Industrial Drum Pumps

A drum pump consists of either a long hose or pipe used to transport liquid, whether it be drinking water or fuel, for example. The hose is placed at the bottom of the drum, and the pump is positioned at the top. The pump body contains a built-in motor and gears that rotate the impeller.

Drums are typically used for storing liquids. However, when full, they are heavy and impractical to move as a whole. Drum pumps are suitable for transferring liquid in drums. Generally, a drum pump consists of a long pipe reaching the bottom of the drum, a pump body located "at the top of the pump," and another pipe leading from the pump to a separate container where the liquid will be pumped. The pump body contains either a motor or a crank, which drives the impellers. Drum pumps operate relatively simply. The operator of the pump simply opens a small plug at the top of the drum, inserts the hose or pipes leading from the pump. The second pipe is placed into the tank where the liquid (water, non-corrosive liquids) is to be pumped, and the pump is started.

Drum pumps are most commonly used in the chemical, petroleum, and food industries. They are used for pumping toxic liquids such as acids, lyes, flammable solvents, or petroleum products. The most popular pumps, especially in the chemical industry, are manual. They are operated using a crank, which allows easy regulation of the amount of liquid transferred. Their use with volatile liquids is understandable, given that electric pumps are unusable from a safety perspective. Electrically powered pumps can be pneumatic or air-driven. Pneumatically powered pumps require air compressors and other costly and bulky equipment, and therefore are rarely used.

In addition to large drum pumps, there are pumps designed for smaller containers - 25 litres and 4 litres. These are more commonly known as pumps for high-viscosity liquids because these liquids often contain fats or adhesives. Most chemical, petroleum, and food liquids have lower viscosity.