A flexible impeller pump is a positive-displacement
pump
A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes Slurry, slurries, by mechanical action, typically converted from electrical energy into hydraulic or pneumatic energy.
Mechanical pumps serve in a wide range of application ...
that, by deforming impeller vanes, draws the liquid into the pump housing and moves it to the discharge port with a constant flow rate. The flexibility of the vanes enables a tight seal to the internal housing, making the pump
self-priming, while also permitting bi-directional operation. The output from these pumps tends to be smooth or gentle when compared to the operation of a
reciprocating pump (for example). In 1938, Arthur M. Briggs filed a patent for this type of pump.
Types
* Execution: close coupled, bare shaft, with hydraulic motor, belt driven, gearmotor, mechanical speed variator, frequency converter,...
* Fittings: DIN 11851, Garolla, BSP, Macon, Triclover, SMS, BSM/RJT,...
Uses
Particularly suitable for transfer of viscous, delicate, and slurry fluids even with high solid content. Widely used in the oenological field, food processing, chemical industry, cosmetic and marine field.
Materials
Pump housing can be made of high grade
stainless steel
Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...
,
bronze
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals (such as phosphorus) or metalloid ...
for marine applications, or other materials.
The impeller can be made of:
* Natural rubber (NR) - Excellent for water based liquid, highest mechanical resistance.
* Neoprene (CR) - Good balance between chemical and mechanical resistance.
* Nitrile (NBR) - Excellent resistance to oils and fats.
* EPDM - Best for hot fluid, for acid and alkaline fluids.
* Silicone (VMQ) - Best for very high temperature.
The
end face mechanical seal can be made of:
*
Ceramic
A ceramic is any of the various hard, brittle, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing an inorganic, nonmetallic material, such as clay, at a high temperature. Common examples are earthenware, porcela ...
*
Stainless steel
Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...
*
Graphite
Graphite () is a Crystallinity, crystalline allotrope (form) of the element carbon. It consists of many stacked Layered materials, layers of graphene, typically in excess of hundreds of layers. Graphite occurs naturally and is the most stable ...
*
Tungsten carbide
Tungsten carbide (chemical formula: ) is a carbide containing equal parts of tungsten and carbon atoms. In its most basic form, tungsten carbide is a fine gray powder, but it can be pressed and formed into shapes through sintering for use in in ...
*
Silicon carbide
Silicon carbide (SiC), also known as carborundum (), is a hard chemical compound containing silicon and carbon. A wide bandgap semiconductor, it occurs in nature as the extremely rare mineral moissanite, but has been mass-produced as a powder a ...
* Elastomers, such as NBR, EPDM, or VITON
References
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Pumps