How to Select a Progressive Cavity Pump

What is a Progressive Cavity Pump?

Progressive Cavity Pumps, also referred to as Progressing Cavity Pumps or PC Pumps, are volumetric, self-priming Positive Displacement Pumps. The pumps consist of a rotor which rotates within a stator, which in turn causes the stators cavities to fill with the media being pumped.

Advantages of Progressive Cavity Pumps:

Progressive Cavity Pumps are available in many executions and have been designed to handle tough and high-viscous fluids, ensuring a near-constant flow rate and exceptional suction lift capabilities.

• Uniform Flow which is proportional to the speed of rotation
• Suitable for low NPSHa & suction lift (up to 8 m)
• Can pump shear-sensitive & heterogeneous fluids containing gases, solids, abrasive particulates & fibrous materials
• Can pump both low and high-viscosity fluids
• Can be used for low-flow & dosing applications
• Low pulsation with minimal tensile strain on the process media
• High discharge pressures, up to 48 bar (6 bar/stage). Units are available with 1 – 8 stages
• Patented pin joined design for increased solids passage capabilities
• Reversible flow
• Modular design

Common industries & applications:

Progressive Cavity Pumps are ideally suited to moving challenging fluids such as wastewater sludge, slurries, and shear-sensitive materials, with a varied temperature range of – 40°C to +150°C.

• Biogas
• Brewing, distilling, and oenological
• Papermaking
• Wastewater treatment
• Chemical
• Pharmaceutical
• Cosmetics
• Food & beverage

What are your fluid & media transfer characteristics?

To choose the appropriate Progressive Cavity Pump for your application, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What media will be pumped? Consider the chemical composition of the media you will be pumping – is it chemically neutral or corrosive, shear sensitive etc.
2. What is the viscosity of the media you intend to pump? Consider viscosity limitations, shear sensitivity etc.
3. Do you need to pump fluids containing solids?
4. Is your environment or fluid explosive?
5. Do you require hygienic connections?
6. Do you require self-priming capabilities?

Materials Available:

• Cast iron
• Bronze
• Stainless Steel 304 & 316
• F55 super duplex
• ECTFE fluoropolymer coatings on request

Rotors, stators, and connections are all available in various materials for both industrial and food-grade applications.

Some of our materials offer an ATEX option on request for explosive applications and environments.

Maintenance required to keep your Progressive Cavity Pumps running:

Regular maintenance is crucial to keeping your pump performing at its best and ensuring a long life span. Progressive Cavity Pumps are unable to dry run for long periods, so preventing this is one of the key factors for maintaining a PC pump, along with:

• Stator inspections
• Bearing housing
• Lubrication replacement
• Checking for wear and tear on seals
• Inspect for shaft wear

Depending on the size of your pump and the fluid you are pumping, a more detailed maintenance schedule may be required.

Additional Factors to Consider:

Will your pump be stationary, or do you need it to be portable? If you require portability, Progressive Cavity Pumps can be fitted to trolleys of any size to suit your needs.

Will you require additional accessories for your pump? Progressive Cavity Pumps come in a wide range of executions and can be modified to your requirements.