After talking to the client, we started to look at various test rig pump options for the high viscosity mixtures.

The problem we faced was that the viscosity of the liquids would be very high. This meant that there was in danger of forming a clog at the pump inlet due to the liquid’s inability to flow. As a result, the pump would potentially need feeding with fluid which reduced the number of options available to us.

After further discussions with the client, we decided that a non-pulsating flow would be required, meaning that the obvious choice was a wide throat progressing cavity pump with a hopper.

A variety of viscosities

In this application, the client would be pumping a variety of shear-thinning liquids with a viscosity range between 10,000cps and 100,000cps. Some of these liquids would flow relatively easily, whilst others would need a little help. These fluids would be mixed from powder to the client’s own concentrations to test various parameters.

They basically wanted an all-in-one, easy-to-control new pump which would deliver fluids at the same pressure - regardless of the viscosity. In addition, they had various specific requirements they wanted to consider which included: