What Are Industrial Pumps and How Are They Used?

An industrial pump is a vital piece of machinery often lurking in the background of manufacturing operations, but also playing an essential role and performing an array of functions.

What Are Industrial Pumps and How Do They Work?

Industrial pumps are heavy-duty process pumps designed for industrial applications. They move water, oil, chemicals, food, petroleum, or sludge through their mechanical action.

Typically this is a rotating (or reciprocating) mechanism that triggers additional mechanical action that guides or moves the liquid. This additional action moving the liquid could be anything from gravity, to a vacuum, to positive displacement, which draws an amount of liquid into a discharge pipe that initiates and sustains the flow of liquid.

Types of Industrial Pumps and Their Applications

Industrial pumps can be used in a wide variety of applications. Depending on the needs of the pump, the requirement, and their processes, pump types will vary in shape, size, and functionality.

It’s important to choose the right pump for the job to ensure it can handle the task it’s given without any issues. Let’s go over some of the types of pumps and how they work:

Centrifugal Pumps

The most common type of pump, a centrifugal pump is used for higher flow rates and lower viscosity liquids. Common uses include:

• Water supply
• Sewage
• Food and beverage manufacturing
• Chemical manufacturing
• Oil and gas operations

ANSI Process Pumps

A category within centrifugal pumps, an ANSI process pump must meet specific dimensional standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The requirements make them easy to replace if one were to go down. They include horizontal, end suction, and single-stage pumps. Common uses include:

• Chemical manufacturing
• Pulp and paper manufacturing
• Food and beverage manufacturing

API Process Pumps

A centrifugal pump like the ANSI process pump, an API process pump adheres to standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (API). The pump dimensions and configurations vary depending on their industry and application, but are typically used within the petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries. Common uses include:

• Oil and gas operations
• Refineries

Axial Flow Pumps

Utilizing a simple design, axial flow pumps are pipes with a propeller that is driven by an engine or motor. Common uses include:

• Sewage
• Power plants

Booster Pumps

A booster pump “boosts” the pressure of a fluid to its desired level to initiate the pump action and movement of the liquid. Common uses include:

• Water supply
• Filtration

Diaphragm Pumps

Diaphragm pumps are composed of a rubber, thermoplastic, or PTFE diaphragm component. It uses suitable valves on either side of the body that work in a reciprocating action to pump liquids. Common uses include:

• Spraying and cleaning applications

Gear Pumps

A gear pump is a positive displacement pump that uses a process of continuous enclosing of a fixed volume using interlocking cogs. Cyclic pumping is then used to initiate the fluid movement. Common uses include:

• Chemical manufacturing

Horizontal Split Case Pumps

Horizontal split case pumps are centrifugal pumps featuring a single double suction or two single suction impellers supported between bearings. Common uses include:

• Fire pumps
• Pipelines
• Water distribution

Lobe Pumps

Rotating lobe pumps turn parallel shafts in the pump body to move liquids via two or more lobes rotating around them. Common uses include:

• Food applications
• Paints
• Rubber and adhesives
• Pharmaceuticals
• Paper coatings

Magnetic Drive Pumps

Magnetic drive pumps are seal-less using a drive magnet and inner magnet connected to an impeller to pump the liquid. These pumps are an appealing option for some industries over many other options here as they prevent leaks and give off zero emissions. Common uses include:

• Oil and gas manufacturing
• Power plants
• Refineries
• Food and beverage manufacturing
• Petrochemical plants

Multistage Pumps

Most pumps come with a single impeller, but a multistage pump utilizes two or more impellers to channel the liquid into the next stage of the pump. Common uses include:

• Boiler feed
• Spray and cleaning applications
• Reverse osmosis

Piston Pumps

These pumps consist of one or more pistons moving and pressurizing fluids by means of reciprocating motion. Piston pumps are typically powered by electric motors. Common uses include:

• Painting
• Power supply

Progressive Cavity Pumps

As a displacement pump, a progressive cavity pump is a flow-creating device consisting of a helical rotor rotating within a double helical stator. The action of the pump draws liquid from the suction to the discharge area. These are designed to move many types of liquids. Common uses include:

• Chemical manufacturing
• Oil and gas manufacturing
• Pulp and paper manufacturing
• Sewage
• Food and beverage manufacturing

Screw Pumps

As a positive-displacement pump, a screw pump uses one or more screws rotating along a cylindrical cavity to push fluid solids or liquids along the spindle to pressurize and move the liquid through a system. Common uses include:

• Hydraulics
• Fuel injection
• Boosting
• Fuel transfer

Self-Priming Pumps

Self-priming pumps don’t require a start-up liquid before operation. They are designed with the start-up liquid already in the chamber or body of the pump. Common uses include:

• Sewage
• Water, fuel, or industrial wastewater

Submersible Pumps

Submersible pumps operate under water (or another liquid) to prevent pump captivation, which can occur when the pump has an air leak. Common uses include:

• Sewage
• Irrigation
• Seawater handling

Vertical Turbine Pumps

Vertical turbine pumps are used to pump water from underground, such as a well or pit, and then into a distribution system. Common uses include:

• Water supply

Which Pump Is Right for you?

As you can see, when selecting and planning for an industrial pump, there are many factors to consider.

OTC is ready to help. We’re dedicated to finding, installing, and optimizing your use of the pump you need. We have dedicated experts for each industry. If you have questions about which pump is right for your application, give us a call.