If you are new to the idea of pumps, or new to the chemical industries, one area you should learn about is how liquids are handled, specifically pumps and their applications in the chemical industries. Here is a guide to get you started on one common type of pump, the liquiflo gear pump.
History
Gear pumps actually have a surprising history. The famous astronomer Johannes Kepler is credited for inventing the first gear pump during the very early 1600s, as a way to pump water for a fountain. Throughout the following centuries, it was reinvented and refined by such historical names as Blaise Pascal and James Watt. With the advent and widespread use of electricity and chemical production, today this kind of pump looks and functions a bit differently from its ancestor.
Types
There are two principle types of gear pumps: internally-geared and externally-geared. The first type uses two gears of the same size, rotating next to one another with their teeth interlocking like the gears in a watch. One gear is supplied direct power and drives the other. The second type uses a larger circular gear with internal teeth and a smaller gear inside the larger, which is the drive gear. In both types, the non-drive gear is called the idler. There are various subtypes of these two main kinds of gear pumps, each adapted for a specific application.
Applications
Since liquid chemicals and compounds are used in such a broad range of industries, gear pumps have been designed to handle many different types of fluids, such as sludge, acids, slurries, high-viscosity liquids and more. Internally-geared pumps are more effective with highly viscous substances, while externally-geared pumps work better with higher pressures. Some examples of industries which use gear pumps include printing, food and beverage, oil production and asphalt.
These are just the beginning points of interest when familiarizing yourself with gear pumps. Now that you have a better grasp of them, you can delve deeper into their specific applications for your particular industry.