Progressive cavity pumps are a type of positive displacement pump that has gained popularity in many industrial applications due to their versatility and ability to handle difficult fluids. This article provides an overview of progressive cavity pump technology.
Basic Operating Principle
Low flow progressive cavity pumps work on the principle of a helical rotor turning eccentrically inside a double envelope stator. As the rotor turns, it creates a sealed progressive cavity that transports fluid axially from the pump inlet to the discharge. Some key advantages this provides are:
- Shear-free pumping action that is gentle on fluids
- Self-priming capability for fluid transfer without gas pockets
- Can handle highly viscous or shear-sensitive fluids
Typical Applications
Due to their versatile performance, progressive cavity pumps are used across many industries, including:
- Water and wastewater treatment facilities
- Food and beverage processing
- Chemical and petrochemical plants
- Mining and slurry transfer
- Shipboard fuel transfer
They are especially suited for low flow progressive cavity pumps handling less than 100 m3/hr, including progressive cavity metering pumps, mixing and transferring of difficult fluids.
Key Components
The main components of a progressive cavity pump include the helical rotor, double envelope stator, drive shaft, mounting brackets and sealed bearing assembly. Different rotor and stator elastomer materials can be specified depending on temperature, abrasiveness and chemical compatibility requirements of the application.
Performance Factors
When sizing progressive cavity pumps, factors such as flow rate, head capability, viscosity and solids content of the fluid must be considered. Larger pumps with increased rotor diameters and lengths generally provide higher flows. Various pump models also exist such as progressive cavity metering pumps for precise dosing applications.
I hope this overview provided a useful introduction to progressive cavity pump working and applications. Do let me know if you need any clarification or additional details.
