Pumps in Chemical industry

 

Many different types of pumps are used in the chemical processing industry. The choice of the pump depends on the properties of the liquid to be treated, including viscosity, corrosiveness, and abrasion. Liquid-gas mixtures need pumps that can handle them effectively without causing production shutdowns or pump failures. Liquids containing large amounts of solid material require strong pumps to withstand harsh conditions and efficiently transport the mixture.

Liquid properties also play a key role in selecting structural materials for pumps. Corrosion is a major consideration in the chemical industry and the materials used in the pump structure must be compatible with the medium to be pumped. For example, highly corrosive liquids such as acids require the use of stainless steel in pump construction.

The type of pump used in the chemical industry:

Centrifugal pumps: these are the most commonly used types of pumps in the chemical industry. They are efficient pumps, simple to design and operate, and generally cheaper than other types of pumps.

All centrifugal pumps draw liquid into the impeller through suction, resulting in a vacuum. This characteristic also makes centrifugal pumps prone to cavitation, especially at low inlet pressure. The main disadvantage of a centrifugal pump is that it has poor suction and needs to be ready to start pumping.

Positive displacement pumps: these are all types of rotary pumps, including gear, screw, rotary vane, and piston pumps. They are more efficient at moving high viscosity fluids than centrifugal pumps and can provide high pump pressure. Positive-displacement pumps also move fluids with low steam pressure, which flow at lower speeds and create greater resistance.

 Diaphragm pumps: these are also positive displacement pumps that move liquids or liquid-gas mixtures through reciprocating membranes. Compared with other types of positive displacement pumps, they have many advantages. First, they don’t have any internal wear parts, which greatly reduces maintenance. They also do not require sealing or lubrication, eliminating the risk of oil vapor leaks and process fluid contamination.

Turbo pumps: these pumps have turbine-shaped blades with radially oriented teeth to move fluid. Turbo pumps combine the versatility of centrifugal pumps with the high discharge pressure of positive displacement pumps. However, they are not suitable for transporting liquids containing solids.

 

However, many of them have serious limitations when dealing with highly corrosive or abrasive fluids or liquids (such as pastes) with high solid content. In addition to operating under harsh conditions, the chemical industry urgently needs to replace chemical pumps, such as EDDY pumps, which can handle the responsibilities of most of these types of pumps.

 

Pump in the chemical industry of application

There is no doubt that the chemical industry is the most pump – dependent. Reliable pump performance is essential to ensure uninterrupted production. In addition, health and safety regulations must be ensured to protect workers and minimize the risk of damage to expensive equipment and catastrophic plant failures. These risks do not exist in other industries, which makes pump applications unique in the chemical industry.