What Exactly is a Drum Pump?
This is an appliance that is used to pump liquid matter into or out of a container of any shape. Drum pumps can be used for this purpose no matter the viscosity of the liquid. Drum pumps are ideal since they take out all the liquid in a container without exposing the operator to any risk, keeping in mind that tipping drums or any type of container poses a lot of difficulty and safety risks.
These appliances can be used by different types of chemical plants such as food processing factories (though they need to use food grade pumps), chemical production factories as well processing plants that use liquids or pasty materials in the manufacturing process. In these plants, there is usually a need for a practical and efficient way to pump out liquids out of containers.
Containers can hold any liquid that may need to be transferred, handled it transported. It is for these reasons that drum pumps exist. Below is a list of industries that commonly use drum pumps.
1. Chemical manufacturing plants
2. Manufacturing facilities
3. Processing plants
4. Advanced manufacturing/processing plants
5. Automotive plants
On the market, you will find different types of drum pumps. Some of the common pumps on sale include electricity-powered pumps, pneumatically operated pumps and manual pumps. The different pumps available can also be used interchangeably though they can also be hard-wired into the barrel or drum being used. Drum pumps are portable and they can be installed into the existing factory piping system. What’s more, they can either be metallic or non-metallic. If you are pumping corrosive liquids, you should go for non-metallic drum pumps.
How Do Electric Drum Pumps Work?
Electric drum pumps have a narrow tube at the top which usually houses a vertical shaft. This shaft is usually connected to an AC/DC electric motor which is turned on by a switch that powers the entire pump. At the base of the tube, there is a tube a rotor or centrifugal pump impeller which makes it possible for the liquid being pumped to be sucked out. Electrical drum pumps are ideal if you are seeking to transfer large volumes of liquid. In the market, you can find electrical drum pumps that are wired or powered by batteries.
How Do Manual Drum Pumps Work?
These pumps can be turned on through a piston pump of through cranking by hand. They are usually ideal for use in remote work sites or in areas where there is no power supply in close proximity. These pumps typically have a ½-inch or 1½- inlet and are usually made from materials such as aluminium, stainless steel and plastics such as PVC and polyphenylene sulphide. Manual drum pumps are easy to operate, leak-free, and you do not need to worry about fires started by sparks when using them. Manual pumps are also ideal for use when pumping hazardous materials but if they cannot handle the volume of hazardous materials, then you should think of using pneumatically operated pumps.
How Do Pneumatically Operated Drum Pumps Work?
Instead of using electricity, these pumps can be powered with air pumps. These type of pumps are particularly ideal if you only have pumping jobs once in a while or if you do not have large pumping jobs. They are also ideal if you are working with large volumes of liquid in an explosion-proof environment. Pumps of this nature which also are also made of stainless steel are commonly used in handling flammable materials in a hazardous environment. When using such pumps, ATEX approval is a MUST.