Many industrialists face challenges while transferring liquids in large containers. That's where a drum pump steps in. No matter the density of chemicals, oils, or any other liquids, a drum pump can handle all. Drum pumps are crucial for completing challenging tasks in industries like chemical, food processing, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical. To understand the basics and working mechanism of a pump, you can read this full blog.
What is a Drum Pump?
Some liquids, like chemicals and hot oils, can be very hazardous if spilled during the transfer. A drum pump is designed to safely transfer such liquids from barrels or drums. These pumps come with key components like pump tubes, cast iron motors, and nozzles. Drum pumps are available in different materials and types that are suited for different liquids.
Manual Drum Pumps: These pumps come with a handheld barrel and are perfect for smaller volumes of liquid. These are smaller in size and are portable for easy usage.
Electric Drum Pumps: These can easily handle moderate to large amounts of fluids. These are battery-operated or connected to a constant power source. Inflammable liquids are best suited for these pumps.
Pneumatic Drum Pumps: Powered by compressed air, a pneumatic drum pump is widely used in petrochemical and water processing industries. These can be used in hazardous environments and come with multiple power options.
How Do Drum Pumps Work?
Working of a Drum pump:
- A drum pump can be inserted into a drum or barrel to extract the liquid.
- Once the pump is loaded, the suction starts through manual pulling or electric motor rotation.
- The pump tube must be inserted to reach the bottom of the barrel to ensure maximum liquid is pumped. After this, the liquid is discharged through a tube discharge hose or nozzle.
Basic Flow Process:
- Depending on the pump type, you can start the suction process. This will allow the liquid to collect inside the pump.
- Direct the liquid to the desired location and wait till the liquid is filled completely.
- The liquid can then be discharged into the container safely without any spills.
Advantages of Using Drum Pumps
Dum pumps offer some amazing advantages that make them a reliable option for many industries.
Safety: Drum pumps eliminate dangerous risks of transferring chemicals and other liquids. These protect against spillage, exposure to hazardous materials, injuries, and toxic fumes.
Efficiency: Without a drum pump it would be so hard to manually lift the heavy liquids. These pumps make the liquid transfer quick, easy, and efficient.
Versatility: These are very versatile pumps, available in different types and sizes. They are compatible with different liquid types, including water, chemicals, oils, and more.
Cost-Effectiveness: It can be expensive to deploy expensive machinery to transport flammable liquids. Thankfully, drum pumps are a cost-effective and reliable method of transferring liquids.
Applications of Drum Pumps
The most common applications of a drum pump are as follows:
Chemical Industry: These pumps are widely popular in chemical industries. Drum pumps can help in transferring corrosive substances, and flammable chemicals.
Food Processing: Drum pumps can help in transferring food oils, syrups, water-based drinks, and more.
Automotive: Automotive industries use a drum pump for transferring oils, lubricants, or fuels. These are the safest and the most easy methods of moving these liquids.
Pharmaceuticals: Medicines and drugs require a lot of solvents and chemical formulations to be transferred. Without a drum pump, it can be difficult to move these liquids with proper caution and safety.
Examples of Common Liquids Pumped: Food oil, fuels, cleaning agents, beverages, paints, oils, chemicals, acids, lotions, glycerine, and honey.
Choosing the Right Drum Pump
You must consider these factors while choosing the right drum pump.
- Each type of drum pump is suitable for a certain kind of liquid. Choose the pump accordingly if you need to move corrosive, flammable, viscous, or thick liquids.
- There are some drum pumps that may react with chemicals if the tubes or internal tub is made from plastic.
- Power Source is an important consideration when choosing a drum pump. See if it is manual, electric, or pneumatic.
- The drum size and volume of liquid must be an exact match. If you get a pump smaller than the liquid requirements, it may spill.
- The best way to determine if the pump is the right fit is to check the flow rate and discharge pressure.
Maintenance and Care
Cleaning the Pump: Drum pumps require regular cleaning after use, especially when handling corrosive or hazardous liquids.
Storage Tips: Drum pumps must have designated storage as this helps in prolonging their lifespan.
Checking for Wear and Tear: You can perform test runs and routine inspections of the motor, pump, and tubes. These can indicate any wear and tear and require repair work.
Conclusion
Drum pumps can easily transfer multiple liquids using suction and discharge tubes. They are the safest and most reliable option for the chemical, food, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. If you are looking for a safe, efficient, and reliable option for transferring liquids, drum pumps are the best. You can easily choose from various types of drum pumps at PumpProducts as per your requirements.