In brief

PD pumps handle flow rates from less than 1 gpm to 15,000 gpm and pressures from a few
psi to more than 70,000 psi.

Be aware of the reasons that positive-displacement pumps might be the best solution to a
specific pumping problem.

Positive displacement pumps perform across a range of process conditions, including

viscosities to 3 million SSU, flow rates from less than 1 gpm to 15,000 gpm, and pressures from a
few psi to more than 70,000 psi.

The 12 reasons to select PD pumps are grouped by fluid characteristics, pressure

conditions, environmental system requirements and flow control.
Positive displacement pumps are used in myriad applications across multiple industries. Users have
found them to be the solution to many specific pumping challenges. However, because of their size,
simplicity and ruggedness, they often arent as well understood as other pump types.
Technologies within the extensive positive displacement family enable coverage of a broad range of
horsepower, fluid and pressure applications (Figure 1). These products, therefore, merit increased
consideration in the pump selection process. To help in the understanding of the definitions,
applications, installation, operation, maintenance and testing procedures, the Hydraulic Institute
published 10 ANSI/HI Standards covering air-operated, controlled-volume-metering, reciprocating
and rotary PD pumps.

Figure 1. There are

many types of
positive
displacement
pumps that can find
application in the
plant.

Centrifugal versus PD pumps

Standards and curriculum

ANSI/HI standards perform a vital function in pump-industry commerce and serve important
roles in minimizing misunderstandings in the marketplace. The Hydraulic Institute, in responding
to member and pump-user needs, has extended its mission to include the development of a
pump-knowledge and education portfolio. Among the first key elements is a relaunch of the
centrifugal-pump e-learning course and the development of a new positive-displacement-pump
course covering fundamentals, design and applications.
Pump education courses typically highlight rotodynamic (centrifugal and vertical) pumps, and a
good knowledge of that technology is helpful for understanding positive-displacement pumps.
Many subjects are common, but certain terms and concepts are unique because PD pumps
involve an entirely different technology.

Rotary pumps constitute the second major positive-displacement category. In this case, a rotating
pumping element inside a pumping chamber drives the fluid. This family is distinguished by its lack
of inlet or discharge valves. These pumps are available in a number of pumping principles, each with
its own features and benefits that provide specific pumping solutions.
The third major category is the controlled-volume metering pump (CVMP). These often are called
chemical-injection feed pumps or dosing pumps. Essentially, these are reciprocating positivedisplacement pumps configured to dispense an accurate volume of liquid during a specified time
period using any of several mechanisms for varying the effective volumetric displacement. This
pump type is used where highly accurate, repeatable, adjustable flow rates are required.
Pumping solution products
Positive displacement pumps often are called pumping solution products, because they perform
that function for applications across a range of process conditions. For example, rotary PD pumps
handle viscous products (3 million SSU), whereas reciprocating pumps handle water-thin liquids. PD
pumps handle flow rates from less than 1 gpm to 15,000 gpm and pressures from a few psi to more
than 70,000 psi. Its important to emphasize that PD pumps, at constant speed, are constant-flow
devices, whereas centrifugal pumps are variable-flow devices. And PD system design requirements
are very different from those for centrifugal pumps. For example, PD pumps require some type of
pressure protection, and certain designs require pulsation control.

PD pumps can be used almost anywhere, but the generally accepted view is that more than nine out
of 10 PD applications are in six industrial markets:
oil and gas

water and wastewater treatment

chemical

food, beverage and pharmaceutical

power

general industrial (marine/medical/OEM).

Many of these industries are representative of multiple markets. Oil and gas, as an example, has
distinctly different applications for PD pumps across its segments: exploration, production, pipeline,
processing and distribution marketing. The food and beverage market is another key positivedisplacement market with multiple segments that include beverage, bakery, confectionary, dairy and
meat packaging.
A dozen benefits
Some applications clearly should use positive-displacement pumps and others should use
centrifugal pumps. Its important to recognize, however, the broad range of applications in which
both types should be considered with selection being based on the users desired results. Be aware
of the reasons that positive-displacement pumps might be the best solution to a specific pumping
problem. Twelve reasons to select PD pumps, grouped by fluid characteristics, pressure conditions,
environmental system requirements and flow control are summarized below. Table 1 provides a
matrix of the 12 reasons compared to the primary markets of PD pumps.

Table 1. These are the

pump-application
characteristics that
prompt specific
industries to select
positivedisplacement pumps.
High viscosity
Certain rotary technologies and air-operated piston pumps easily handle viscous fluids, whereas
frictional losses degrade centrifugal pump flow rate and efficiency when used with fluids that have a
viscosity above 500 SSU. Flow and efficiency in a rotary pump, however, typically increase with
viscosity. In fact, PD pumps can handle fluids with viscosities of several million SSU.
Low and variable viscosity
PD pumps, such as vane or air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD), often are used for thin fluids.
Other liquids, such as oil, have viscosities that vary with temperature. With variable viscosity liquids,
a moderately small change in viscosity can have a large effect on centrifugal pump efficiency but
little effect on PD pump efficiency.
Low-shear pumping
In many fluid applications, liquid shear isnt a problem; however, in some applications it is critical. PD
pumps excel in the handling of shear-sensitive fluids.

Solids-handling capability

PD pumps handle flow rates from less than 1 gpm to 15,000 gpm
and pressures from a few psi to more than 70,000 psi.
Progressing-cavity pumps handling the high-solids-content sludge in a waste treatment plant and
coal slurry pipelines use reciprocating pumps to handle fluids with a solids content as high as 40%
by weight. You might find this to be a surprising PD pump characteristic, but widely varied
applications serve as examples.
Multi-phase flow
A centrifugal pump needs a constant source of liquid, but not all processes can provide it. If theres
insufficient liquid at the pump suction, a gas bubble forms, the pump loses its prime and the fluid
stops moving. Such isnt the case for PD pumps because theyre capable of handling a high
percentage of air or gas entrainment.
High pressure
Beyond the range of centrifugal pumps are many chemical, sandblasting and high-pressure watercutting applications in which PD pump technology dominates. Figure 2 provides an overview of the
pressure and capabilities among pump technologies.

Figur
e 2.
This
chart
show
s the
regio
ns
wher
e the
three
pump
techn
ologi

es
can
functi
on at
their
best.
Low flow
PD pump technology easily handles flows below 100 gpm and pressures greater than 200 psi.
Efficiency

HI is the largest association of pump producers and suppliers in North America and is a global
authority on pumps and pumping systems. Its mission is to serve as a forum for the exchange of
industry information, while providing value-added services to member companies and pump
users worldwide. Nearly 100 companies belong to HI, and engineering consulting firms affiliate
as standards partners. For more information about the Hydraulic Institute, its member
companies and standards partners visit www.pumps.org.
The Hydraulic Institute Positive Displacement Pumps: Fundamentals, Design and Applications
five-module course can be found at www.pumplearning.org, an educational website created by
HI to serve pump-users worldwide. The website also offers other e-learning and in-person
courses and technical webinars. PDH credits, awarded by HI, are provided upon completion of
any e-learning course, in-person or technical webinar offered by HI or its Pump Systems Matter
(PSM) organization.
The first module of the Positive Displacement Pumps and companion Centrifugal Pump course is
available free of charge on the HI website at www.pumps.org/freestuff. The free stuff page also
includes other useful information to pump users, including executive summaries of HI/PSM
guidebooks, an index to ANSI/HI Pump Standards and access to free software tools to evaluate
pumping systems.

The Fundamentals of Positive Displacement Pumps course was created by the following positive
displacement pump companies, and their subject matter experts, who are members of the
Hydraulic Institute:
ARO/Ingersoll Rand

CLYDEUNION

Flowserve Pump

Grundfos

Iwaki America

Leistritz

Milton Roy

Moyno

Warren/Colfax
Among the pump user community HI is known for world-class standards that define pump
nomenclature, definitions, application, operation and test procedures. Over 80% of pump tests
performed are conducted based on standards created by the Institute.
HI and PSM webinars address such topics as Pump Systems Energy Assessments, Variable
Speed Pumping, Fundamentals of Mechanical Seals and HIs New Pump Test Standard.
For viscous fluids that both PD and centrifugal pumps can handle, the positive-displacement option
often can be 10 points to 40 points more energy-efficient than the centrifugal pump.
High-pressure, low-flow, efficiency demand
Any of the previous three individual characteristics are reason enough to use PD pumps. But, if the
application features all three simultaneously, the PD pump solution becomes the obvious choice.
Sealless pumping
Magnetic drives and canned motor pumps, which require no shaft seals, are available in PD pump
designs. Other designs that have no shaft penetration include peristaltic and diaphragm pumps.
Self-priming
The PD pumps ability to self-prime is a useful feature because it allows substantial flexibility in
system layout and eliminates the need for suction-priming systems. PD pumps arent only selfpriming; they also have excellent suction lift capabilities raising liquids on the suction side and
are capable of drawing down to near vacuum.
Constant flow/variable pressure
At a constant speed, PD pumps deliver practically constant flow. This is true even if the system
pressure varies, which is a desirable condition in certain systems.
Accurate, repeatable measurement
Because a PD pump is a constant-flow device, certain designs that limit slip are useful for metering
fluids into or out of systems. This application, of course, requires accuracy and repeatability. It might
also need flow variation, which typically is obtained mechanically or electronically by speed variation.
Theres a universe of standard PD solutions in addition to the bakers dozen described here.
Because these pumps also must meet many other requirements, manufacturers provide products
with special options, such as jacketing, non-corrosive materials and built-in pressure relief valves, to
name a few. Some PD units have duty-cycle limits that users should investigate. Its important to
note PD pumps are constant-torque devices. In variable-speed applications, VFDs must be rated
with that understanding.