Positive
Displacement
Department Editor: Scott Jenkins Pumps
P umps are essential equipment in the chemical process industries (CPI).
Given the imperatives to reduce production costs and maximize energy
efficiency, pump selection is crucial. Knowledge of pumping basics,
along with the fluid characteristics for a particular application can help
engineers make the best choice.
PD PUMP OPERATING PRINCIPLES
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shaft, so flow is proportional to pump speed
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While the majority of pumps in use in CPI plants are kinetic energy pumps clearance
(the largest category being centrifugal pumps), positive displacement (PD) t1%QVNQTSFRVJSFBQSFTTVSFSFMJFGNFDIBOJTN FJUIFSSFMJFGWBMWFTPSSVQ-
pumps are an important class of industrial equipment. The following is a ture discs) in case of discharge blockage
collection of information on several types of PD pumps and an outline of the
differences between positive displacement pumps and centrifugal pumps. TYPES OF PD PUMPS
SELECTION STARTING POINT Internal gear pumps
Internal gear pumps have an outer gear Rotor
Idler
Crescent
called the rotor that is used to drive a
In pump selection, first consider what the expectations of the pump will
smaller inner gear called the idler. The
be. The following parameters must be determined before a pump can be
idler gear rotates on a stationary pin
selected:
and operates inside the rotor gear. As
Inlet conditions — To avoid suction problems, the pump should be located the two gears come out of mesh, they
as close as possible to the liquid supply create voids into which the liquid flows.
Flowrate — The flowrate requirements for the pump should be considered When the gears come back into mesh,
Differential pressure — Smaller pipe size and longer pipe runs reduce volumes are reduced and liquid is forced
initial system cost, but the higher pressure differential raises energy consump- out of the discharge port. A “crescent”
tion and reduces pump lifetime is formed between the two gears that
Liquid characteristics — The properties of the fluid to be pumped — includ- functions as a seal between the suction
ing material compatibility, viscosity, sensitivity to shear stress and presence of and discharge by trapping the volume
particulates or solids — are important factors of liquid carried between the teeth of the
rotor and idler.
Internal gear pumps are effective with
PD VERSUS CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS viscous liquids, but do not perform well
for liquids containing solid particles.
PD and centrifugal pumps behave differently. As a means to move liquids,
centrifugal pumps rely on kinetic energy, forcing liquid out of the pump with
External gear pumps
energy imparted to the liquid as it moves toward the outer diameter of a
External gear pumps have a similar
rotating impeller (pressure is created and flow results). PD pumps work by
pumping action to internal gear pumps in
capturing confined amounts of liquid and transferring them from the suction to
that two gears come into and out of mesh
the discharge port (flow is created and pressure results).
to produce flow. The difference is that
The following plots represent examples of the performance behavior differ-
external gear pumps have two identical
ences for centrifugal and PD pump types:
gears rotating against each other. Each
A. Flowrate versus pressure — Centrifugal pumps exhibit variable flow gear is supported by a shaft with bear-
depending on pressure, whereas the flow in PD pumps is largely indepen- ings on both sides of each gear.
dent of pressure External gear pumps work well in high-
pressure applications, such as hydraulics,
B. Efficiency versus viscosity — For centrifugal pumps, efficiency but are not effective in applications
decreases at greater viscosities. Positive displacement pumps are actually requiring critical suction conditions.
more efficient at higher viscosities
C. Flowrate versus viscosity — Centrifugal pumps lose flow as viscosity Lobe pumps
increases, while the flow of a PD pump can actually increase at higher Lobe pumps resemble external gear
viscosities pumps in operation, except that the
pumping elements do not make contact.
D. Efficiency versus pressure — Changes in pressure have minimal effect
Lobe contact is prevented by external
on PD pumps, but have a dramatic effect on centrifugal pumps.
timing gears.
Lobe pumps perform well with liquids
A. Performance B. Viscosity
250 100 that contain solid materials, but do not
perform well with low-viscosity liquids.
200 80
Efficiency, %
Head feet
Positive Positive
Vane Pumps Rotor
150 60 Sliding vane pumps have a rotor with
100 40 radial slots, and it is positioned off-center
Centrifugal in a housing bore. Vanes that fit closely
Centrifugal into rotor slots slide in and out as the ro-
50 20
tor turns. Pumping action is caused by the
0 0 expanding and contracting volumes con-
0 50 100 150 0 250 500 750 1,000 tained by the rotor, vanes and housing.
Capacity, gal/min Viscosity, cSt Vane pumps are effective for low-
viscosity liquids, and when dry-priming is
required. They are not ideal for abrasive
C. Flowrate D. Head liquids. Vane Push rod
110 80
Positive
100 Positive
Efficiency, %
References
Flowrate, %
90 70
1. Petersen, J. and Jacoby R., Selecting a Positive Displacement Pump, Chem.
80 Eng., August 2007, pp. 42–46.
60
70 Centrifugal 2. Viking Pump Inc., When to use a Positive Displacement Pump, The Pump
60 Centrifugal 50 School Website, Viking Pump Inc., www.pumpschool.com, 2007.
50 3. Soares, C., “Process Engineering Equipment Handbook,” McGraw Hill,
40 40 New York, 2002.
0 100 200 300 400 500 55 80 105 4. “Perry’s Chemical Engineer’s Handbook,” 8th ed. McGraw Hill, New
Viscosity, cSt Feet of head York, 2008.
