At Michael Smith Engineers, we stock a comprehensive range of Drum Pumps from Finish Thompson to cater for a wide variety of containers – including barrels, containers, canisters, tanks, carboys, IBCs and drums – and differing media types and viscosities. Multiple pump options are available depending on the size and type of container, the media being pumped and the on-site power supply.
As their name suggests, drum pumps, or barrel pumps as they are also known as, are used to transfer media from containers in a safe and effective manner, without the need to tip the container. Different tube lengths are available to cater for varying container depths and different material constructions are on offer depending on the media being pumped. For an IBC Pump we would recommend those with a shaft length of either 40 or 44 inches.
IBC pumps typically comprise a tube – which is as long as the container is deep – that fits through the opening on the top of the container. Inside the tube is a vertical shaft, with a motor at the top and an impeller at the bottom. The rotation of the impeller pumps the liquid up the tube and out of the discharge port at the top of the tube.
Before users can specify which IBC pump variant to deploy, they must consider multiple variables in order to successfully match the IBC emptying pump or IBC transfer pump to the application. The first variable is the media being transferred, in terms of its chemical formulation (corrosive, flammable, oil, solvent, etc.), specific gravity/viscosity and temperature. The user must then consider the container size, IBCs are generally a standard size so this makes selection of an IBC pump easier. The third consideration for an IBC Pump, like any pump, is the required head and flow, i.e. how high does it need to pump and how fast. Finally, the user must look which motor power source is available on site (air or electricity), does the motor need to be explosion proof and, if electric, what voltage is available. Our IBC pumps are available with various motor types including air motors. If an IBC Electric pump is preferred there is also the choice of mains and battery powered motors. These battery powered motors may be particularly suitable for an AdBlue transfer pump or an IBC emptying pump.
Once these parameters have been confirmed, the next step is to select the most appropriate outer tube material, while also considering the fact that there are other components and materials within the barrel pump body that will be in contact with the media. Outer tubes are available in polypropylene (PP), 316 stainless steel, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) and pure polypropylene/PVDF. Chemical resistance guides on our Useful Info page can be used to ascertain which material best suits the media being handled, while background technical documents on Finish Thomson Pumps will detail other internal components and materials.
Once the IBC tank pump body has been chosen, the user needs to examine what on-site power supplies and restrictions there are in order to select the appropriate motor. The user has a wide choice, but not all motor variants can be matched to all tube/body types. Users can choose from either electric- or air-driven motors, with electric motor options including splash proof design for light indoor use, totally enclosed fan cooled options for industrial applications and ATEX explosion proof motors for use with flammable liquids or in hazardous locations. Electric motors can be supplied as fixed speed or variable speed units and air-driven motor options include ATEX certified designs for use in hazardous locations.
These many considerations make it essential for a supplier to have extensive experience and to be able to offer a wide choice of product configurations.
In many instances, the motors and tubes give users the flexibility to mix and match in order to build their own IBC transfer pump sets. This also helps with in-field maintenance as individual components can be easily replaced. Michael Smith Engineers also offers features that set its barrel pumps apart from others on the market. These include: robust metal couplings that are far less susceptible to wear and breakage; variable outlet orifices to cater for different flow rates in the same tube body; universal impellers, which offer both high flow and high head from the same tube; and a 12V lithium-ion cordless rechargeable drum pump motor, designed to allow the transfer of fluids from drums, barrels and carboys when an electrical or air supply is not available.
Michael Smith Engineers also offers a range of accessories to increase the capabilities and usability of its comprehensive range of drum pumps and barrel pumps. These include: flexible PVC hoses, static protection kits, drum adapters, flow meters, filter/lubricator assemblies, nozzles and strainers.