Different types of pumps - classifications and applications - Graco Inc.

11 Aug.,2025

 

Different types of pumps - classifications and applications - Graco Inc.

Classification of pumps

Industrial pumps can be separated into two primary classifications: dynamic pumps and positive displacement pumps.

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Dynamic pump types:

  • Centrifugal pumps
  • Magnetic drive pumps

Positive displacement pump types:

  • Rotary lobe pumps
  • Gear pumps
  • Progressive cavity pumps
  • Peristaltic pumps
  • Diaphragm pumps

Dynamic pump types and applications

Dynamic pumps have rotating impellers or blades to transfer fluid from one place to another. The most common type is centrifugal pumps. Dynamic pumps are commonly used for applications requiring high flow rates and low viscosity fluids, such as water treatment and distribution, chemical processing plants, and oil refineries.

  • Centrifugal pumps
    Centrifugal pumps are reasonably priced but often limited in compatibility with many fluids. Their intricate and sensitive design is not suited for fluids containing abrasives and solids, quickly damaging the impellers during operation. Because they work at high rotational speeds, centrifugal pumps tend to shear and degrade liquids, which is important to consider for process and sanitary type ingredient transfer within a recipe/product stream. Furthermore, the design of centrifugal pumps does not allow for much variation in the flow rate dynamically in the system. The application, pressure, and flow rate need to be very stable for the pump to maintain the motor and efficiency performance.

    Diaphragm pumps solve many of these common issues. Have a look at Diaphragm pumps vs centrifugal pumps - pros and cons to explore an alternative solution.
  • Magnetic drive pumps
    Although magnetic drive pumps have largely done away with issues caused by leaking mechanical seals, they can only be used with clean and homogenous fluids, making them unsuitable for applications that involve solids. Furthermore, the very nature of the magnetic drive system can lead to overheating or transferring the drive’s heat signature into the fluid, leaving the material in an altered composition. In some cases of continuous operation at higher flow rates, heat generated by the magnets can be so high that it will actually cook or bake constituents of the process liquid onto the impeller magnet hub, resulting in build-up of a deposit that lowers performance and will eventually cause mechanical failures.

    Is the excess heat produced by your magnetic drive pump causing issues? Take a look atWhat are magnetic drive pumps - benefits and disadvantages to find out more about possible alternative.

Positive displacement pump types and applications

Positive displacement pumps are designed to handle a wide range of viscosities and provide a constant flow, which makes them common options for applications requiring precise flow rates or high pressures. Common applications include the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

  • Rotary lobe pumps
    Rotary lobe pumps require complicated timing gears, which are located in the gearbox. These gears prevent the lobes from making contact in the pump head, which is a great feature of the design. However, these gears are an additional moving part that requires regular maintenance and needs to be replaced occasionally. In the pump head itself, the lobes have tolerances large enough to allow abrasive materials to pass, gradually wearing down the lobes and reducing the performance of the pump. Furthermore, the large tolerance makes it difficult for the pump to efficiently transfer thin and low viscosity materials. Low viscosity fluid makes its way between the lobes, reducing lift and the efficiency of rotary lobe pumps.

    Would you like to find out more about rotary lobe pumps and how electric diaphragm pumps can improve transfer efficiency and reduce energy costs? Have a look at Rotary lobe pump advantages and disadvantages compared to electric diaphragm pumps.
  • Gear pumps
    Gear pumps are unique in that they have the ability to pump high viscosity fluids within a fairly large temperature range but, because of the complexity of their design, they are plagued by high maintenance costs, especially concerning the need for expensive spare parts. Furthermore, their size and flow rates makes gear pumps unsuitable for operations with large bulk flow rates. As with many other pumps with large metallic surfaces contacting internally, abrasives are a concern.

    Are you tired of your gear pumps losing efficiency too soon? Learn how electric diaphragm pumps can save you money and improve output in Gear pumps vs diaphragm pumps - advantages and disadvantages.
  • Progressive cavity pumps
    Running dry is by far the main reason these pumps fail. Fluid always has to be pumped to lubricate the contact surfaces between the rotor and stator. The progressive cavity pump drive transmits its power to the internal screw through the pump casing using a rotary shaft seal. A mechanical seal is an expensive wear part and is sensitive to increased temperatures, abrasives and non-lubricating liquids, increasing the risk for leakages arising over time. Furthermore, the mechanical seal raises sanitation concerns for food/personal care applications and is costly to repair. Finally, the material being pumped can be altered by both the rotation churning of the fluid and the friction of the shaft and seal, transferring heat into the liquid/fluid being pumped.

    Are progressive cavity pumps costing you money due to extra maintenance and pump downtime? Have a look at What is a progressive cavity pump and what is it used for to discover electric diaphragm pump solutions.
  • Peristaltic pumps
    While peristaltic pumps are widely used and trusted for a variety of applications, especially for smaller flow rates, users tend to be frustrated at the pumps’ significant footprint and high maintenance costs. The flexible hose used in peristaltic pumps tends to degrade with time, particularly when used with abrasives. Unless the unit is equipped with leak protection feature, a rupture of the hose can cause leaks into the process stream and lead to hazardous or undesirable situations. Because of this, hoses need to be replaced frequently.

    Frustrated by the high maintenance costs of your peristaltic pumps? Have a look at Peristaltic pumps vs diaphragm pumps and find the perfect pump for your situation.

Electric diaphragm pumps

The QUANTM electric diaphragm pump is an electrically operated double diaphragm (EODD) pump from Graco that addresses many of the common concerns above with other types of pumps. Compared to traditional industrial pump types, QUANTM provides much more operational flexibility and control. Take a look at the benefits:

  • Self-priming
    The QUANTM EODD pump is self-priming and has excellent suction capabilities.
  • Seal-less
    The QUANTM EODD’s seal-less diaphragm pump design eliminates expensive rotational seals, saving you money on spare parts and reducing downtime.
  • Stalls under pressure
    Graco’s QUANTM EODD pump is the only electric diaphragm pump on the market that stalls under pressure, without the need for pressure sensors and additional controllers, to prevent pump failures from clogged lines or closed valves.
  • Runs dry
    The QUANTM EODD pump can run dry without causing any damage to the system, thus avoiding expensive repairs.
  • Low operating costs
    The QUANTM EODD pump’s energy-efficient electric drive reduces energy consumption by up to 80% compared to pneumatic technologies.
  • Quiet operation
    The QUANTM EODD does not require a muffler to dampen the noise caused by the air emitted by an air motor, so it runs much more quietly than AODD pumps.
  • A wide operating range
    The QUANTM EODD pump is well suited to varying flow, pressure and applications. They pose no risk to shear-sensitive liquids and can easily handle abrasives and solids. Furthermore, it can be configured in a wide range of materials to suit most applications.
  • A small footprint
    The QUANTM EODD pump is extremely compact, so it takes up minimal space on the work floor.
  • Low shear
    QUANTM pumps have a gentle pumping action that minimises breakdown of sensitive materials.
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Progressive Cavity Pump Manufacturers and Suppliers in China

China Best and Responsible Progressive Cavity Pumps Manufacturer

  • Low Cost and Long Life
  • Simple Operation and Maintenance

Mingjie Pump is a professional large-flow, high pressure, high viscosity and accurately measured progressive cavity pump manufacturer and supplier.

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Users should provide accurate operating parameters:
  • Flow rate – Q (m ³/h)
  • Required outlet pressure or inlet/outlet pressure difference (Mpa)
  • Medium conditions: including name, viscosity, solid content, specific gravity, concentration, gas-liquid ratio, working temperature of the medium, corrosiveness and abrasiveness, fluidity of the medium, etc.
  • Work environment: Are there requirements for explosion-proof and insulation levels, as well as explosion-proof and protection levels.
  • Installation aspects: direction of entrance and exit and other requirements.
  • Requirements for product matching: whether speed regulation and speed regulation methods are required.
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Some Famous Progressive Cavity Pumps Manufacturers.

  1. Seepex, Inc. — Brand: Seepex pump (Country: American)
  2. Erich NETZSCH GmbH & Co. Holding KG — Brand: Netzsch pump (Country: Germany)
  3. Moyno In — Brand: Moyno pump (Country: Germany)
  4. NOV Process & Flow Technologies UK Limited — Brand: Mono pump (Country: UK)
  5. MXQ, LLC. — Brand: MXQ pump (Country: USA)
  6. ITT Bornemann GmbH — Brand: Bornemann pump (Country: Germany)
  7. PCM Group UK Ltd — Brand: PCM pump (Country: French)
  8. Allweiler Group GmbH — Brand: Allweiler pump (Country: Germany)
  9. 兵神装備株式会社 / HEISHIN Ltd. — Heishin pump (Country: Japan)
  10. ROTO PUMPS LTD. — Roto pumps (Country: India)

Note: We can provide after-sales replacement spare parts and complete pump repair services for these pump manufacturers.

Transport Characteristics:

Flow rate and pressure are depending on pump size, geometry and stages of the conveying elements and have to be defined depending on medium and application.

Advantages:

  • Direction of rotation and flow can be reversed
  • Good self-priming and suction properties
  • Stable medium transportation
  • Simple and compact structure
  • Installation in any orientation possible
  • Light weight and high efficiency
  • High speed working ability
  • Medium viscosity is not sensitive
  • Precise dosing
  • Easy operation and maintenance
  • Low turbulence of medium discharge
  • Reliable operation and long service life
  • Large free ball passage (up to 150 mm)
  • Weak pressure pulsation, small mechanical vibration, low noise
  • They are self-priming up to 28 feet of suction lift, based on water.

Progressive Cavity Pump Disassembly and Installation Video

What is a

Progressive Cavity Pump ?

Progressive cavity pump is a type of positive displacement pump, which is a rotary positive displacement pump;

It was invented by the French engineer MoiNeau, and first produced by the French PCM Pump Company, so it is also called Mono pump, PC pump or PCM pump;

It has been officially named as single screw pump (单螺杆泵) or eccentric screw pump (偏心螺杆泵) in China;

It is mainly composed of a single-head spiral rotor (solid metal of different materials) and a double-head inner spiral stator (flexible rubber) (of course, our factory also has a double-head spiral rotor and a three-head inner spiral stator). Due to the irregular shape of the stator and the rotor, they mesh with each other to form a number of different sealed cavities, which separate the suction cavity and the discharge cavity, resulting in volume changes to achieve the purpose of liquid delivery; The stator and the rotor are interference fit, should not be run dry. The conveyed medium can act as a lubricant.

Because of its high process reliability and suction capability, it is usually used for continuous, gentle conveying and precise feeding;

Do you know?

Progressive Cavity Pumps Working Principle

Structure Diagram

Applications

Chemical Industry

It mainly transports all kinds of inorganic acid, alkali, additive, suspension, sludge, etc.

Agricultural Transportation

Transport liquid fertilizer, pet liquid food, biological products, etc.

Paper Making and Wood Processing

Used to transport latex, lime slurry, cellulose, additives, starch, titanium dioxide, alum, water glass, soda, glue, etc.

Building and Mining

Used to transport concrete, bentonite, gravel, sand, lime and lime suspension etc.

Food Industry

Used to transport dough, palm oil, olive oil, ice cream, jam, honey, meat sauce, sausage, potato residue, caramel, soft candy, mustard, tomato sauce, pet food edc.

Petrochemical Industry

It mainly transports crude oil, lubricant, mineral oil, sludge, silt, water-oil emulsion, heavy oil, paraffin, etc.

Pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry

Ming Jie pump is used to deliver cream, additive, gel, shampoo, ointment, etc.

Wine and beverage industry

Used to transport beer, distiller’s grains, wort, yeast, jam, fruit juice, concentrated beverage, essence, additives, etc.

Sewage Treatment and Environmental Engineering

Transport primary sludge, thick sludge, dewatered sludge, electrolyte, waste gas treatment sewage, gypsum, etc.

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Frequently Asked Question

The biggest characteristic of progressive cavity pump is that it is especially suitable for conveying sensitive liquids which cannot be sheared, squeezed or stirred, that is, non-Newtonian liquids which will show thixotropic properties when subjected to shearing. It is not only suitable for transporting medium with low viscosity such as water, but also especially suitable for transporting suspension containing solid particles or short fibers and medium with very high viscosity.

Since the stator and the rotor are in an interference fit, they cannot be idling or dry running; The contact surface of the stator and the rotor usually needs a layer of fluid film to maintain lubrication.
When the fluid with high viscosity and poor fluidity is input, we need to pay attention to whether it can flow into the pump fast enough. If it cannot, it will easily cause the dry grinding and volumetric efficiency of the pump to change. So we need to pay attention to the speed of the fluid being conveyed and its viscosity.
For fluids with lower water content, the transport distance is shorter and higher pressure is required.
In order to ensure the life of the progressive cavity pump, we usually control the speed to a low level so that a large flow will not be generated. If you need to increase the flow, usually add a variable frequency drive (VFD) or stepless speed reducer. Speed and flow are often proportional. But the maximum flow rate of the progressive cavity pump in our factory can reach: 300m³/h;
The slip rate of low-viscosity fluid between the stator and the rotor is very high, which is likely to cause the efficiency of the pump to decrease.
The possible high starting torque may require the driver (motor) to be larger than otherwise required. Operating horsepower may be only half of the required starting horsepower.
Because the stator is rubber, large temperature fluctuation will lead to slight expansion, which means that the efficiency, flow rate and pressure will be different.

No, it’s not.
The progressive cavity pump is a positive displacement pump. It has only one screw rotor, which has slight interference fit with the rubber stator. Screw pumps also need at least two screw rotors to cooperate, and usually there are three or five screw rotors to cooperate. The name is also named after the number of screw rotors. For example, a pump with two screw rotors is called a twin screw pump.
Comparison of the media conveyed by different types of screw pumps:
Twin screw pump can transport lubricating, non-lubricating, corrosive and medium containing certain magazines, even used for oil, steam and liquid mixed transportation. Commonly used for conveying various oils, water, emulsion, paste, asphalt and chemical media, etc.
Three screw pump usually delivers lubricating oil, fuel oil, hydraulic oil, sealing oil-grade coolant, etc.
Five-screw pump is suitable for low-pressure and high-flow conditions, conveying lubricating medium, and it is more sensitive to impurities in the medium than three screw pump.
Screw pumps are not made of rubber like progressive cavity pumps, but almost all of them are made of metal. Performance: Screw pump can deliver larger flow and pressure.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Shuanglian.

No, it can’t.

Due to the slight interference fit between the stator and the rotor of the progressive cavity pump, it is not allowed to run dry. Once the dry running of the pump is not stopped in time, the stator will burn out immediately. Therefore, it is necessary to fill the pump cavity with the medium, and the medium in the system cannot be interrupted.

Special situation: When installing the pump, if you don’t know whether the motor is in the forward or reverse direction, you can run the pump 1-2 times in dry mode.

Yes, it is.

It was invented by French engineer MoiNeau, so it is called Mono Pump. It has many nicknames. Sometimes we will call it helical rotor pump, eccentric screw pump, PC Pump or PCM Pump, Crank Rod Pump and Snake Pump. In China, it is also called single screw pump and thick slurry pump. No matter how many nicknames it has, it belongs to positive displacement pump.

In , when aviation pioneer René Moineau was designing compressors for early jet engines, he discovered that this principle could work efficiently for pumping fluids. So he cooperated with Robert Bienaime of Gevelot Group to establish PCM Pompes in and developed the world’s first known progressive cavity pump.

René Moineau

Founder of the PCM company in , René Moineau is the inventor of the Progressing cavity pump, also known as Moineau pump Mono pump or PCM Pump.

When the viscosity or thickness of the liquid is higher than that of water, which is not suitable for centrifugal pump delivery, use progressive cavity pump.

When flow rate changes. Generally centrifugal pumps cannot achieve flow rate changes, while screw pumps can be achieved by adjusting the speed.

When the suction conditions of the pumping applications are not ideal and when the suction pressure is lower than 28 inches of mercury (Hg), the progressive cavity pump can pump, but the centrifugal pump cannot.

When transporting sensitive liquids that cannot be sheared, squeezed or agitated, the speed of the centrifugal pump is too high, which will easily damage the fluid structure.

When the liquid contains solid particles, centrifugal pumps or other positive displacement pumps are easy to wear or block. At this time, because the stator and rotor of the progressive cavity pump has a wear resistance design, it will be more suitable for this application.

The main working parts of progressive cavity pump are stator and rotor. Because of the special geometric shape of stator and rotor, when assembled together, several separate sealing cavities will be formed. When the motor drives the rotor to move, the medium in each sealing cavity will be continuously and uniformly transported from the suction end to the extrusion end with constant volume.

It needs to be selected according to the physical and chemical properties of the conveyed medium in the current application;

Key technical factors:

1. Pump displacement

2. Pressure or conveying distance (including horizontal and vertical distance and number of elbows)

3. Media physical characteristics:

  • Viscosity >>>>> (considering its fluidity)
  • Temperature >>>>> (whether high and low temperature resistance is required)
  • Abrasivity >>>>> (with or without solid particles)

4. Chemical properties of medium

  • Corrosivity >>>>> (pH value)

5. Flow change >>>>> (consider using variable frequency motor)

Other factors:

1. Client’s choice and budget

2. On-site installation space

3. On-site environmental requirements >>>>> (using electricity or diesel power)

4. Installation method

Confirm the above information, and finally consider the material selection and processing technology of the pump body and its spare parts.

Finally, our factory will give you a reasonable and satisfactory design plan.

Progressive cavity pumps have self-priming performance and good suction performance, and the self-priming height is generally 2-5 meters (taking water as the test); When transporting sludge or medium with high viscosity, self-priming installation is generally not recommended, but natural inflow is recommended.

Usually we call the pump body as the pump cavity, that is, a closed space can be formed when the medium contacts the pump body or other parts.

The customer is required to provide the flow rate, output pressure or head of the fluid to be transported, and to inform the physical and chemical properties of the fluid in as much detail as possible, and then the factory will select and recommend for you based on experience. Because of improper selection of progressive cavity pumps, it is easy to cause many problems in use. The right pump can create more value and reduce costs for you.

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