Process / Chemical Metering

Metering Pumps are to Chemicals, as Needles are to Medicine

Chemicals make up a “top-3” expense for any plant, and their value to the process is invaluable because chemicals provide the life-blood for industrial and municipal plants. Metering pumps play a key role in dosing chemicals (that are often procured and stored in high concentrations). Although a metering pump is far less expensive than the material it handles – it must accurately deliver precise volumes every time – to ensure proper results for the process.

Pulsafeeder pumps are the preferred choice for metering chemicals in industrial & municipal plants. The most common chemicals pumped include:

Manufacturing:

• Sodium Silicate (for pulp & paper production)
• Ethylene Glycols (for manufacturing plastics, textiles, latex paints, adhesives)
• Vinyl Methyl Ether and Vinyl Monomers
• Nitrate, Ammonium, Urea, Phosphate and Potassium (for fertigation/fertilizers)
• Methanol (MTBE production for petroleum refining and solvent production)
• Hydrochloric Acid (hundreds of uses including PVC production and metal refining)
• Triethylaluminum/TEAL (for manufacturing of plastics, common co-catalyst in olefin polymerization)

PH Control:

• Sulfuric Acid – to lower pH
• Caustic Soda (sodium hydroxide) – to raise pH
• Sodium Bisulfite – for dechlorinating applications
• Lime Slurries – for water softening

Disinfection:

• Sodium hypochlorite
• Calcium hypochlorite
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Bromine (in cooling tower applications)
• Copper Sulfate (for algae control in cooling tower applications)
• Ammonium Sulfate or aqua ammonia (for chloramines/secondary disinfection)

Coagulation & Flocculation:

• Alum or sodium aluminate
• Ferric chloride
• Proprietary Polymers (provided by water doctors)

Taste and Odor Control:

• Activated Carbon Slurries
• Diatomaceous Slurries (wet and dry applications)
• Fluoride compounds

Heavy Metal Removal:

• Potassium Permanganate (for manganese & iron removal)
• Phosphate (for redwater control)
• Hydrochloric Acid (for numerous applications)

Metering pumps used to deliver chemicals should be selected by criteria specific to the process, such as:

• Flow Rates & Pressure – as required by the process
• Corrosion resistance - to the chemical being pumped
• Accuracy – to deliver precisely the amount of chemical needed for a process
• Reliability – to ensure sustained and predictable operation
• Simplified maintenance – to minimize costs and maximize plant uptime
• Safety – to protect plant employees, and the surrounding environment

This criterion helps to determine whether a diaphragm pump or a rotary gear pump is the best choice for a specific application.