How do mechanical diaphragm pumps work?

Mechanical diaphragm pumps are established as one of the most popular positive displacement pump types. The pumps popularity is due in large part to the simplicity of its design principle.

Understanding the technology

Mechanical diaphragm pumps are established as one of the most popular positive displacement pump types. The pumps popularity is due in large part to the simplicity of its design principle. The only moving parts of the pump that come into contact with the fluid are the valve arrangement and the diaphragm material. With self-priming capability diaphragm pumps are well suited in fluid transfer applications, particularly those where suction lifting is required. The pump technology also provides controllable flow rates making them one of the most broadly adopted positive displacement pump types used across a broad spectrum of industries, particularly in the chemical industry for metering applications.

The material of the diaphragm gives the pump good chemical compatibility over centrifugal, piston pumps or lobe pumps.

mechanical pumps

How do mechanical diaphragm pumps work?

The basic design of a mechanical diaphragm pump is that one side of a chamber is made up of a diaphragm, which is blocked at the inlet and discharge ports via ball valves. The diaphragm is a round disc composed of a flexible material which is pushed forwards and backwards in a chamber via a mechanical shaft. As the diaphragm is pulled inwards on the suction stroke, the volume of the chamber expands and the ball valve at the inlet opens, introducing fluid into the chamber. On the discharge stroke, the ball valve at the discharge port opens as the inlet valve shuts.

The benefits of peristaltic technology

Where the design principle is simple, the construction of a diaphragm pump is often complex which makes maintenance both arduous and challenging. Due to the construction of our peristaltic pumps, maintenance is rapid, safe and simple.

Peristaltic pumps also provide greater accuracy in metering and dosing applications. Overdosing can lead to unnecessarily high chemical requirements, which, as well as extra cost, compounds higher embedded carbon emissions from chemical production and transportation. In wastewater treatment, for example, it can also lead to high levels of chemicals in the sewer outflow, potentially exceeding regulatory limits.

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