At Pump Solutions Australasia, we supply pumps of all kinds, imported from the best manufacturers around the world. One of our more popular types of pumps is gear pumps. Almost by definition, they are pumps that use the motion of gears meshing to displace fluids. They are one of the most common hydraulic fluid pumps. Gear pumps are also commonly used to pump high viscosity fluids in chemical applications.
The two most common types of gear pumps are external pumps, which use spur gears on the outside, and internal pumps which have spurs on the inside and the outside. Gear pumps are classified as positive displacement pumps. They are so named because they pump the same amount of fluid during each revolution. Some of these pumps are designed to function not only as a pump, but also as a motor.
How Gear Pumps Work
When the gears rotate on the intake side of the pump, they separate, leaving a void or vacuum. This causes fluid to flow into the void. On the other side of the pump, called the discharge side, the gears meet again, which displaces the fluid. Small clearances and high rates of rotation are used to keep the fluid flowing in the direction of the discharge side and don’t allow the fluid to back up.
Applications for Gear Pumps
Gear pumps are used in the petrochemical industry to move bitumen, diesel oil, pitch, lube oil, crude oil and other fluids. They are used in the general chemical industry for materials such as plastics, acids, sodium silicate, isocyanates, mixed chemicals and other media. These pumps are also used to transport ink, paint, resins and adhesives. Some other uses: pulp, paper, lye, soap, acid, latex, lime, kaolin and sludge.
In the food industry, these pumps transport media such as cacao butter, chocolate, sugar, vegetable oil, vegetable fats, molasses and various animal foods.
To learn more about gear pumps or any of the other pumps we import, call Pump Solutions Australasia today: 1300 793 418.