Handling fluids that possess high viscosity presents a unique set of engineering challenges across various industries. Materials like thick paints, strong adhesives, dense slurries, and viscous food products demand pumping solutions that go beyond the capabilities of standard equipment. The internal friction within these fluids makes them resistant to flow, requiring pumps designed with specific features to ensure efficient and reliable transfer without causing damage to the material or the pump itself.

Ovell, a leading diaphragm pump manufacturer, has engineered a range of industrial diaphragm pumps, including both air operated double diaphragm pumps and electric diaphragm pumps, specifically designed to tackle the complexities of high-viscosity fluid transfer, ensuring consistent performance and minimal downtime for operations worldwide.

Understanding High Viscosity and Its Pumping Challenges

Viscosity, essentially a fluid’s resistance to flow, dictates the type of pump required for effective transfer. High-viscosity fluids exhibit significant internal friction, making them sluggish and difficult to move. This inherent property poses several challenges for conventional pumping technologies.

• ‍Increased Energy Consumption: Moving highly viscous fluids requires more force and, consequently, more energy. Standard centrifugal pumps, for instance, often struggle with thick substances, leading to inefficient operation and increased power costs. This is a key consideration for businesses aiming to optimise their operational expenses.‍
• Cavitation Risks: While often associated with thin liquids, improper pump selection for viscous fluids can also lead to cavitation, albeit through different mechanisms. The fluid's reluctance to flow quickly enough into the pump inlet can create low-pressure zones, leading to vapour bubble formation and potential damage to the pump components.‍
• Material Degradation: Some high-viscosity fluids are shear-sensitive, meaning their properties can change if subjected to excessive mechanical force. Pumps that employ high shear forces can alter the consistency or damage the structure of these fluids, which is particularly problematic in the food, pharmaceutical, and coatings industries. A gentle pumping action, such as that provided by an air powered diaphragm pump, is often preferred.‍
• Clogging and Blockages: Many viscous fluids contain solid particles or have a tendency to thicken or even solidify if flow is interrupted. Pumps with narrow passages or complex internal geometries are prone to clogging when handling these materials, leading to operational disruptions and the need for frequent maintenance, which increases maintenance costs. Robust diaphragm pump designs are better suited to handle such challenges.

What Makes Ovell Diaphragm Pumps an Ideal Option

Ovell’s range of diaphragm pumps offers a robust and reliable solution for transferring a wide spectrum of high-viscosity fluids. Their design inherently addresses the challenges associated with these demanding materials.

• ‍Positive Displacement Action: Unlike centrifugal pumps, double diaphragm pumps operate on a positive displacement principle. Each stroke of the diaphragm creates a fixed volume within the pump chamber, which is then pushed out. This mechanism provides a consistent flow rate regardless of the fluid’s viscosity, making them highly effective for thick substances.‍
• Gentle Handling and Low Shear: The pumping action of a pneumatic diaphragm pump is relatively gentle. The diaphragms create a pushing action rather than relying on high-speed impellers, minimising shear forces exerted on the fluid. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of shear-sensitive high-viscosity materials like certain adhesives or food pastes.‍
• Ability to Handle Solids: Many high-viscosity fluids also contain suspended solids. Air operated diaphragm pumps have a design that allows them to handle these solids without easily clogging. The flexible diaphragms can pass relatively large particles, making them suitable for applications involving slurries and filled materials.‍
• Seal-less Design: A significant advantage of diaphragm pumps is their seal-less construction. This eliminates the risk of leaks, which is particularly important when handling sticky or hazardous high-viscosity chemicals. The containment provided by the diaphragms ensures the fluid remains within the pump chamber.

Key Features of Ovell Pumps for High Viscosity

Ovell incorporates specific design elements into our diaphragm pump range to further enhance their performance when handling viscous fluids.

• ‍Large Port Sizes and Smooth Internal Flow Paths: Ovell pumps are designed with generous inlet and outlet ports and smooth internal pathways to minimise flow restriction and pressure drop when pumping viscous media. This design reduces the likelihood of clogging and ensures efficient transfer. Even a 2 inch diaphragm pump from Ovell is engineered with these considerations in mind.‍
• Robust Construction Materials: Depending on the specific high-viscosity fluid being handled, Ovell offers pumps in a variety of materials, including polymers and stainless steel. These materials are chosen for their chemical compatibility and ability to withstand the abrasive nature of some viscous substances. For demanding chemical diaphragm pump applications involving thick, corrosive materials, the right construction is paramount.‍
• Adjustable Flow and Pressure: Both pneumatic and electric double diaphragm pumps from Ovell allow for easy adjustment of flow rate and discharge pressure. This flexibility is essential when dealing with fluids of varying viscosities or when the process requires precise control over the transfer rate. A diaphragm metering pump, a specialised type, offers even finer control for precise dosing of viscous additives or ingredients.‍
• Powerful Pumping Action: Ovell’s pumps are designed to generate sufficient suction to draw in highly viscous materials and create the necessary discharge pressure to move them through pipelines, even over longer distances. This robust performance ensures reliable transfer, reducing the risk of process bottlenecks. As experienced diaphragm pump manufacturers, Ovell understands the power requirements for handling thick fluids.

Utilizing Ovell Pumps for Handling Viscous Fluids

Ovell diaphragm pumps find widespread use in industries dealing with a diverse range of high-viscosity materials.

• ‍Paints and Coatings: Transferring thick paints, varnishes, lacquers, and coatings, often with suspended pigments, is a common application. The gentle pumping action prevents separation and maintains the uniformity of the product.‍
• Adhesives and Sealants: The ability to handle sticky and often abrasive adhesives and sealants makes Ovell pumps a reliable choice for manufacturing and application processes.‍
• Food and Beverage: Transferring viscous food products like honey, molasses, thick sauces, fruit purees, and dough is efficiently managed by Ovell’s sanitary diaphragm pumps, which can also be specified with FDA-compliant materials for hygiene-critical applications.‍
• Cosmetics and Personal Care: The gentle handling capabilities are ideal for transferring thick creams, lotions, gels, and pastes without altering their consistency or quality.‍
• Mining and Mineral Processing: Handling thick slurries containing high concentrations of solids is a demanding task where the robust construction and clogging resistance of Ovell pumps are particularly advantageous.‍
• Chemical Processing: Transferring viscous chemicals, resins, polymers, and other thick compounds requires pumps with excellent chemical compatibility and the ability to handle a range of viscosities and potential solid content.

Conclusion

Efficiently and reliably transferring high-viscosity fluids is crucial for productivity and quality across numerous industrial sectors. Ovell’s diaphragm pumps, encompassing both pneumatic and electric models, are specifically engineered to overcome the challenges associated with these demanding materials. Their positive displacement action, gentle handling, ability to manage solids, and seal-less design make them a superior choice for applications involving thick paints, strong adhesives, dense slurries, and viscous food products.

By understanding the unique requirements of high-viscosity fluid transfer and leveraging the advanced engineering of Ovell pumps, businesses can ensure seamless operations, minimise material degradation, and maximise the lifespan of their pumping equipment. When seeking a dependable solution for your high-viscosity fluid transfer needs, consider the proven performance and reliability offered by Ovell, a trusted diaphragm pump manufacturer.

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