PUMP SELECTION

From the short and necessarily partial description above, it is obvious that the number of
different kinds of pumps is very large. Pumps are selected in the light of process
requirements (volumetric capacity and its controllability, inlet and discharge pressure),
process conditions (viscosity, temperature, corrosiveness, and erosiveness of the fluid to
be pumped), power requirement, cost, and additional conditions dictated by the specific
usage. For pumping food materials, compliance with sanitary requirements (ease of
cleaning in-place, no stagnant regions, building materials suitable for contact with food,
no risk of contamination with lubricants, no leakage through seals, etc.) is essential.
Generally, centrifugal pumps are used for high volume, low head applications with
liquids of relatively low viscosity. Positive displacement pumps, on the contrary, are
more frequently used in high-pressure, low-capacity applications and can handle highly
viscous liquids. As a rule, centrifugal pumps are simpler and less expensive. Pumps
suitable for use in food processes are available in both categories Excessive agitation,
high viscosities, impact and shear may not be acceptable in the case of fluids with a
structure, materials prone to foaming and, of course, liquids carrying fragile solid
particles. Special pumps are available for such applications.
Among the most remarkable examples are the fish pumps capable of pumping fairly large
live fish in water without causing damage to the animals. When high discharge pressure
is required, the best choice is a reciprocating piston pump. This is the type of pump used,
for example, in high-pressure homogenizers for forcing fluids through the homogenizing
head at pressures of 10–70 MPa s. Variable (controllable) flow rate is often a process
requirement. With centrifugal pumps, this is easily achieved by installing a valve,
preferably after the discharge. Centrifugal pumps usually operate at constant speed,
which is usually the speed of the motor directly coupled with the pump. Positive
displacement pumps run at lower speed and their shaft is connected to the motor through
a speed-reducing gearbox. Variable flow rate is achieved by using a variable speed motor
or a drive transmission with speed variability. A device for changing the length of piston
travel is found in some reciprocating piston pumps.
Basic information required for all pump selections
With the following information, we are able to make a basic pump selection;
Liquid name
Knowing the liquid that you are pumping is vital as it allows us to ensure that we offer a
pump constructed from compatible materials; thus avoiding potential corrosion and
abrasion issues. What is the chemical make up? Are there any solids present, if so what is
the maximum particle size and concentration?
Flow rate
This will determine the size of the pump required. A higher flow rate requires a larger
pump.
Pressure
The pressure at the inlet and outlet of the pump will determine the type and often the size
of pump required. Knowing the pressure you are pumping against allows us to select the
most suitable pump technology. If you are unsure of your differential pressure; we can
help to calculate it
Viscosity
There are many units of measurement for viscosity however we tend to work in
centipoise cP or centistokes cSt. Viscosity is a measure of a liquid’s resistance to
deformation caused by stress, or more plainly; the ‘thickness’ of a liquid. Viscosity is
typically higher for thicker liquids, for example; water has a viscosity of 1 cp at 20 degC
whereas honey has a viscosity of approximately 10000 cp. Viscosity affects the type and
size of the pump required, with higher viscosities usually requiring positive displacement
units running at lower speeds rather than centrifugal pump solutions.
Density
The density or specific gravity of the pumping liquid at the operating temperature will
affect how much power is required to achieve the required duty. This in turn will help us
size a suitable drive or motor to operate the pump without a problem.
Temperature
This can affect the materials of construction for the pump, and the type of pump offered.
Additional information
To provide a more personalised selection, the following information is helpful to have;
Motor requirements
Electric or air? If electric, what voltage and frequency do you require?
Control
Do you require any special controls for the pump? Will you be running at a fixed speed
or is a variable speed drive required?
Usage cycle
Will the pump be run continuously or intermittently?
Area of use
Will the pump be operated in an ATEX area? If so, what classification is required?
Suction set up
How will you be feeding the pump?
Vapour pressure
Do you know the vapour pressure of your process liquid? This is more relevant when
pumping at elevated temperatures.
Certification
Is any certification required with the pump? For example, are you operating in the food
industry and need to comply with FDA guidelines?
Budget
Roughly, what budget do you have available for the project? Often there is more than one
solution for a pumping application.
8 Things to Consider When Selecting an Industrial Pump
Selecting a pump seems like an easy task. They are all designed to move fluids from one
place to another. Yet, when you really dig into it, it’s not such an easy decision. There
many different types of pumps. There are different configurations and designs. Some are
better for certain applications than others. There are a number of factors to take into
consideration.

Here are 8 things to consider when selecting an industrial pump:

1. Fluid Properties
First and foremost, you must understand the types of fluids you are processing. This
should be your most important concern. You have to find a pump that can handle the
types of liquids, slurries, abrasive chemicals or viscous fluids your operation is dealing
with. Some pumps just can’t process certain materials nearly as well as others. Some
factors include:
• Abrasiveness
• Acidity or Alkalinity (pH level)
• Temperature
• Solids Concentration and Solid Particle Sizes
• Specific Gravity
• Vapor Pressure
• Viscosity
2. Pump Capacity (Flow Rates)
Knowing the type of fluid(s) you are processing is a good first step. That may help you
determine the style of pump that you require. Next, you need to figure out the size and
dial in certain pump configurations. You must understand how much you need to process
in a day, a week or a year and use that to select or design a pump system that gives you
the dependable flow rates you require.
3. Specialized Performance Factors
There are a number of other performance details and features you have to factor in for
proper pump selection and configuration. We’re talking about friction head losses, static
head, elevation, fluid velocity, variable speed drive, operating temperature, pressure, and
output design. Most importantly, though, is evaluating your suction conditions and
piping. 90% of all pumping problems are on the suction side of any pumping system.
These are all details to research in order to help you find the best pump for the specific
job at hand.
4. Energy Efficiency
Different pumps have different drive systems. The systems must also be optimized for
efficient performance to reduce your energy costs during operation.
5. Reliability
You may be able to save some money by purchasing a cheaper pump system. You may
even be able to customize and configure it to handle your processing needs. However,
running the wrong pump is usually a ticking time bomb. You may find yourself
constantly making constant repairs or performing maintenance more often than you
should. This can lead to costly downtime and unnecessary expenses. Why not just get the
best pump to start with to save yourself a lot of headaches?
6. Ease of Use
You’ll also want to think about things like how difficult the pump system is to install and
maintain in order to keep it working well. How often to seals, lubrication and bearings
have to be replaced? What other maintenance and training procedures are required? Will
your staff be able to handle the maintenance or do you need to bring in a specialist?
7. Environmental Considerations
If you are in an industry with strict environmental regulations, then choosing the right
pump is vital. You have to prevent hazardous materials from leaking into the
environment. Conversely, you have to prevent outside contaminants from seeping into
the pump system. What about exhaust gases, fuel consumption and other environmental
issues. These will need to be factored in when selecting your pump.
8. Control Systems
Many pump systems are controlled using specialized metering equipment and advanced
software. This should also be taken into consideration when selecting and configuring the
ideal pump for your industrial operation. These systems can really make a significant
difference, or they can be the bane of your existence if there are constant problems with
the software or accessories.
These are just some of the factors to consider when selecting a new industrial pump, as
well as when configuring an effective pump system that will hopefully last you many,
many years to come—no matter what materials you are pumping every day.

One of the most important aspect to understand before any pump selection is the
viscosity of the fluid which is going to be pumped.
Fluid viscosity or thickness will affect how it will behave in a pump. However, this is
where things start becoming complicated because the viscosity of fluids/liquids can
change under different conditions.
Generally, fluids are classified into four main groups:
Newtonian
Pseudoplastic
Dilatant
Thixotropic
NEWTONIAN
Viscosity remains constant regardless of changes in shear rate or agitation. As pump
speed increases, flow increases proportionately. It does not matter how fast they move or
how much you agitate them, they flow the same.
Typical Newtonian fluids:
Water
mineral oils
alcohol
hydrocarbons
PSEUDOPLASTIC
Viscosity decreases as shear rate increases, but initial viscosity may be great enough to
prevent flow from starting in a typical pumping system. Taking tomato paste as an
example, you will have to shake the bottle before the tomato paste starts to move, but
once it is moving, it flows fairly easy.
Typical pseudoplastic fluids:
Tomato Paste
Latex Paints
Lotions
DILATANT
Viscosity of fluid increases with agitation until they become almost solid. As a result,
pumps can bog down and stall after initially pumping dilatant liquids.
Typical dilatant fluids:
Slurries
Clay
Cream
Butter
THIXOTROPIC
Like pseudoplastic fluids, viscosity decreases as shear rate or agitation increases. When
agitation is stopped or reduced, hysteresis occurs and viscosity will increase. Often the
viscosity will not return to its initial value.
Typical thixotropic liquids:
Soaps
Tars
Shortening
Glue
Inks
Peanut Butter
VISCOSITIES FOR TYPICAL LIQUIDS
Viscosity is commonly expressed in units of SSU (Seconds Saybolt Universal), cPs
(Centipoise) or cSt (Centistokes). The relationship between these units is expressed in the
following equations:
SSU = cSt x 4.55 (where cSt are greater than 50)
cSt = cPs/SG (specific gravity)

Saybolt
Centipoise Centistokes Second
pical liquid
(cp) (cSt) Universal
(SSU)

Water 1 1 31

Milk 3 4 40

No. 4 fuel oil 12.6 15.7 80

Cream 20 20.6 100

Vegetable oil 40 43.2 200

SAE 10 oil 88 110 500

Tomato juice 180 220 1000

SAE 30 oil 352 440 2000

Glycerine 800 1100 5000

Honey 1500 2200 10000

Glue 3000 4500 20000

Mayonnaise 5000 6250 28000

 Saybolt
Centipoise Centistokes Second
pical liquid
(cp) (cSt) Universal
(SSU)

Molasses B 8640 10800 50000

Sour cream 15000 19000 86000

TESTING FOR VISCOSITY

A testing device known as a viscometer is used to determine liquid viscosity. Tests are
typically conducted through a range of shear rates and temperatures with the resultant
viscosity plotted in graphical form. A given flow rate through a specific sized pipe
determines the shear rate at that line velocity. Knowing the temperature and shear rate
for the operating conditions defines the viscosity for those conditions.
A kinematic viscometer is a type of viscometer that uses a cup that you fill with a liquid
and test how long the liquid takes to exit through a hole in the bottom of the cup. The
longer the cup takes to empty, the more viscous the liquid. Water, oil, paint, etc are great
examples of liquid for the use of a kinematic viscometer but for more thick liquids we
need to use a different approach. A dynamic viscometer is used for liquids that are not
suitable for kinematic viscometers because they would take a very long time to exit out of
the bottom of the hole in the cup. Honey is an example of a liquid that would use a
dynamic viscometer. Dynamic viscometers use a rotating spindle submerged in the liquid
being used. The shear sensitivity and shear stresses are being measured as the liquid
creates viscous drag. It is important that the viscosity measurements be taken at pumping
temperature as a result of temperature having a large impact on viscosity. Shown below is
a kinematic viscometer.
When trying to determine the attributes of your liquid, it helps to take different measures
of viscosity. A few useful devices for taking such measurements include:
Viscosity cups
Consistometers
Glass capillary viscometers
Tuning fork vibration viscometers
Rotational viscometers
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT ABOUT VISCOSITY DURING PUMP
SELECTION?
Kinematic viscosity is a real physical factor that influences pump curves, and thus the
choice of pump.
Kinematic viscosity is denoted in centistokes (cSt) and is measured in mm2/s.
Based on the table above, water has a low viscosity of 1 cSt at 20°C, while motor oil has
a high viscosity of more than 500 cSt at the same temperature.
Viscosity is essentially resistance to flow and this has implications for pumps. If you
have a high-viscosity, sticky fluid on your hands, it clings and it’s much harder to remove
than a low-viscosity fluid.
It is the same in a pump, where you use impellers instead of your hands, to move the
fluid. If you are pumping fluids like motor oil that stick to the surface of the impeller, this
is a problem that needs to be considered.
DETERMINING THE RIGHT PUMP FOR THE VISCOSITY
When the viscosity is known along with the other operating parameters, the type of pump
to use can be determined. In general, a centrifugal pump is suitable for low viscosity
fluids since the pumping action generates high liquid shear. As the viscosity increases,
the pump performance has to be adjusted to account for the additional resistance to shear.
Typically there is a small reduction in flow, a more significant reduction in head or
pressure, and a substantial increase in power draw.
Generally speaking, positive displacement pumps are the best selection when handling
viscous fluids. They typically operate at lower speeds and impart low amounts of shear
energy to the fluid compared to a centrifugal pump. There are a variety of positive
displacement pumps to choose from based on the application requirements.
Viscosity is an important factor in determining friction losses due to shear energy in a
fluid process system and in the selection and sizing of valves, filters, instrumentation and
piping. There are a variety of reference materials available that provide friction loss data
for a given flow rate, pipe size and fluid viscosity. Data also is available that converts
pipe fittings and valves into equivalent straight length of pipe.
When handling viscous fluids, there is no substitute for actual operating experience in
determining how the fluid will behave. This information combined with available
viscosity data will allow a proper analysis of the fluid process system characteristics.
Once the fluid process system has been designed and the pump operating parameters
defined, the proper pump selection can be made.
Centrifugal Pumps
Though centrifugal pumps are the most commonly used type of pump, common wisdom
doesn’t recommend using them when a fluid’s viscosity exceeds 300 centistrokes. (A
centistroke is a standard engineering unit of viscosity, one that compares the fluid’s
absolute viscosity to its specific gravity.) This 300 centistokes limit is particularly
applicable to magnetic-drive centrifugals. Some experts say that the effective range of
viscosities for direct-coupled centrifugal pumps may range from 1400 to 3300
centistrokes.