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What types of pumps are there and when are they used?
There are a variety of pump types that are used depending on the application and requirements. Here is an overview table with some of the most common pump types and their typical applications:
| Pump type | Application | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centrifugal pumps | Water supply, irrigation, heating systems, cooling circuits | High flow rates, simple design, low maintenance requirements | Low efficiency with low volume flow |
| Screw pumps | Oil and gas industry, food industry, chemical industry | Uniform flow rate, self-priming, can pump media containing solids | High acquisition costs, wear due to solids in the medium |
| Gear pumps | Hydraulic systems, lubricating oil systems, chemical processes | Compact design, high efficiency, self-priming | Not suitable for abrasive or highly viscous liquids |
| Piston pumps | High-pressure cleaning, hydraulic systems, oil fields | Very high pressures possible, robust design | Higher maintenance requirements, relatively high costs |
| Diaphragm pumps | Chemical industry, waste water treatment, food processing | Can pump abrasive and aggressive media, safe to run dry | Limited flow rate and pressure capacity |
| Submersible pumps | Groundwater pumping, waste water disposal, pond filters | High efficiency, no priming required, low risk of leakage | Maintenance can be difficult as the pump is submerged |
| Peristaltic pumps | Medical and pharmaceutical applications, food processing, chemical dosing | No contamination of the pumped medium, well suited for metered delivery | Limited service life of the hose, low flow rates and pressures |
| Side channel pumps | Condensate pumping, water treatment, gas compression | Self-priming, low pulsation, can pump liquids with gas content | Not suitable for highly viscous or abrasive liquids, limited flow rate |
| Magnetic drive pumps | Chemical processes, high-temperature applications, nuclear plants | High operational reliability, no leakage due to magnetic coupling, suitable for hazardous or aggressive media | Higher acquisition costs, limited load capacity of the magnetic coupling |
| Vacuum pumps | Laboratory applications, medical devices, vacuum packaging | Can generate very low pressures, precise pressure control | Often expensive, may require special maintenance |
| Metering pumps | Water and wastewater treatment, chemical processing, food industry | Precise control of flow rate, usually with built-in dosing unit | Limited flow rate, can be expensive |
| Screw pumps (eccentric screw pumps) | Waste water treatment, food industry, chemical industry | Can pump viscous and abrasive liquids, uniform flow rate | Susceptible to wear, maintenance can be costly |
| Air-operated diaphragm pumps | Chemical processes, mines, construction industry | Safe to run dry, robust, can pump abrasive and aggressive media | Energy efficiency can be lower, noise development |
