Process Pumps & Process Pump Suppliers
What is a Process Pump?
Process pumps are a wide and versatile category of pumps used in many different industries. There's no single definition of process pumps; rather a process pump is any type of stationary, industrial pump designed for a specific industrial process. Process pumps may be centrifugal pumps or positive displacement pumps, and there are many pump types and construction details that vary widely depending on the process in which these pumps are used.
Types of Process Pumps
Because process pumps are such a broad category, the exact pump type and construction details of these pumps can vary widely. Some types of process pumps are heavy-duty centrifugal pumps primarily designed to pump fluids that may be highly volatile, corrosive, or abrasive. Other types of process pumps may be positive displacement pumps.
Process pumps may be made of exotic metallurgy to withstand the corrosive and abrasive liquids to which they are exposed. Or, they may be made completely of plastics for applications in semiconductor manufacturing, and for medical, and scientific research.
Below are descriptions of some of the most common types of process pumps:
1. ANSI Chemical Process Pumps are a type of single-stage end suction centrifugal pump. This pump type is designed to the ANSI B73.1 standard, and each size of this type of pump has identical envelope dimensions for all manufacturers (e.g., face of suction flange to end of shaft, centerline of pump to face of discharge flange, bolt circle and size of flange bolts, shaft and keyway dimensions, and feet locations).
This dimensional standard among manufacturers for each size of pump is unique with the ANSI chemical process pump, and it allows the users to switch pump brands without affecting piping location, motor attachment, coupling, or bedplate dimensions. This type of process pump comes in a wide range of materials depending on the application. In addition to the chemical industry, the ANSI process pump is also used in refineries, paper mills, and many other plant environments.
2. API Process Pumps are centrifugal pumps that are used in hydrocarbon services in refineries, pipelines, and other hydrocarbon processing plants. The pumps are designed to the API 610 standard for pumps in hydrocarbon services. This standard is not a dimensional standard like the ANSI chemical process pump standard. The API 610 pump standard covers a number of centrifugal pump types, including: end suction pumps, horizontal split case pumps, multi-stage pumps, vertical turbine pumps, and others. The standard is quite conservative in terms of design requirements for casing thickness, shaft deflection, nozzle loads, bearing life, etc., in consideration of the fact that this pump type is often handling volatile, high temperature, and high pressure hydrocarbons.
3. Hygienic Process Pumps may be centrifugal or positive displacement pumps, depending on the type of liquids they are handling. This pump type is used in process applications in the food processing, beverage, pharmaceutical, biotech, and personal care products industries. Hygienic pumps are usually made of 316 L stainless steel. All parts are highly polished and the pump is designed to eliminate any crevices where bacteria could grow. Often the pumps are designed to be quickly disassembled for manual cleaning, and many can be cleaned in place (CIP) or steamed in place (SIP).
Ace Pump Corporation is a pump manufacturer serving the air conditioning, refrigeration, chemical markets and more. Ace Pump Corporation offers 6 different pump types including: End Suction Pumps, Circulator Pumps, Booster Pumps, Axial Flow Pumps, Self-Priming Pumps, Diaphragm Pumps.
Air & Gas Systems is a distributor of process pumps and equipment. The company sells a full range of vacuum pumps, vane pumps, piston pumps and more.
Anchor Sales offers process pumps from leading pump manufacturers. The company sells self priming centrifugal process pumps from LaBour-TABER, vertical turbine pumps from Layne/Verti-line, process pumps from Peerless Pumps and more.
APO Pumps & Compressors sells and services positive displacement pumps and centrifugal pumps throughout NE and Central Ohio. APO Pumps & Compressors offers 28 different pump types including: Vertical Sump Pumps, Booster Pumps, End Suction Pumps, Chopper Pumps, Trash Pumps, ANSI Process Pumps, Diaphragm Pumps.
Cat Pumps produces process pumps made with corrosion resistant material and durability to withstand the harsh applications such as chemical injection, fire protection, accumulator charging and more. Cat Pump's process pumps are considered positive displacement triplex pumps.
Cummins Wagner offers several lines of process pumps including end suction and split case centrifugal ANSI process pumps from Flowserve.
D&W Diesel distributes process pumps from leading pump manufacturers, including Gardner Denver, Blackmer, and Ranger. D&W Diesel offers several types of process pumps including sliding vane pumps, gear pumps, and rotary lobe pumps.
Grovhac, Inc. manufacturers pumps to handle high viscosity and corrosive fluids. Grovhac Inc. offers 11 different pump types including: Self-Priming Pumps, End Suction Pumps, Submersible Pumps, ANSI Process Pumps, Vertical Turbine Pumps, Magnetic Drive Pumps, Multistage Pumps.
High Pressure Technologies distributes high pressure liquid pumps, valves, gas boosters and air pressure amplifiers. High Pressure Technologies offers 2 different pump types including: Plunger Pumps, Piston Pumps.
Integrated Process Solutions distributes pumps for March Pumps, Ampco, Pacer, Grundfos, KNF, Standard Pump and more. Integrated Process Solutions offers 8 different pump types including: Drum Pumps, Magnetic Drive Pumps, Peristaltic/Hose Pumps, Metering Pumps, Diaphragm Pumps, Progressive Cavity Pumps, Multistage Pumps.
KD Scientific manufacturers equipment for use in the laboratory environment. KD Scientific offers 1 different pump types including: Metering Pumps.
Kraissl Company produces valves, filters, strainers and pumps. Kraissl Company offers 1 different pump types including: Gear Pumps.
Neptune Chemical Pump Company produces chemical metering pumps for the petrochem, oil & gas, power gen and other industries. Neptune Chemical Pump Co. offers 1 different pump types including: Metering Pumps.
Springer Pumps, LLC. sells positive displacement pumps, centrifugal pumps, and spare parts. Springer Pumps, LLC offers 29 different pump types including: Grinder Pumps, Metering Pumps, Gear Pumps, Circulator Pumps, Chopper Pumps, Horizontal Split Case Pumps, API Pumps.
Trask-Decrow Machinery distributes pumps, compressors, and parts for process applications. Trask-Decrow Machinery offers 33 different pump types including: Grinder Pumps, Circulator Pumps, Metering Pumps, Regenerative Turbine Pumps, Diaphragm Pumps, Vertical Sump Pumps, Chopper Pumps.
WeGotPumps.com sells a complete line of commercial and industrial pumps online. WeGotPumps.com offers 37 different pump types including: Booster Pumps, ANSI Process Pumps, Vertical Turbine Pumps, Canned Motor Pumps, Gear Pumps, Cryogenic Pumps, Slurry Pumps.
Expert Advice
Author explains the reasons why it's important to determine the right pump type and size when evaluating a pump for a slurry application.
Article explains three common pump problems - including cavitation, air entrainment and recirculation - and provides tips on how to fix them.
Incorrectly installed suction and discharge piping can create stresses on the pump casing and thus reducing the reliability of the seal and bearings. Read tips on how to eliminate this occurance.
Industry Updates
National Pump and Compressor is now certified to provide goods and services to the federal government with its new GSA Schedule 56 contract. The pump company has placed its extensive line of industrial pumps on the General Services Administration's electronic ordering system, GSA Advantage.
SPX Corporation has completed its acquisition of CLYDEUNION Pumps, a global pump supplier and maker of technologies used in oil and gas processing, power generation and other industrial applications.
Agilent Technologies Inc.has acquired P.V.R. s.r.l., a long-established vacuum pump manufacturer based in Valmadrera, Italy.
Pump Tweets
Almatec features its plastic AH Series High-Pressure AODD pumps. A company press release states that the pump offers many advantages when feeding filter presses with chemical wastes and special sludges. Almatec designed its AH Series high pressure pumps with no drives, no rotating parts and no rotary shaft seals. The pumps also offer dry-run capability, good controllability and a gasketless mechanical design, which makes operating against a closed discharge possible. Almatec is a leading manufacturer of air-operated double-diaphragm pumps. (Source: Pumpsg.com)
According to a company press release, Jeff Wiemelt will assume the role of president for the Sundyne on January 1, 2012. Wiemelt previously held vice president and general manger of Sundyne Americas and Sundyne Dijon in France.
On November 16, Xylem rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Gretchen McClain, president and CEO of Xylem was present at the event as well as representatives from each of the four value centers: Residential and Commercial Water (RCW), Water Solutions (formerly Water and Wastewater) Flow Control and Analytics.