Guide To: Diaphragm Pumps

Diaphragm Pump Guide

Diaphragm Pumps are one of the most popular pumps available on the market. Here at TS Pumps, we supply a range of Diaphragm Pumps from one of the leading manufacturers around the world, Tapflo.

Tapflo are renowned for their innovative pump technology and use of fewer parts than many others on the market.

What is a Diaphragm Pump?

A Diaphragm Pump is a Positive Displacement Pump that transfers fluid via diaphragms working together to push the liquid through the system within the pump.

The Diaphragm Pumps that we supply are driven by compressed air, also referred to as Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps or AODDs.

How does a Diaphragm Pump work?

Compressed air drives the diaphragms within the pump casing to simultaneously work to positively displace the product. The diaphragms then work together to trap fluid. As the air drives the diaphragms, this then pushes the trapped fluid into the discharge pipe, transferring the fluid out of the pump.

This is achieved by one diaphragm creating suction to draw the fluid in and trap it, whilst the fluid trapped by the other diaphragm pushes the fluid, in the other half of the pump, out.

What materials are available for a Diaphragm Pump?

• Metal: Available in Aluminium, Cast Iron or Stainless Steel AISI 316, a Metal Diaphragm Pump is perfect for handling fluids that are viscous, chemically aggressive or contain coarse solids
• HDPE & PTFE – Available in solid block polyethylene and solid block PTFE. The Diaphragm Pump housing is machined from solid block plastic to ensure that the design is strong enough to withstand mechanical force and aggressive chemicals without creating weak points for leakage
• Sanitary – Our Sanitary Diaphragm Pump range is designed specifically for industries that require the highest level of hygiene: beverage, cosmetic, food & pharmaceutical industries. ATEX, EHEDG, USP VI and FDA approved

Our Metal and HDPE & PTFE ranges of Diaphragm Pump are also available as ATEX rated upon request

What are the benefits of using a Diaphragm Pump?

Diaphragm Pumps are air operated, meaning that compressed air fully drives your Diaphragm Pump and there is no need for an electrical connection. They are also easily maintained.

Our range of Air Operated Diaphragm Pumps are made from 70% less parts than the industry standard. This makes maintenance easy and straightforward, without the need for expensive service costs or specialist Diaphragm Pump training.

• A Diaphragm Pump has an air distribution system that doesn’t require lubrication, thus reducing pollution in the environment
• The Diaphragm Pump is an incredibly versatile pump with 3 different installation points
• A no-nut diaphragm face ensures the long life of the diaphragms and the pump itself. A no-nut face is achieved by joining the layers of the diaphragm together through chemical bonding. By removing the nut from the diaphragm, this reduces a leakage point and protects your pump
• Our Diaphragm Pumps can Self-Prime up to 5m

What industries and applications can a Diaphragm Pump be used for?

• Chemical Industry – Acids, shear sensitive liquids, alcohol, solvents
• Hygienic Applications – Food products, cleaning liquid for CIP, cosmetic products such as toothpaste and perfume
• Water Treatment – Transferring sludges, chemical reagents, dosing for pH-control
• Surface Conditioning – Transferring chemicals from tanks and containers, handling waste products
• Mechanical Industry – Oils, lubricants, cooling liquids
• Pulp and Paper Industry – Titanium oxide, bleaching products, glue
• Paint, Print and Varnish Industry – Ink, varnish, adhesives, solvents, blending & recirculation of ink, water- and solvent-based paints

Did you know that we also offer an impressive array of accessories that can be supplied with your Diaphragm Pump to broaden the application range.

Installation

The inlet and outlet ports on your Diaphragm Pump can be turned to fit whatever pipe installation is required, making them highly versatile. Here are the various applications these pumps can be used for:

Flooded

Flooded is the ideal installation solution to completely empty a container, or where the fluid being transferred is particularly thick. This is because the piping system has a positive suction head.

Submerged

Diaphragm Pumps can be submerged within the fluid being pumped and work to push the liquid out. The Diaphragm Pump will need an air exhaust from the container to expel air to the atmosphere and allow the pump to “breathe”.

Self-Priming

A Diaphragm Pump can be installed above the fluid that you are transferring due to a suction lift of up to 8 meters from a wetted pipe (this is 5m if the suction pipe is empty). The suction capability will depend on the pump size that you purchase.

How to maintain your Diaphragm Pump?

Our supply of Diaphragm Pumps are made from 70% less parts than other AODDs on the market, which means easy disassembly and maintenance.

Here are 4 tips to ensure that your pump runs smoothly:

1. Check the seals, nuts & bolts regularly for general wear and tear
2. Tighten the main nuts and bolts of your pump once a month
3. Ensure the airline remains free from contamination
4. Do not dry run your pump indefinitely

You should be regularly checking your pump as maintenance is a key priority and takes no time at all when purchasing one of the Diaphragm Pumps from our range. We also recommend a complete inspection of your Diaphragm Pump, once a year at a minimum.

What is the maximum viscosity that a Diaphragm Pump can handle?

Air Pumps can handle up to 15,000 cPs, although if the pump is operated using fluids at the maximum viscosity, the flow rate is around 20% of the nominal flow on water. If the product being pumped is more than 2,000 cPs, we recommend installing your Diaphragm Pump in a Flooded installation to aid the pump with the flow rate.

Are Diaphragm Pumps cost efficient?

It is well known that Air Operated Diaphragm Pumps are not the cheapest pump to run due to the cost of compressed air, yet with running costs typically surpassing the original price of the pump itself, they’re still an enormously popular pump.

In these instances, try replacing your current Air Operated Diaphragm Pump for LEAP technology. The Low Energy Air Pump can start at the lowest starting pressure known for a pump on the market, meaning investing in LEAP could save your company up to 70% in energy costs! LEAP is a revolutionary technology, designed to provide low flow rates for high pressure applications.

LEAP can be retrofitted to any Tapflo, Dellmeco or Almatec Diaphragm Pump, and is available in plastic, metal and sanitary.

At TS Pumps we specialise in the supply and service of industrial pumps and systems into key industries and markets, so if this pump isn’t quite right for you, you can read more about our full range of pumps here or contact our team today to discuss your business requirements.