FAQs About The Use Of Multi-Screw Pumps In Modern Industry

Over the past years, the use of multi-screw pumps in industries has risen exponentially, with consumption volume increasing to 202,000 units in 2022 from 146,000 in 2015. This swift increase has been prompted by a few factors, including the major expansion in the industries of end users, such as food and beverage, chemical and petrochemicals, and power generation.

On the other hand, some experts attribute the increased adoption of multi-screw pumps to these pumps' utilisation in hydraulic fracturing, the modernisation of the wastewater and water industries, and the constant rise of industrialisation and urbanisation in developing countries.  

With the rising demand for multi-screw pumps, there is an increasing understanding and awareness of its benefits. Read on to find out some of the most frequently asked questions about this increasingly prominent multi-screw pump technology.

1. What is a multi-screw pump?

A multi-screw pump is a rotating positive displacement pump that uses two or more metal screws to push the liquid through. The shape of its rotors also usually resembles a screw, hence the name. Multi-screw pumps come in varieties depending on the number of screws they have. They are typically available in four screw, three screw, and two screw varieties.

Each variety of a multi-screw pump is specifically suitable for a particular set of industry applications. Four screw pumps are universally applicable across industries, as they are usually hydraulically balanced with a design that fends off metal-to-metal contact and reduces turbulence and maintenance by a significant degree.

Three screw pumps, on the other hand, are efficient at conveying non-corrosive and non-abrasive products in addition to liquids with medium to low viscosity. They are often lightweight and ideal for application across industry verticals. 

Finally, when it comes to liquids that have an array of qualities, from non-corrosive to corrosive, non-abrasive to slightly abrasive, and low to highly lubricating mediums, two screw pumps are the most suitable option. These pumps come with a single drive screw that conveys torque to the rotating intermeshing-driven screw through a hydrodynamic film.

2. How do multi-screw pumps work?

The operating principle behind multi-screw pumps is intrinsic in how their interlocking screws move the product. These pumps run through a drive spindle that transfers torque to several rotating and intermeshing spindles.As these screws rotate, the chambers constantly move to the pressure side from the suction side, effectively transmitting the product. This working principle prompts the high performance and the gentle and smooth pumping of multi-screw pumps.

3. What are the pros of using multi-screw pumps?

Multi-screw pumps deliver a wide array of benefits across their different applications. First, these pumps are renowned for their energy and operating efficiency, leading to a substantial reduction in fuel and maintenance costs in industries. Multi-screw pumps can provide as high as 23.3% more efficiency compared to the other pumps on the market.

Second, multi-screw pumps can also deal with various media, including highly-viscous and incompressible products. This includes aggressive, shear-sensitive products, solids-laden, corrosive, abrasive, lubricating, non-lubricating, and with low or high viscosity.

Third, multi-screw pumps usually have a high-level performance because they are high-pressure and leak-free. They commonly handle conveyed products smoothly and gently, minimising noise pollution throughout the process. Since they are wholly made of metal, multi-screw pumps also have a high tolerance for high temperatures.

Finally, what is better about multi-screw pumps is that they are hygienic by design. This makes them perfect for application in near-sterile environments, such as cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries. These pumps are straightforward to clean since they are usually made of stainless steel and are strictly polished to avoid pumped products from sticking to the surfaces.

4. Why are multi-screw pumps ideal for modern industry?

Multi-screw pumps are suitable for various applications across modern industry primarily because they are positive displacement pumps with the highest flow rate. The increased industrialisation and urbanisation in developing countries and the expanded use of hydraulic fracturing are all essential factors behind the increased adoption of multi-screw pumps.

Furthermore, these pumps deliver enormous value in many of the world's most technologically advanced and large-scale experiments, such as gravitation wave detectors, ultra-high vacuum chambers, and space simulation chambers. With all of these benefits and breakthroughs, it is not hard to understand why multi-screw pumps have become so prominent over the last half-decade.

Conclusion