From Water to Wax: How much do you really know about your liquid?
I've had my fair share of curious customers who ask me, "What kinds of liquids can be pumped?" Well, let me tell you - the answer is almost anything! But choosing the right pump for your liquid is crucial. In this article, I'll break down the factors you need to consider when selecting a pump technology for your liquid.
First and foremost, you need to know what type of liquid you’re dealing with. Liquids can be roughly divided into two categories: Newtonian and non-Newtonian. Newtonian fluids have a constant viscosity, meaning that their resistance to flow doesn’t change with shear rate. Non-Newtonian fluids, on the other hand, have a variable viscosity. Their resistance to flow changes with shear rate, and they can exhibit a range of interesting behaviours, such as thixotropy (where the viscosity decreases over time when a stress is applied) and shear-thickening (where the viscosity increases with shear rate). Let me explain this for you…
Picture this: you're wearing a cosy, knit jumper on a chilly day. When you lift your arms up and down, the jumper stretches and moves with you smoothly and consistently. This is like a Newtonian fluid - it has a constant viscosity, meaning its resistance to flow doesn't change with the level of stress applied. Water is a great example of a Newtonian fluid because it flows easily and consistently.
But now, let's say you're wearing a jumper made of a more stubborn material, like jelly or honey. When you try to lift your arms, the jumper resists and stretches in a different way, making it harder to move around. This is like a non-Newtonian fluid - its viscosity changes depending on the amount of stress applied. Think of ketchup - it can be difficult to get it out of the bottle at first, but once you apply enough force and give it a shake, it starts flowing more easily.
Next up, it's important to consider the physical properties of your liquid. Viscosity, density, and temperature are the big three. Viscosity measures your liquid's resistance to flow, density is a measure of its mass per unit volume, and temperature affects both viscosity and density. In general, viscosity decreases as temperature goes up, while density can go either way depending on whether you're dealing with liquids or gases.
Now, let's talk flow rate and pressure requirements. How much liquid do you need to pump, and how fast do you need to pump it? And what kind of pressure does your system require? These are all important factors to consider when selecting your pump.
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Lastly, we need to talk compatibility, this could be how well your knitted jumper matches your jeans! Different liquids can be corrosive or abrasive, and some can react with certain materials. For example, acids can corrode certain metals, while some solvents can dissolve certain plastics. It’s important to choose a pump that’s made from materials that are compatible with your liquid. Remember our jumper analogy from earlier? The material it’s made from is important for the fluid it’s going to come into contact with; a carboard jumper in the pouring rain would be useless.
Picking the right pump for your liquid is possibly the most important part of system design, so if you're still feeling unsure about which pump technology to go with, don't hesitate to contact me. I'll be able to help you choose the right pump for your specific needs and ensure your system is running smoothly.
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