Thursday, 3 September 2015

Applications Of The High Pressure Positive Displacement Pump

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 two main classes of positive displacement pumps are the rotary and reciprocating pumps. Although the underlying principle of constant flow remains the same, their dissimilarity presents itself in their functionality. Rotary drives transmit highly viscous liquids efficiently but experience difficulty in moving abrasive fluids and gases. This is largely because they require constant lubrication. Reciprocating drives are however more versatile since pumping both abrasive and viscous liquids is possible.

The efficiency and rate of flow of pumps is hugely dependent on two physical properties, that is, the viscosity of fluids and the pressure. The preference of PD pumps stems from their ability to maintain a constant flow rate given the ever changing physical properties.

Their applications are spread all over the facets of industrialization. One major use can be seen in the oil, gas and petroleum industry. Centrifugal pumps cannot move fluids that contain large amounts of gas. PD drives however have the capabilities of handling fluids with up to 50 percent gas without requiring any modification. Specialized PD drives can transmit fluids with up to 95 percent gas.

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.

In the field of chemical engineering, PD drives are vital to the pumping mechanisms. A standard chemical reaction results in huge changes in viscosity of the underlying mixture. This implies that other pumps such as the centrifugal types would not sufficiently carry the mixture through the reactor. PD drives will be able to transmit the mixture constantly irregardless of the fluctuations. This is the major reason why its uses extend to the pharmaceutical, foods and beverages and the biotechnology industries.

Paper mills usually dissolve the wood fibers and the resulting solution is used as a fuel for the boilers. This fuel needs to be pumped at a consistent rate. Viscosity of this solution keeps changing as it is burned while pressure also fluctuates wildly due to clogging in some passageways and erosion. A PD drive is therefore vital in ensuring that a constant rate of flow is maintained since irregular amounts of heat can distort the final quality of paper.

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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