Pumps & Systems, December 2007
A metering pump is a positive displacement pump having the ability to deliver an accurate measure of liquid. This accurate amount of fluid being pumped produces a precise flow rate, either manually or automatically.
The unique characteristics of metering pumps are their accuracy and ability to vary the flow rate. These pumps can also be adjusted to pump at any flow rate between zero and their maximum capacity. Metering pumps are generally used in applications such as hydrocarbon processing, power generation, water and wastewater treatment.
The flow rate of a metering pump is controlled manually by adjusting a micrometer on the front of the pump that allows the pump to be operated between 10 percent and 100 percent of nameplate capacity. The flow rate can also be controlled automatically by using variable speed drives to slow the speed of the pump while the size of the dose being injected remains the same.
Any of the following requirements necessitate the use of metering pumps:
- Low flow rates are demanded.
- High accuracy feed rate is demanded.
- Corrosive, hazardous or high temperature fluids.
- Implementation of a flow control mechanism is required to obtain the precise pressure relative to the discharge pressure.
- Isolation of viscous fluids or slurries fluids within the pumping system.
The North American metering pumps market for process industries has been segmented into two major pump technologies, namely:
- Diaphragm metering pumps
- Piston and plunger metering pumps
The total North American metering pumps market generated revenues of $200 million in 2006. Figure 1 (below) shows the
revenue forecast for the North American metering pumps market for the period 2003-2013.
The initial years of this forecast period should experience a stable growth in revenues since this market is mostly a replacement market. In 2013, this market is expected to generate revenues of $268.5 million, with the CAGR likely to be 4.3 percent from 2007 to 2013.
A slight increase in revenues is expected due to new equipment being sold with growing population in new age economies and more water/wastewater plants, ethanol plants and so on are built. Furthermore, stricter government regulations and efficiency, accuracy, and technology improvements are expected to force manufacturers to upgrade their equipment. These factors are also expected to increase the market revenues slightly during the forecast period.
Key Market Drivers
Increased Focus on Improving Quality, Accuracy, and Reliability of Pumps Encourages Sales Revenues
Manufacturers now produce highly accurate pumps that are reliable with regard to dosing because many applications require extremely precise amounts of chemicals to be measured and introduced into the fluid stream. End users seek reliable and efficient metering pumps they know should meet their needs. Metering pumps are also being constructed out of durable materials, such as plastics, so they last for an adequate amount of time.
Growth in Water and Wastewater Municipal Application Drives the Demand
As water and wastewater municipal applications continue to grow, the need for metering pumps increases. Surface and raw water, pretreatment of water and wastewater require a purification process that necessitates a metering pump to accurately treat the water with chemicals. With demographic changes and population growth, the need to develop more treatment facilities is expected to increase.
Emerging Technology Influences Improved Monitoring Capabilities
The ability to properly control a metering pump is strongly influencing technology advancement in the market by allowing customers to digitally monitor the flow of their metering pumps, horsepower, and other measurable variables.
Control is easier, more accurate, and economical when instruments that measure these parameters are available to digitally adjust the metering pump to the required specifications, instead of using an employee to physically adjust the pump.
Stricter Governmental Regulations Promote Early Replacement
Environmental legislation and enforcement have historically been key market drivers. Equipment that does not comply with governmental regulations is required to be replaced. Legislation is becoming stricter with companies who dump fluids without being treated, such as wastewater or water that has been contaminated by leakage from the seals of the pump.
Conclusion
The North American metering pumps market is expected to witness moderate growth during the next few years due to the fact that the majority of sales are expected to come from the replacement of old and aging equipment. Manufacturers will continue striving to keep reliability, quality, accuracy, and efficiency high.
Metering pumps are evolving into more sophisticated assets with advancements in technology. These pumps are being manufactured with a higher level of reliability that makes them capable of handling more corrosive fluids with reduced leakage. Advancements on capacity control have developed and will continue.
New digital metering pumps now enable end users to input the desired injection rate without the need to perform any arithmetic calculations to estimate the flow. In the future, these new digital metering pumps are likely to eliminate the need for accessories such as flowmeters, pulsation dampeners, pressure relief valves and so on, thus leading to a decline in the installation costs of metering pumps. As such, these systems will become more user-friendly.