What is a Barrel pump?
Barrel pumps are specially made to offer a safe and easy way of dispensing or transferring virtually any chemical from containers like drums or barrels. Barrel pumps also go by the name drum pumps. A variety of accessories, tubes lengths, and models are available to meet diverse industry requirements and specific needs. Some depend on manual ways using plungers, levers or handles to dispense the fluid.
How does a Barrel Pump work?
Processing and manufacturing plants extensively use barrels (typically 100 or 200 litres) to store and transfer reagents and chemicals. These sizes accommodate the same liquid volume and will be too heavy to empty out or dispense the liquids safely. Barrel pumps enable fluids to be removed from such containers safely, effectively and the whole process will be time efficient which is good for your bottom line.
Barrel pumps comprise a pump section, an immersion tube, and a motor section. The motor is located atop the immersion tube outside the container. The container’s depth should be the same length as the immersion tube. The immersion tube is sealed on an opening sited on the container. There are a variety of tube lengths available that accommodate different container depths, and there are also different material makings on offer to fit the media being pumped. At the lower end of the tube lies the pump section. The pump will be driven from the immersion tube’s top, using a protruded shaft that’s protected by a sealed column. The liquid being pumped flows between the tube and sleeve to the discharging port at the immersion tube’s motor point.
Barrel pumps for medium or low viscosity fluids typically use long vertical immersion centrifugal pumps with one, two, or multiple impellers. With the impeller rotating, the liquid is discharged up the tube and out the immersion tube’s top.
For viscosity and medium fluids, positive displacement pumps are more ideal. In the case of medium viscosity fluids (up to 2000cP), PTFE screw-type compressors are frequently used. Common applications include transferring solvents, paints, inks, and food products. A progressive cavity structure is more ideal in the case of higher viscosities (up to 100,000cP). Common applications include transferring corn syrup, juice concentrate, polymers, hair and bath gel, honey, silicone, glycerine, lotions, gear lube, adhesives, solvents, oils, waxes, resins, etc. FDA-compliant material choices are on offer.
Main Features of a Barrel Pump
A barrel pump consists of various components that will be in direct contact with the said fluid being pumped and the outer tube material. It is crucial that the wetted parts are anti-corrosive, and if the pumped fluid is combustible or flammable, safe for usage at the operating temperature. Pump tubes and other corresponding parts are typically available in 316 stainless steel, polypropylene, CPVC, PVDF, and pure polypropylene.
Many manufacturers provide a wide selection of compatible immersion tubes and motors of different lengths, so barrel pumps can be made for varying containers and operating environments. In short, a motor can be disconnected easily and quickly and used to operate another pump tube. If there’s no electric supply available, air-powered motors can alternatively be used. Pumps can be dismantled in the line of duty, and parts are replaceable. The container size determines the tube length. For instance, a 200-litre/45-gallon barrel needs a 100 cm tube. 30 and 15-gallon containers utilise smaller lengths.
