Powered by electric motors or air actuators, dosing pumps are these small displacement pumps – primarily employed for pumping a limited flow of chemical substances into steam, water or gas flow. There are several methods that can be employed to drive these pumps. However, they primarily function by drawing a limited amount of water into a chamber, followed by the “injection” of this volume of chemical into the pipe or a tank which is actually being dosed. These pumps are used in several industries including:
- Agriculture
- Manufacturing Industry
- Medicine
- Food processing
- Mining
In short, these pumps are widely used as essential automation components to deal with large amounts of fluids. Notably, when it comes to waste water treatment, dosing pumps are used to inject products such as chlorine into fluid streams or water in order to cause a chemical reaction. The particular reaction is meant to maintain the desired level of pH or to destroy pathogens.
How Do Dosing Pumps Work?
As has already been indicated above, there might as well be several methods employed to run dosing pumps depending on the brand or the model but the primary function of these pumps is to inject a measured amount of chemical into a pipe or a vessel.
Different Models and Different Ways in which they Function
There are 4 different types of models made available today. Each of these units differs in terms of action and the mechanisms backing them. Accordingly, they are suited for myriad applications, chemicals, and pressures.
Topping the list is the Diaphragm Type Pulse Injection – a model controlled by a solenoid coil. The coil is meant to suck in and inject the chemical in pulses and it’s the time gap between the pulses that actually controls the rate of flow. This particular type of technology is actually ruled out by modern technicians as outdated and less effective since the product is delivered in pulses. They are notably simple as far as their operations are concerned. Additionally, they are cheaper than most of the other models.
The Diaphragm type constant injection is a more accurate version of the aforementioned model – since it is filled and emptied by a piston – delivering a steady flow rate. The rate at which the product is injected out of the pump depends on the amount of product being dosed. With just the right kind of control, you will be able to achieve various dosing rates with this machinery.
Then there are the Lobe type pumps that inject a certain volume through an arrangement of impellors that resemble a gear. Once again they are not really known for the accuracy of their function owing to their wearing surface. It is wiser to invest in them only when you’re working with products backed by self-lubricating capacity so that chances of wearing down are reduced.
