Pump Type Overviews

There are two main families of pumps; positive displacement and centrifugal pumps, both of which have their uses and best areas of application. It is important however to be able to identify when each pump type should be selected, which ultimately comes down to their working principle and the application at hand. This guide talks through those differences and gives examples of when one is more suited than the other.

Centrifugal pumps are one of the most popular pumping solutions in the world due to their highly efficient and simple design. However, different types of centrifugal pumps are best suited for specific applications. For example, for applications that require higher pressure capabilities, multistage centrifugal pumps are preferred over single-stage pumps. But how do you know which centrifugal pump type is best for your application?

Submersible pumps are the easy option, but have you ever considered choosing a self-priming pump as an alternative? Self-priming pumps are often overlooked and sometimes not even considered in the first place, but these pumps have a number of advantages. We look at liquid handling, maintenance comparisons and differences in design, before summarising why we believe self-priming pumps to be a good alternative to submersible.

For applications involving the transfer of fuels, oils and other lubricating fluids, screw pumps and gear pumps are usually the pumping technology selected. Whilst a gear pump is a more than acceptable option for the handling of lubricating fluids, the design of the screw pump has several advantages over it when it comes to more continuous duty and a higher budget available.

Vertical immersion pumps are a pumping technology with an elongated shaft encased in a column to separate the motor from the pump. Also known as vertical shaft or column pumps, they differ from submersible pumps because whilst their impellers are immersed in the fluid, the motor stays above it. These pumps have several design benefits which give it distinct uses compared to other pump types.

Progressive cavity pumps are a type of positive displacement pump known for their ability to handle viscous, shear sensitive and abrasive mediums at high pressures, with a smooth, low pulsating flow. Our progressing cavity pump guide includes technical information on the working principle of this pump type, benefits of the eccentric screw pump design and applications that the design is most suitable for.