The range of Air Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) pumps on the market makes finding the best available challenging. Different quality materials, different efficiency, life span and more means that even the most serious of pump buyers might find themselves overwhelmed when they assess all their options.
AODD pumps are some of the most flexible pumps available to a plant operator. They are capable of pumping a wide variety of fluids, thin and thick liquids, abrasive, corrosive, toxic, shear sensitive and solids. They can handle being treated in ways that many other types of pumps cannot. AODD pumps can handle running dry for much longer than positive displacement pumps and centrifugal pumps before they start to fail.
Because they are cheap and can be viewed as disposable (plants will often spend more running an AODD pump in the 12 months after it is purchased than they did purchasing it) AODD pumps are purchased as a commodity a lot of the time – which means that no research is done on quality or relative maintenance costs of each manufacturer’s pump – each one is as good as the next, so just buy the cheapest and get on with it.
The quality varies between manufacturers. Because of the price, the time isn’t really taken to go through an in-depth specification process. Most AODD pump replacements are done with the end customer being responsible for their own specification. And the specification will be inlet and outlet sizes, product being pumped and maybe construction materials – this creates a few downstream challenges for the buyer:
Keeping Maintenance Costs As Low As Possible
One of the chief reasons for the popularity of AODD pumps is that they are cheap to buy and therefore cheap to replace. But unfortunately, AODD pumps require more maintenance than other types of pumps. Over their lifetime maintenance costs make up a sizable amount of the cost of ownership.
Not all pump brands are equally cheap to maintain. Investigation of ongoing costs of maintenance of any brand of pump being considered would be wise. Generally the simpler the pump design and higher the quality of components, the less it will cost to maintain and the lower the ongoing maintenance costs.
Chemical Compatibility With the Fluid Being Pumped
For any number of reasons an AODD pump will be used to pump a fluid that will react with or damage the construction materials. Usually this is done with full knowledge of the operation and maintenance teams. It’s a case of the pump being cheap and it is better to have some throughput now and buy a new pump later than just letting a process sit idle.
The right mix of pumps in inventory will get you through most emergencies experienced in your plants. For a small upfront investment of time, an optimal inventory of AODD pumps can be purchased. The right inventory should save some money because the next time there is a system outage you have AODD pumps made from compatible materials on hand for the chemicals you need pumped. You can quickly put them into service. Once the original pumps are back service those AODD pumps can be cleaned and go back into storage for the next time.
Contamination
One of the most common uses of AODD pumps are mobile pumping stations, moving them from one side of the pant to another. In some plants this can result in a wide array of fluids being put through a pump. Make sure that pumps are properly flushed after use. If not you risk cross-contamination of your lines potentially damaging your downstream production/ end product.
Adequate Air Power to Drive the Pump
In some cases, not enough supply-pressure from the compressed air system will impede AODD pump performance. This can result in regulators cranked open to try and increase performance – which can cause problems for your pump. Getting your compressed air system to provide the right flow of air where you need it will get you the performance you need from your pumps.
The right filter/regulator unit for the pump makes a world of difference to the pumps reliability and its operating cost.
Another reason to work with Pye-Barker on your AODD pumps – we can optimize your compressed air system performance and get you the right volume and flow at each outlet.
How Do We Help Our Clients Achieve These Objectives?
To help our clients get the right AODD pump, that operates as specified with very little maintenance and that is easy to get back online when a breakdown occurs, Pye-Barker recommends FTI Air’s AODD pumps.
Why Choose FTI Air?
FTI AIR has its own additional unique features. It features a lube-free, non-stalling air valve, ideal for various applications and environments. The air valve contains very few parts compared to other air valves in the market, reducing maintenance time, costs and downtime. And FTI AIR is backed by a strong 5 year warranty.
SIMPLICITY OF DESIGN: Fewer number of parts for easy maintenance and improved reliability.
MODULAR DESIGN: Modular design simplifies maintenance with individually replaceable, lower cost wear parts. Maintenance requires no special tools.
RUGGED, DURABLE PARTS: FTI Air’s engineers are experts at designing robust and reliable pumping solutions for industrial environments. This ensures all parts are capable of reliable operation in the harshest applications and installation locations.
QUALITY BUILT: Single piece flow assembly procedures utilizing assembly fixtures and automated calibrated torque tools to validate every pump is built to quality specifications.
100% FACTORY TESTED: Every pump is factory tested with an automated three point test for vacuum, leakage and run ability. Only air is used during testing to ensure no residual water is present when received.
FIVE YEAR WARRANTY: Backed by a five-year warranty on materials and workmanship and offering outstanding after sales support.
What Are The Key Features Of FTI Air’s AODD Pumps?
FTI Air’s pumps have the following key features:
• Painted die cast aluminium or glass fibre reinforced polypropylene plastic valve body.
• Internal Components:
o Aluminium valve: Carbon filled PTFE slide valve, polished alumina ceramic valve plate and hard anodized aluminium valve carrier.
o Plastic valve: Carbon filled PTFE slide valve, polished alumina ceramic valve plate and UHMW polyethylene valve carrier with permanently lubricated seals for long wear life.
• Low friction slide valve on ceramic valve plate allows for longest life and superior sealing.
• Moulded Buna gasket ensures total sealing and eliminates flat gasket tearing.
• Turned diaphragm shaft, shifts the valve eliminating need for separate pilot or mechanically operated pilot valve.
• Fewer air valve parts than the competition
• Non-stalling design
• Only 3 moving parts (carrier, PTFE shoe, slotted shaft)
• Outside mounting
• Lube free design
• Individually replaceable components easily restore valve to brand new condition.
What Are The Key Accessories For AODD Pumps?
Due their unique design, there are a few accessories that should always be used when installing these pumps. FTI Air offers these critical features
Pulsation Dampeners – Because of the way AODD pumps operate, they create an undesirable pulse that is transmitted through the piping. A pulsation dampener is used to remove virtually all hydraulic shock while producing a near steady flow of fluid. These are available in a wide range of materials of construction.
Filter/Regulator – This filter is used to filter supply air from the compressor down to five microns. Compact, integrated design saves space and reduces piping, includes dual scale psi/MPa gauge. Regulator adjusts air pressure from 7.3 to 120 psig (.5 to 8.3 Bar).
SPILLSTOP - Fully pneumatic system safely captures leaked product due to diaphragm failure and automatically shuts down failed pumps to eliminate costly product loss and prevent hazardous spills.
What Information is Required to Get the Right AODD Pump?
You can put our 150 plus years of combined engineering experience at Pye-Barker to work for you – if you can tell us the following information, we’ll be able to help you select the right AODD pumps for your application(s)
1. What fluid is being pumped?
2. What’s its viscosity?
3. What’s is its temperature?
4. What flow rate do you need?
5. What is the outlet pressure?
6. What air pressure do you have available to drive the pump?
With that information we are well on our way to being able to help you select the right pump(s) for your application and even help you keep the right parts and pumps in inventory so that you are almost never in a position of being held up waiting for parts of replacements to arrive.
About Pye-Baker’s Pumps Systems Consulting, Supplying And Installation
Pye-Barker can advise you on the design, specification, provide all the parts for your AODD pumps, help you install them and even assist you maintaining them. With 150 years of positive displacement engineering experience. There isn’t an application we haven’t had direct experience with already and can provide input on making it work or work better using our products.
What To Do Next?
If you need help selecting the right AODD pump or pumps (and other pumps too) for an application then call 404-363-6000 or email sales@pyebarker.com. We will work with you to get your design and pump specifications correct and then give you options that will best meet your unique objectives. We call this our Pye-Barker Needs Assessment.
