most cost effective pump for the long run.
~HUMBERTO TENORIO, General Management, CALI, COLOMBIA
Up front cost cheapest is not always best.
~Rich D, Faculty/Staff, Concord, MA
Study the flow/pressure curves
~Eivind K, Project Manager, Jørpeland, Norway
Do not oversize too much.
~Bill K, Engineer, Nazareth, PA
