Selecting Positive Displacement Pumps

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The printed version of this article appeared as, "Selecting Positive Displacement Pumps: in Plant Engineering.

Selection of a positive displacement (PD) rotary pump is not always an easy choice. There are
four common types of PD pumps available: internal gear, external gear, timed lobe, and vane.
Most PD pumps can be adapted to handle a wide range of applications, but some types are better
suited than others for a given set of circumstances.
The first consideration in any application is pumping conditions. Usually the need for a PD pump
is already determined, such as a requirement for a given amount of flow regardless of differential
pressure, viscosity too high for a centrifugal pump, need for high differential pressure, or other
factors.
Inlet conditions, required flow rate, differential pressure, temperature, particle size in the liquid,
abrasive characteristics, and corrosiveness of the liquid must be determined before a pump
selection is made.
A pump needs proper suction conditions to work well. PD pumps are self-priming, and it is often
assumed that suction conditions are not important. But they are. Each PD pump has a minimum
inlet pressure requirement to fill individual pump cavities. If these cavities are not completely
filled, total pump flow is diminished. Pump manufacturers supply information on minimum inlet
conditions required. If high lift or high vacuum inlet conditions exist, special attention must be
paid to the suction side of the pump.

INTERNAL GEAR PUMPS

The crescent internal gear pump has an outer or rotor gear that
is generally used to drive the inner or idler gear (Figure 1). The
idler gear, which is smaller than the rotor gear, rotates on a
stationary pin and operates inside the rotor gear. The gears
create voids as they come out of mesh and liquid flows into the
pump. As the gears come back into mesh, volumes are reduced
and liquid is forced out the discharge port. Liquid can enter the
expanding cavities through the rotor teeth or recessed areas on
the head, alongside the teeth. The crescent is integral with the Figure 1. Internal gear pumps are
pump head and prevents liquids from flowing to the suction
ideal for high-viscosity liquids, but
port from the discharge port.
they are damaged when pumping
The rotor gear is driven by a shaft supported by journal or

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large solids.

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antifriction bearings. The idler gear contains a journal bearing rotating on a stationary pin in the
pumped liquid. Depending on shaft sealing arrangements, the rotor shaft support bearings may
run in pumped liquid. This is an important consideration when handling an abrasive liquid and
can wear out a support bearing.
The speed of internal gear pumps is considered relatively slow compared to centrifugal types.
Speeds up to 1,150 rpm are considered common, although some small designs operate up to
3,450 rpm. Because of their ability to operate at low speeds, internal gear pumps are well suited
for high-viscosity applications and where suction conditions call for a pump with minimal inlet
pressure requirements.
For each revolution of an internal gear pump, the gears have a fairly long time to come out of
mesh allowing the spaces between gear teeth to completely fill and not cavitate. Internal gear
pumps have successfully pumped liquids with viscosities above 1,320,000 cSt / 6,000,000 SSU
and very low viscosity liquids, such as liquid propane and ammonia.
Internal gear pumps are made to close tolerances and are damaged when pumping large solids.
These pumps can handle small suspended particulate in abrasive applications, but gradually wear
and lose performance. Some performance loss is restored by adjusting the pump end clearance.
End clearance is the closeness of the rotor gear to the head of the pump.

EXTERNAL GEAR PUMPS

External gear pumps are similar in pumping action to internal
gear pumps in that two gears come into and out of mesh to
produce flow (Figure 2). However, the external gear pump uses
two identical gears rotating against each other. Each gear is
supported by a shaft with bearings on both sides of each gear.
Typically, all four bearings operate in the pumped liquid.
Because the gears are supported on both sides, external gear
pumps are used for high pressure applications such as
hydraulics. Usually, small external gear pumps operate at 1,750
or 3,450 rpm and larger versions operate at speeds up to 640
Figure 2. External gear pumps
rpm.
(shown is a double pump) are

The design of external gear pumps allows them to be made to typically used for high-pressure
applications such as hydraulics.
closer tolerances than internal gear pumps. The pump is not
very forgiving of particulate in the pumped liquid. Since there
are clearances at both ends of the gears, there is no end clearance adjustment for wear. When an
external gear pump wears, it must be rebuilt or replaced.
External gear pumps handle viscous and watery-type liquids, but speed must be properly set for
thick liquids. Gear teeth come out of mesh a short time, and viscous liquids need time to fill the
spaces between gear teeth. As a result, pump speed must be slowed down considerably when
pumping viscous liquids.

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The pump does not perform well under critical suction conditions. Volatile liquids tend to
vaporize locally as gear teeth spaces expand rapidly. When the viscosity of pumped liquids rises,
torque requirements also rise, and pump shaft strength may not be adequate. Pump
manufacturers supply torque limit information when it is a factor.

LOBE PUMPS
Lobe pumps (Figure 3) are similar to external gear pumps in
operation, except the pumping elements or lobes do not make
contact. Lobe contact is prevented by external timing gears. Pump
shaft support bearings are located in the timing gear case. Since
the bearings are out of the pumped liquid, pressure is limited by
bearing location and shaft deflection. There is not metal-to-metal
contact and wear in abrasive applications is minimal. Use of
multiple mechanical seals makes seal construction important.

A lobe pump.
Figure 3. Lobes in lobe pumps do
not make contact, because they are
driven by external timing gears.
This design handles low-viscosity
liquids.

Lobe pumps are frequently used in food applications, because they handle solids without
damaging the pump. Particle size pumped can be much larger in lobe pumps than in other PD
types. Since the lobes do not make contact, and clearances are not as close as in other PD pumps,
this design handles low viscosity liquids with diminished performance. Loading characteristics
are not as good as other designs, and suction ability is low. High-viscosity liquids require
considerably reduced speeds to achieve satisfactory performance. Reductions of 25% of rated
speed and lower are common with high-viscosity liquids.
Lobe pumps are cleaned by circulating a fluid through them. Cleaning is important when the
product cannot remain in the pumps for sanitary reasons or when products of different colors or
properties are batched.

VANE PUMPS
Sliding vane pumps (Figure 4) operate quite differently from
gear and lobe types. A rotor with radial slots, is positioned
off-center in a housing bore. Vanes that fit closely in rotor slots
slide in and out as the rotor turns. Vane action is aided by
centrifugal force, hydraulic pressure, or pushrods. Pumping
action is caused by the expanding and contracting volumes
contained by the rotor, vanes, and housing.
Vanes are the main sealing element between the suction and
discharge ports and are usually made of a nonmetallic
composite material. Rotor bushings run in the pumped liquid or Figure 4. Vane pumps have better dry
are isolated by seals.
priming capability than other positive
displacement pumps.

Vane pumps usually operate at 1,000 rpm, but also run at 1,750
rpm. The pumps work well with low-viscosity liquids that easily fill the cavities and provide
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good suction characteristics. Speeds must be reduced dramatically for high-viscosity

applications to load the area underneath the vanes. These applications require strongerthan-normal vane material.
Because there is no metal-to-metal contact, these pumps are frequently used with low-viscosity
nonlubricating liquids such as propane or solvent. This type of pump has better dry priming
capability than other PD pumps. Vane pumps can run dry, but are subject to vane wear.
Vane pump are not well suited to handling abrasive applications. Vane pumps have fixed end
clearances on both sides of the rotor and vanes similar to external gear pumps. Once wear
occurs, this clearance cannot be adjusted, but some manufacturers supply replaceable or
reversible end plates.

Pump Selection Guide

Abrasives

Thin Liquids

Viscous

Solids

Dry Prime

Diff. Pressure

Internal Gear

External Gear

Lobe

Vane

E = Excellent, G = Good, A = Average, P = Poor

2007, Pump School

School Policy
Sponsored by Viking Pump, Inc.

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