Industrial pumps are essential devices required in every phase of oil and gas operations. Basically, they help transfer process fluids from one point to another.
Pump can be used to transfer crude oil from a storage tank to a pipeline and mud pumps are used to circulate drilling mud into the annulus of a drill bit and back to a storage tank for re-purification.
In oil and gas operations, process fluids can range from easy to difficult. Depending on the nature of the substance you want to transfer and your required flow rate, you’ll need a suitable pump for your needs.
Types of Industrial Pumps Used in the Oil and Gas Industry
Pumps used in O&G can be classified based on their design and construction and generally fall into 6 major categories:
1. Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal pumps are the most common types of pumps used in the oil and gas industry. Centrifugal pumps use centrifugal force through the rotation of the pump impeller to draw fluid into the intake of the pump and force it through the discharge section via centrifugal force. The flow through the pump is controlled by discharge flow control valves.
Single stage centrifugal pumps are primarily used for transferring low-viscosity fluids that require high flow rates. They are typically used as part of a larger pump network comprising other centrifugal pumps like horizontal multistage pump units for crude oil shipping or water injection pumps used in secondary oil and gas recovery.
2. Reciprocating Plunger Pumps
Plunger pumps are some of the most ubiquitous industrial pumps in the oil and gas industry. Plunger pumps use the reciprocating motion of plungers and pistons to pressurize fluid in an enclosed cylinder to a piping system. Plunger pumps are considered constant flow pumps since at a given speed, the flow rate is constant despite the system pressure. A relief valve is an essential part of any plunger pump discharge piping system to prevent over pressuring of the pump and piping system.
3. Progressive Cavity Pumps
A progressive cavity pump is a type of positive displacement pump and is also known as an eccentric screw pump or cavity pump. It transfers fluid by means of the progress, through the pump, of a sequence of small, fixed shape, discrete cavities, as its rotor is turned. Progressive cavity pumps are used in high viscosity applications or if blending the of the pumped fluid is not desired.
4. Diaphragm pumps
Diaphragm pumps are one of the most versatile types of oil and gas pumps in the industry and transfer fluid through positive displacement with a valve and diaphragm. The working principle of this pump is that a decrease in volume causes an increase in pressure in a vacuum and vice versa.
Diaphragm pumps are suitable for high-volume fluid transfer operations in oil refineries. They also require much less maintenance than positive displacement pumps due to their fewer moving parts and less friction during operation and are available in compact designs.
5. Gear Pumps
A gear pump uses the meshing of gears to pump fluid by displacement. Gear pumps are one of the most common types of positive displacement pumps for transferring industrial fluids.
Gear pumps are also widely used for chemical transfer applications for high viscosity fluids. There are two main variations: external gear pumps which use two external spur gears or timing gears that drive the internal gear set. The internal gears do not touch, so non-lubricating fluids can be pumped with external gear pumps. Internal gear pumps use a shaft driven drive gear to drive the internal mating gear. Gear pumps are positive displacement (or fixed displacement), meaning they pump a constant amount of fluid for each revolution.
6. Metering pumps
A metering pump moves a precise volume of liquid in a specified time period providing an accurate flow rate. Delivery of fluids in precise adjustable flow rates is sometimes called metering. The term “metering pump” is based on the application or use rather than the exact kind of pump used. Most metering pumps are simplex reciprocating pumps with a packed plunger or diaphragm liquid end. The diaphragm liquid end is preferred since the pumped fluid is sealed inside the diaphragm. No pumped liquid leaks to the atmosphere.
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