6 Industries that Benefit from Diaphragm Pumps

Diaphragm pumps are used for metering and dispensing chemicals, fluids, and gases. They can be used as stand-alone units or integrated into other systems, such as tubing or liquid transfer systems. 

Diaphragm pumps are used by numerous businesses today owing to their ability to transfer materials safely and cleanly. They have been around in multiple forms over the years. Also, their popularity has continued to grow with technological advancements. 

With all these capabilities, it’s no wonder that multiple industries take advantage of diaphragm pumps. This article lists down six industries in particular. 

1. Chemical Industry 

A diaphragm pump can safely transport chemicals and fluids into tanks or vessels. It is resistant to chemicals and can withstand high temperatures, making it ideal for transporting chemicals in both hot and cold environments. As such, it is widely used in the chemical industry.

Aside from that, the chemical industry also uses diaphragm pumps from custom industrial pump manufacturer like KNF UK to transfer corrosive liquids such as acids and alkalis. They are also used for transporting flammable materials like benzene, gasoline, fuel oil, or kerosene. 

2. Food And Beverage Industry 

The food and beverage industry uses diaphragm pumps to transport liquids such as wine, beer, and milk from one container to another. These pumps also transport water, oil, and other liquids across large distances. Breweries often use them to transfer beer from one tank to another without contaminating the product with air bubbles or foreign particles during transfer. 

In addition, the food and beverage industry can leverage diaphragm pumps to transfer liquid into bottles or cans. The process involves trapping air between two flexible membranes before pumping it through a small opening at high pressure. This creates a vacuum inside the container, providing the means to fill it with the desired liquid without trapping any air bubbles inside. 

3. Oil And Gas Industry 

The oil and gas industry use diaphragm pumps to transport oil through pipelines at high pressure so that they can be transported efficiently throughout an entire network of channels. Diaphragm pumps are also used in offshore drilling rigs, where they help move drilling mud from one reservoir onto another reservoir for continuous and safe drilling operations. 

In addition, this industry can utilise diaphragm pumps to pump water from the sea or riverbeds into offshore drilling rigs through a closed-loop system that prevents contamination from entering the system. Specifically, this prevents using hazardous chemicals to clean up spills on land or water. 

In the context of oil well completion, diaphragm pumps play a crucial role as well. After the drilling phase, these pumps are used to inject completion fluids into the well. These fluids help to stabilize the well, control pressure, and prepare the well for production. The use of diaphragm pumps ensures a controlled and reliable flow of these critical fluids. This step is vital for the successful extraction of oil and gas, highlighting the importance of diaphragm pumps in the industry.

4. Pharmaceuticals And Cosmetics Industry 

Diaphragm pumps are often used for liquid blending in pharmaceutical and cosmetic manufacturing facilities. A blending tank may be filled with several different liquids that need to be mixed before being pumped out through a line that feeds into a bottling line or another process that uses the blended liquid. 

The blend must be consistent and accurate, so the mixing process must happen quickly and efficiently. A diaphragm pump can provide this level of precision because it operates at a breakneck speed while maintaining tight tolerances on its output volume. 

5. Marine Industry 

Diaphragm pumps are also popular in marine applications, where they’re used to pump seawater into ships’ ballasts or bilges. In the case of ballasts, which adjust the ship’s stability at sea, the pump is usually installed directly beneath one of the hull’s bilge tanks. The pump constantly extracts water from the tank until it reaches its maximum capacity. At this point, it shuts down automatically until there is enough room for another batch of seawater to be extracted. 

In addition, the marine industry can employ diaphragm pumps to generate power using an onboard diesel generator. These generators are typically powered by reciprocating engines or electric motors connected directly to an AC generator that converts mechanical energy into electricity. 

However, they’re usually limited in size due to the amount of power they require and the weight of their components. Therefore, instead of using these engines and motors directly, diaphragm pumps are often used to drive them indirectly through a gearbox or belt-drive system so that less horsepower is needed overall.  

6. Power Generation Industry 

Diaphragm pumps are used in power generation plants to move water through turbines that help generate electricity. They also help cool down heat exchangers in nuclear power plants by moving hot water away from them and into cooling towers located outside the building itself. 

Additionally, the power generation industry utilises diaphragm pumps to move liquid metal in molten salt reactors, which use a molten salt fuel that has a shallow freezing point. This fuel needs to be kept at high temperatures to continue functioning correctly. One way to keep it hot is by using a diaphragm pump that moves the liquid metal through pipes within the reactor core. 

Key Takeaway 

Diaphragm pumps are an excellent solution for many industries and applications. The ability to easily change pump accessories, such as the size of the orifice and the type of media pumped, makes them versatile enough to be used in different environments. They are a prime choice for any companies looking for an affordable, reliable pump that can handle any liquid.