Tuesday, September 15, 2015

The Importance Of High Pressure Positive Displacement Pump In The Industry

By Daphne Bowen


The industrial applications of pumps have greatly changed the way machines work. At the helm of this transformation is the high pressure positive displacement pump (abbreviated as the PD pumps). Ever since their discovery, they have constantly been applied in machinery both in the traditional and modern setting.

The rotary and reciprocating pumps constitute the two main classes of pumps. They are similar in that they both allow a constant rate of flow but different in a functional point of view. Rotary pumps require constant lubrication through the pumping process. Their suitability with highly viscous fluids is the corner stone of their operation. They however cannot transmit abrasive fluids like water and gas efficiently. Vaporized fluids can be pumped but for only limited periods of time. Reciprocating pumps on the other hand are more all rounded because they are better suited for both viscous and abrasive liquids.

PD pumps way of working is entirely dependent on pressure and viscosity. They transmit fluids by trapping say an amount equal to its volume and moving it through a discharge pipe. The effect of these two properties is on the flow rate and efficiency. The main cause in their efficiency is their ability to keep a uniform flow despite unpredictable changes in discharge pressure and viscosity.

The most monumental applications of PD pumps is in the oil industry. Here they mainly serve to pump the crude oil from the extraction site to the processing site. It was initially expensive to separately pump the constituents of the extracted matter which included the oil, gas, water and sand. This was largely due to the fact that it contained significantly large amounts of gas. However the ability of reciprocating pumps to transmit gases came in handy. The mixture was now being transmitted as it was without the need of building separate pumping stations for each element.

The overall cost of pumping was greatly reduced when the PD pumps were put into use. Of shore drilling firms could now rack more in profits due to this.

Its applications can also be extended to the chemical process industry. These include the pharmaceuticals, food and beverage production and biotechnology. A typical chemical process is usually accompanied by major fluctuations in the physical properties of the initial mixture such as viscosity. Since PD pumps maintain a constant flow rate despite these unpredictable changes, it is the most suitable for transmitting the fluid through the reaction chambers.

A similar application can be seen in paper milling industries. Paper mills are fueled by a mixture of fibers from the wood and liquid chemical. During the process the resulting mixture usually undergoes changes in density as it is burnt. Other problems such as clogging and erosion of passageways is also a common phenomena. Since the process of paper manufacturing is a highly regulated procedure, a constant flow of fuel is required. Using any other type of pumps despite these associated problems will not yield the required results. The reciprocating type pumps therefore offer the best solution for paper millers.

In conclusion, one should have a proper understanding concerning the physical properties of fluids to be moved and the expected changes in its properties during the process. This information would be vital on deciding which type of pumps to apply.




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