5/2/2018 Ask These Questions—to Get the Right Process Pump | IBT Inc

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
Ask These Questions—to Get the Contact IBT Industrial
Solutions
Right Process Pump
By IBT Inc July 25, 2016 IBT Phone VISIT BRANCH PAGE
1-913-677-
Need a new process pump?  David Brown, a Product Specialist at IBT Industrial
3151
Solutions, recommends giving as much info as you can when ordering—to avoid
getting the wrong pump. Email
customerservice@ibtinc.com
Avoid Expensive Mistakes
Recent Posts
“There are many di erent types of process pumps,” Brown said.  “We sell at least 12
di erent types, plus all the accessories.  You can easily make a $1,000 mistake if you
don’t provide all the information necessary when ordering a process pump.” PPI Retro Rolls—Designed For
Easy Ehrsam Frame Drop-In
Brown added that even the environment where the pump is located can make a Replacement
di erence.  “For example, pumping molasses in Texas is much di erent than pumping
Martin Grid Couplings’ Blue-Flex
molasses in Maine, because the temperature di erence in winter can significantly Design is Built to Withstand
impact the viscosity,” he said. Extreme Torque

Provide as Much Info as Possible When A Pump Went Down, We

Teamed Up With Depco—Slashing
As a result, Brown o en performs site visits to understand where—and how—the Lead Time & Downtime
pump will be used before recommending a solution.  When ordering a process pump, Take Back Your Storeroom Shelves
he recommends providing as much detail as possible. By Switching to the HERA Gearbox

Start by finding the answers to the following questions.  (The Safety Data Sheet How To Tension a V-Belt (& How
Not To)
(SDS) or Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) can provide many of the answers you
need.)
Categories
Questions—Media Being Pumped
#1—Is the media hazardous or corrosive? All
https://www.ibtinc.com/ask-questions-to-order-right-process-pump/ 1/4
5/2/2018 Ask These Questions—to Get the Right Process Pump | IBT Inc
#1 Is the media hazardous or corrosive?  All

“Remember—safety first,” said Brent Hanson, Business Director of Fluid Power at IBT. 
“There is a lot of nasty stu out there.  This will help you avoid accidents and select Keywords
the proper materials for your pump.”

#2—What is the viscosity and specific gravity?  All

Certain pumps work better with water, glue, grease, or acid, for example.

#3—Is there particulate suspended in the media?  If so, what is it? 

How large are the particles? 
Some pumps allow sticks, stones and trash to flow through—while others are better
for clear liquid and will become damaged if tiny particles are not filtered out.

#4—What is the temperature of the material you’re pumping?

Temperature e ects viscosity.  “For example, molasses has a much lower viscosity
when it’s warm, and a higher viscosity when it’s cold,” Brown said.

Questions—Environment
#5—What is the ambient temperature? 
#6—Is it operating at extreme heights? 
Atmospheric pressure may need to be accounted for (in some cases).

 #7—Is it wash-down duty, dusty, or corrosive? 

#8—Is it an explosive environment? 
#9—Is it a submersible application?

#10—Is it in a confined space (as defined by OSHA)?


#11—What is the available power for operation? 
Pumps can be driven by electric motors, hydraulic motors, or air motors.  If an electric

motor is used (the most common), then you’ll also need information on voltage,
frequency, and phase.

Questions—Pressure and Flow

Pump
head

Image supplied from http://www.waterhelp.org/

pressure and flow are very important because pumps are sized using “pump curves.” 
These are complex charts supplied by pump manufacturers.
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5/2/2018 Ask These Questions—to Get the Right Process Pump | IBT Inc
ese a e co ple c a ts suppl ed by pu p a u actu e s.

These 2 variables are used to determine pump size, motor speed, horsepower, and
e iciency.  All of these are key factors in providing the right pump/motor combination
to maximize performance and e iciency.

“A good pump applications engineer will require this information, especially on large
systems,” Hanson said.  “Taking a guess at any of this is not a good idea.  It winds up
costing more time and money in the long run.”

#12—What is the “suction head” or “suction li ” height?

This measures the total height that the fluid is above the pump (suction head) or
below it (suction li ).  This is important to avoid cavitation and determine head
pressure.

#13—What is the required discharge pressure (a.k.a “head pressure,”

in psi—or “pump head,” in .)?
Pump head can be confusing.  Manufacturers need to know what it is (in feet), but
people usually think of it in terms of pressure (psi) measured at the discharge of the
pump.  Basically, they are the same thing.

Head pressure is easy to determine if you have an existing system, or specifications on

an existing pump.  Just measure the outlet pressure with a gauge.  Or, you can
provide the pump and motor nameplate information.

If you’re designing a new system, then it can be more di icult.  Liquid height
 di erential and the piping configuration need to be taken into account—which may
be a good time to call an expert.
#14—What is the required flow rate (in gpm)?

#15—Do you need variable or constant flow?


 

12 Di erent Process Pumps—from IBT

IBT sells process pumps and accessories in at least 12 di erent styles—from

companies like Jabsco, Yamada, AMT, Flux, Hypro, and more.  Pumps include:

Gear pumps
Flexible impeller pumps
Diaphragm pumps
Centrifugal pumps
High pressure pumps
Peristaltic pumps
Progressing cavity pumps
Vane and roller pumps
Drum pumps
Sanitary/hygienic pumps
Seamless mag drive pumps
Metering pumps

Need a process pump?

Contact Brent Hanson Business Group Director of Fluid Power at IBT Industrial
https://www.ibtinc.com/ask-questions-to-order-right-process-pump/ 3/4
5/2/2018 Ask These Questions—to Get the Right Process Pump | IBT Inc
Contact Brent Hanson, Business Group Director of Fluid Power at IBT Industrial
Solutions, at (913) 261-2125, or bhanson@ibtinc.com.

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