Industrial pumps are an essential piece of equipment in many industries today. They’re necessary to facilitate the lubrication and cooling of different systems in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and energy applications.
There are many pump types and pumping systems that are suitable for different industrial uses. Selecting the right industrial pump is important to optimize the pump’s performance, minimize operational costs, and reduce machine downtime.
Below, we list the main factors for pump selection to help you choose a pump type, size, configuration, and design that suits your specific needs.
Fluid Type
Industrial pumps are made to work with different fluids. As such, a water pump can’t also be used to pump oil or gases. Therefore, when looking to purchase an industrial pump, you must consider the type of fluid it’s made for to ensure each element is compatible. Fluid and pump incompatibility can lead to immature wear and tear, leaks, and failure, resulting in costly downtime and repairs.
Here are some of the top fluid properties to consider before selecting a pump:
- Viscosity is the ability of a fluid to move smoothly through a system, determined by the presence or absence of solid elements. For instance, positive displacement pumps are better at handling high-viscosity fluids than centrifugal pumps, which are meant to move low-viscosity fluids through a system.
- Vapor pressure is the force per unit area when a liquid changes into vapor. To reduce the risk of cavitation, check that your industrial pump is rated to handle your fluid’s vapor pressure.
- Temperature can play a role in the pump’s operation.Most pumps operate at a wide range of temperatures, but you should check the pump specifications if you’re working with a fluid that is hotter than 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Abrasiveness can wear down a pump that isn’t designed to handle it. Choosing a pump that can tolerate your fluid’s abrasiveness ensures it can withstand degradation and clogs from debris or slurry.
- Flow rate is the pressure required to push the fluid through the system. Compare the fluid’s flow rate to the system’s rated flow rate to make sure they are compatible.
Pump Design and Size
There are many types of industrial pumps to choose from, including centrifugal, mud, and positive displacement pumps. Industrial pumps vary in their method of operation, which translates into the kind of application they’re suitable for. As a result, you must assess different features of the pump’s design, including casing material, motor type, impeller type, and seal design.
The casing material is an especially important feature that should be aligned with the fluid you’re using and the environmental conditions your pump will be exposed to. This way, the pump can withstand wear and resist corrosion, degradation, and contamination.
Investing in the correct pump size ensures your system delivers consistent and reliable results and performs optimally. An oversized pumping system wastes energy and impacts efficiency, while an undersized pump can often be overworked, resulting in frequent repairs and replacements. The right industrial pump size for your operations depends on how much fluid you need to process in a day, week, month, and year.
Ease of Use and Maintenance
For optimal efficiency and effectiveness, you should determine how straightforward it is to install, use, and maintain different industrial pumping systems. An easy-to-use industrial pump enhances performance, reduces downtime, and minimizes maintenance costs. Some of the most important maintenance considerations you need to assess before purchasing an industrial pump include:
- How often do the bearings, seals, and lubricant need to be changed?
- How easy is it to disassemble and replace pump parts?
- How often do you need to perform inspections and maintenance checks?
- Is there additional training required to help staff conduct maintenance?
Reliability
Industrial pumps typically run continuously for long hours, so they must be robust and reliable. The best industrial pump for your operations should be easy to configure and customize without requiring constant part repairs and replacements. A pump that always needs maintenance results in costly downtime and wastes the business’s resources. Another factor to review when choosing a reliable pump is the availability of spare parts and service support, which ensure repairs are conducted promptly.
Energy Efficiency
The energy efficiency of an industrial pump refers to how fast it converts power into fluid movement. It helps to analyze the energy efficiency of a pump before purchasing it because this factor directly affects the cost of ownership. Efficient pumps consume less power for the same output.
An energy-efficient pump should balance performance and power consumption. You can confirm industrial pump efficiency by checking for energy certifications and ratings, motor efficiency, pump design, and system optimization.
Environmental Considerations
When selecting an industrial pump, you must consider your industry’s environmental regulations to ensure compliance. In general, you don’t want your industrial pump to emit exhaust fumes and other hazardous substances in ways that could impact the environment. At the same time, you also want to protect your pump from environmental damage — UV radiation and extreme temperatures can affect the integrity and performance of an industrial pump.
Altogether, consider putting measures in place to ensure your new pump meets any relevant environmental regulations and is safeguarded from potential environmental threats.
Supplier and Manufacturer Reputation
The pump supplier’s or manufacturer’s reputation is important to consider. You can be more confident that a reputable industrial pump supplier provides a high-quality, long-lasting system suited to your needs and specific applications than one with negative reviews or testimonials.
A reputable supplier or manufacturer should have a proven track record of providing reliable pumps backed with comprehensive warranties. The supplier should also offer excellent customer service and access to technical expertise to ensure installing, using, and maintaining your industrial pumping system is simple.
Contact General Air Products for Robust Industrial Pumps
Choosing the right pump comes down to a variety of factors, and often, having an expert on your side can make the process much simpler, allowing you to improve your operations faster.
General Air Products is a dedicated, trustworthy supplier of high-quality commercial and industrial fluid pumps. Alongside our selection of fluid pumps, we offer fluid pumping stations as a low-maintenance system for your fluid needs.
With over seven decades of experience, we have built a reputation for excellence by consistently providing innovatively engineered pumps and pump products for clients across various industries. Additionally, our customers appreciate our application expertise, product knowledge, and reliable support, which help maximize the performance of their pumping systems.
Browse our selection of industrial products to find the most effective and suitable fit for your needs and process. Contact us today to learn more or discuss the best industrial pump solutions for your specific business!