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What are Positive Displacement Pumps?

Positive displacement pumps move liquids through valves and piping that enclose fixed volumes of fluids and then transfer them through a system. They cyclically pump these measured capacities, driven by diaphragms, gears, lobes, pistons, screws, vanes, or other implements. They’re generally used for applications involving viscous liquids, such as oils or slurries. Positive displacement pumps are especially desirable when these viscous fluids are highly pressurized, such as what happens in the processing of emulsions, certain types of food, and biological fluids, or when precise measurements are required.

Why Test Your Pump for Efficiency

Pumps and pumping systems are some of the most costly equipment used by water utilities and other large operations that transport water. Despite their importance, the actual parameters for pump performance are often largely unknown by anyone except the engineer who designed the pumping system. Even operators tend to see pump systems as an unknowable and unchangeable part of their work environment. Yet this seeming lack of knowledge regarding the most important tool in many fluid-transporting systems can sometimes become a real problem.

What is a Fuel Oil Pump?

Fossil fuels are the basis of modern society, and their use is unlikely to end anytime soon. Derivatives of crude oil and other fossil fuels run trucks, trains, ships, cars, and other vehicles, while these fuels can also be used to heat homes and power generators. Regardless of the type of fuel, a fuel oil pump transports fuel from a storage tank to where it’s to be used. Fuel oil pumps do everything from bringing raw crude oil from reservoirs underground to filling up a car’s fuel tank. In a sense, the fuel pump in a car does the same thing, transporting gasoline from the fuel tank to make the engine run.

Guide to Preventive Pump System Maintenance

Many applications depend on pumps operating correctly, and, in certain cases, an unreliable pump can even cause catastrophic damage to a pumping system. For example, a pump in a cooling system that breaks down can cause overheating that then leads to system failure, while in systems that pump lubricants, this can result in the seizing of mechanical implements that then ruin equipment. In other cases, failed pumping mechanisms can cause significant loss in productivity, as would be the case in the petrochemical or energy industries.

What are the Different Types of Pump Strainers?

Strainers for pump systems primarily function as filters for the liquids or gases going through the system’s piping. While a seemingly simple assignment, many pump applications depend on properly working strainers. For pumps used in any pipeline operation, sediment that may include sand, dirt, or other detritus can build up within the pipes or elsewhere in the system. Whatever the pumping application, strainers for pumps ensure the whole system runs smoothly.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Pump Distributor

There’s a vital role played by those involved in supply chains between manufacturers and end users. When it comes to the sale of pumps, distributors help provide quicker response times, offer value-added services, augment a pump manufacturer’s sales and otherwise aid with the logistics of getting their products to those who need them. Instead, pump distributors should be considered partners, with manufacturers building relationships that enable them to sell more of their products while helping to educate customers about them.

The Difference Between Dry and Wet Seals

For centrifugal compressors that produce natural gas, also known as methane, seals on the machine’s rotating shafts prevent pressurized gas from escaping from the compressor’s casing. A conventional method for sealing the casing utilizes oil under high pressure to act as a barrier to stop gas from escaping. These are known as wet gas seals. Yet, for many situations, companies involved in producing and transmitting natural gas are moving towards using dry seals. Gas seals like these instead use pressurized nitrogen or another similar substance in gaseous form, which reduces both methane emissions and operational expenses.

Should You Replace or Repair Your Industrial Pump?

When something breaks down in any industry, inevitably, there will be a discussion on whether to replace or repair it. This is no different for any industrial equipment, including industrial pumps. Their repair or replacement depends on several variables, which should all be logically considered to determine the best course of action. Even if an engineer or mechanic can fix an industrial pump, economics ultimately must be considered in the equation. Though cost is critical, multiple other factors that play into the final cost also require consideration.

Pump Shaft Alignment Methods

When a pump shaft breaks or otherwise fails, blame is often placed on the shaft itself, with stakeholders often calling for a stronger shaft. However, this “stronger is better” attitude doesn’t address the problem. It only focuses on the symptom. A stronger shaft may mean fewer failures, but it doesn’t address the root cause. The problem of pump shaft failure often results simply from a shaft’s misalignment with the driver.

Mechanical Seal Leakage Troubleshooting

Mechanical seals have a role in protecting the environment against contamination and making machinery run more efficiently, along with contributing to general health and safety. The key role of mechanical seals is to prevent fluids like water or oil from leaking into the area surrounding a piece of mechanical equipment.

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