Barrel Pump
Barrel pumps are designed to provide an easy and safe way to transfer or dispense virtually any chemical from containers such as barrels or drums. Barrel pumps are also called drum pumps. Many different models, tubes lengths and accessories are available to satisfy diverse industry requirements. Some rely on manual operation using handles, levers, or plungers to dispense the fluid.
Manufacturing and processing plants make extensive use of barrels (typically 100 or 200 litres) to store and transfer chemicals and reagents. These are too heavy to tip up to dispense or empty out the liquids safely. Barrel pumps allow fluids to be transferred from containers such as these in a safe and effective manner.
Barrel pumps consist of a motor section, an immersion tube and the pump section. The motor sits on top of the immersion tube on the outside of the container. The immersion tube – which is as long as the container is deep – fits through, and is often sealed to, an opening on the top of the container. Different tube lengths are available to cater for varying container depths and different material constructions are on offer depending on the media to be pumped. The pump section is located at the lower end of the immersion tube. The pump is driven from the top of the immersion tube, using an extended shaft protected by a sealed column. The pumped liquid flows between the sleeve and the tube to the discharge port at the motor end of the immersion tube.
Barrel pumps for low or medium viscosity fluids generally employ extended centrifugal pumps with single, double or multiple impellers. The rotation of the impeller discharges the liquid up the tube and out of a port at the top of the immersion tube.
Features :
A barrel pump contains several components that will be in contact with the pumped fluid in addition to the outer pump tube material. It is important that the wetted parts are resistant to corrosion and, if the fluid is flammable or combustible, safe to use at the operating temperature. Pump tubes and other parts are generally available in polypropylene, 316 stainless steel, PVDF, CPVC and pure polypropylene. A wide choice of wetted materials, offer resistance to chemical corrosion in most environments.
| Material | Use |
|---|---|
| PP (polypropylene) | Acids, alkalis and detergents up to 50°C |
| PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) or CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) | Chlorine bleach, chromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid (up to 90°C) |
| Aluminium | Oil products such as diesel, heating oil, hydraulic oils, gear oils, engine oils, mineral oils and motor oils up to 1,000 mPas |
| 316 stainless steel | Aggressive and flammable media and food |
Most manufacturers offer a range of interchangeable motors and immersion tubes, of various lengths, so barrel pumps can be customised for different containers and operating environments. Generally, a motor can be quickly and easily disconnected and used with another pump tube. When an electrical supply is not available, air-powered motors can be used instead. Pumps can be disassembled in the field and parts are individually replaceable.
The tube length is determined by the container size. For example, a standard 200-litre/45-gallon barrel requires a 100 cm tube. 15- and 30-gallon containers use smaller lengths
Applications for barrel pumps are usually simple fluid transfers so high flow rates and head pressure capabilities are generally not required. However, pump models are available in cases which require these features, for example, for the rapid emptying of larger tanks or where it is necessary to transfer liquids to an elevated position, or to pump higher viscosity fluids.