How to Select an Industrial Pump for Your Facility

Industrial pumps come in many shapes, sizes, materials, capacities, and uses.

However, the technology of using mechanical energy to transport liquids probably doesn't get the credit it deserves. For communities and businesses that thrive on the use of municipal and industrial pumping systems, it adds convenience and functionality. 

Buying an industrial pump can seem daunting. To help you make the best decision when it comes to purchasing a new industrial pump, we’ve created a guide with tips for choosing the pump that’s right for your business.

Types of industrial pumps

Selecting the right industrial pump starts with the application. Moreover, there are several different types of pumps utilized across a wide variety of industries. Here are the three main categories: 

• Axial flow pumps
  With higher-than-average flow rates and low pressures, axial flow pumps swirl and move fluids in an area. They are used in applications such as sewage digesters, evaporators, and power plants. They are also used in flood dewatering and irrigation systems.

• Radial flow pumps 
  As the name suggests, the radial flow impeller is a centrifugal pump that circulates fluid radially, causing higher discharge pressures with smaller volume flow rates. They are commonly used for cooling water in nuclear power plants, irrigation for agricultural lands, and other sewage applications.
• Mixed flow pumps 
  A mix of the two types of pumps above, the mixed flow impeller manipulates fluids in a direction that is halfway between the axial and radial, meaning that the fluid flowing in the impeller is moved along in a semi-axial direction. This type of pump has many applications, but is primarily used for handling seawater, industrial applications, and water supply.

Tips for choosing the right pump for your needs

Selecting a new pump starts with the application. Identify your requirements, the goals for the pump, and operational or process needs. When procuring an industrial pump, there are many factors at play in ensuring the operational efficiency, productivity, and longevity of your pumping equipment. Look at some of the considerations below regarding selecting the correct industrial pump.

Pump materials

Compatibility is key when it comes to selecting an industrial pump. The material that makes up the pump needs to be in congruence with the fluid it will be carrying, otherwise the pump action may have a negative impact on the liquid. Before selecting the lowest-cost pump with substandard materials, consider the operational, repair, and replacement costs long term.

Fluid makeup with the pump

The properties of the fluid inside your municipal pump need to be taken into consideration before time of purchase. There are liquids that can damage certain pumps. Some elements to look out for include the chemical composition, operating temperature, particle sizes, gravity, and vapor pressure of liquids in the desired pump.

Pump size and capacity

For optimal pump discharge, the industrial pump used needs to be correctly sized to the piping system while considering friction, system curves, and drive motor. With capacity, make sure pump performance is up to par with your desired pump goals. Pumps need to provide a continuous flow rate and pair well with a variable speed or throttling valve.

Environmental needs for the industrial pump

Environmental temperature, humidity levels, pump elevation, and the location of the pumping systems are crucial for selecting a pump. If your industrial pump operates outdoors, additional care needs to be taken to prevent pipes from freezing in inclement weather. Certain motor features could also be required if the area could be potentially dangerous and contain flammable or explosive dusts or particles. Identifying these factors and then accounting for them in your new pump can prevent future problems.

Turnkey solutions from OTC

At OTC, we make buying an industrial pump easy.

We carry pumps for all types of applications both big and small. Our industrial pumps are used across a wide array of industries. We also have before and aftermarket services including pump installation and pump repairs from our technical experts on staff.

Contact OTC today and work with us as your one-stop solution for industrial pumps.