Guest Column: How To Choose The Right Pump

By Liz Braden, CSI

Looking for a pump? The right pump for you is out there, but it's not always easy to know where to begin in the selection process. Here are some guidelines to help get your search moving in the right direction.

The liquid you are pumping can sometimes lean us toward a particular type of pump:

• If your product is thick, think positive displacement (PD). Products with a high viscosity (usually >1,000 centipoise) can be easily handled with one of the many
types of PD pumps, such as rotary lobe, gear, or diaphragm pumps.
• Water, thin oils, and similar liquids are good candidates for centrifugal pumps, particularly if you need to move higher volumes.