GEAR PUMP

Gear pumps are positive displacement rotary pumps that transport liquids using rotating
gears. They function through the use of two or more internal gears that create vacuum
pressure, propelling the fluid media. Gear pumps are compact, high pressure pumps which
provide a steady and pulseless fluid flow comparable to double diaphragm pumps and
peristaltic pumps. They are best suited for high viscosity pumping applications such as oils,
plastics, paint, adhesives, or soaps.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF GEAR PUMP
Advantages Disadvantages
Easy to operate and maintain - some
can operate in two directions
Can wear noticeably over time,
reducing output efficiency
Ideal for pumping high viscosity fluids Cannot run dry
Compact and simple construction
Cannot properly handle suspended
solids or abrasives
Steady, controlled, pulseless flow High shear placed on fluid
Self-priming


GEAR PUMP OPERATION

Gear pumps are positive displacement pumps, meaning they use expanding and contracting
chambers to move fluids at a fixed rate. Specifically, they are rotary positive displacement
pumps, which utilize a rotating mechanism or assembly to cause this contraction and
expansion.

Gear pumps are the most common type of positive displacement pump used. Typically, a
rotating assembly of two gears (a drive gear and an idler) moves to create suction at the pump
inlet and draw in fluid. The liquid is then directed between the teeth of the gears and the walls
of the casing to the discharge point. Volume decreases as the liquid travels from inlet to
outlet, causing a buildup of pressure. Pressure relief valves are typically built-in to the pump
to protect the pumping system from a closed valve in the discharge piping. Flow in gear
pumps is determined by the size of the cavity (volume) between the gear teeth, the speed of
rotation (rpm) of the gears, and the amount of slippage (reverse flow). Slip increases as the
pump wears.

The volumetric efficiency of gear pumps is poor at low speeds and low flow rates, meaning
they should be operated close to their maximum rated speeds.

TYPES OF GEAR PUMPS
Gear pumps are either external or internal based on their design and operation.

External Gear Pump
External gear pumps utilize two identical gears with external teeth to generate flow. The
rotation of the gears is such that the liquid comes into the inlet port and flows into and around
the outer periphery of the two rotating gears. As the liquid comes around the periphery it is
discharged to the outlet port.

External Gear Pump Rotor Assembly of The Internal Gear Pump In
Operation.
External gear pumps have close tolerances and shaft support on both sides of the gears. This
allows them to run to pressures beyond 3,000 psi / 200 bar and also provide greater flow
control and a more reliable measure of liquid passing through a pump. It also means they are
not well suited to handling abrasive or extreme high temperature fluids. Slippage, which
reduces efficiency and flow, increases as viscosity decreases and approaches zero at 5000
SSU (Saybolt Universal Seconds).
External gear pumps are typically less expensive and simpler to maintain than internal types,
with moderate efficiencies. They are most commonly used to transfer fuel oils such as
gasoline, diesel, and kerosene. In addition, they are used for high pressure applications such
as elevators, damper controls, and other hydraulic devices. They are also popular for precise
transfer and metering applications.
Internal Gear Pump
Internal gear pumps generate flow using a gear with externally-cut teeth contained in and
meshed with a gear with internally-cut teeth. As the gears come out of mesh on the inlet side,
liquid is drawn into the pump. The liquid is forced out the discharge port by the meshing of
the gears. Some contain a crescent shaped partition used to separate the inlet volume from the
discharge volume between the two gears.

Internal Gear Pump

These pumps excel at moving high viscosity fluids, but have a useful viscosity range of 1cP
(centiPoise) to over 1,000,000cP. The single point of end clearance (the distance between the
ends of the rotor gear teeth and the head of the pump) is adjustable to accommodate high
temperatures, maximize efficiency for high viscosities, and to accommodate for wear.

Rotor Assembly Of The Internal Gear Pump In Operation.
Compared to external types, internal gear pumps have improved suction and delivery
characteristics and are smoother in operation, but are also more expensive and are limited to
small capacities and moderate pressure. They are used in numerous different types of
industrial applications for handling oils and viscous chemicals, including petrochemical,
marine, asphalt, chemical, and general industrial applications.

COMPARISON
The following table provides a comparison between internal and external gear types:
External Gear Pump Internal Gear Pump
A pair of external gears forms the rotor
assembly.
An internal gear & a external gear form
the rotor assembly.
There are four bearings supporting the
rotor shafts.
Rotor is supported on one or (at the
most) two bearings.
Pump design is compact.
Pump design is bulky & even inefficient
for higher-spec models.
Larger outlet sizes and high capacities.
Small outlet sizes and medium/low
capacities.
Possible gear designs include spur,
helical or herringbone.
All gears are spur design, further a
wedge is required to separate the two
gears.
Medium/low temperature and high
pressure pumping.
High temperature, moderate pressure,
low capacity pumping.


GEAR TYPES
Gear pumps use one of two types of gears: spur gears or herringbone gears.
Spur gears provide excellent suction lift, are ideal for water or light oils, are bi-
directional (reversible), and are the most economical.


Spurs Gear
Herringbone gears are ideal for viscous fluids, offer quiet operation in a non-
clogging design, but are uni-directional

Herringbone Gears


SPECIFICATIONS
When selecting gear pumps, there are a few key performance specifications to consider;
namely flow rate, pressure, power, efficiency, and operating temperature.

MEDIA TYPE
Selecting the right gear pump requires an understanding of the properties of the liquid in the
addressed system. These properties include viscosity and consistency.
Viscosity is a measure of the thickness of a liquid. Viscous fluids like sludges
generate higher systems pressures and require more pumping power to move through
the system. Internal gear pumps tend to be better suited than external gear pumps
on highly viscous fluids and vice versa.
Consistency is the material makeup of the liquid solution in terms of chemicals and
undissolved solids. In most cases, gear pumps are not able to pump solutions with
suspended solids because of the associated wear and degradation of the drive
assembly. Solutions with corrosive chemicals should be handled by pumps with
materials and partsdesigned to withstand corrosion.

MATERIALS
Pumps are typically designed with a number of different materials. The base materials, which
constitute the parts of the pump exposed to the pumped media and the outside environment,
are the most important to consider. Fluid characteristics, pressure ratings, and operating
environment factors should be considered when selecting these materials.
Cast iron provides high tensile strength, durability, and abrasion resistance
corresponding to high pressure ratings.
Plastics are inexpensive and provide extensive resistance to corrosion and chemical
attack.
Steel and stainless steel alloys provide protection against chemical and rust corrosion
and have higher tensile strengths than plastics, corresponding to higher pressure
ratings.