Diaphragm Pumps
Diaphragm pumps represent approximately 30% of the positive displacement pumps segment; unlike others positive displacement pump styles (flexible impeller, piston, lobe, vane, gear, progressing cavity, multiple screw), where the fluid seal is provided by close fitting rotary or sliding parts (prone to wear out easily by abrasive fluids), in the diaphragm pump's plain design, the hydraulic tight seal is totally granted by the diaphragm itself, flexing back and forth inside its chamber, without any contact (so with no friction!).
For this reason diaphragm pumps are self-priming, even at dry start-up, without any mechanical seal to maintain; referring to the diaphragm moving without any sliding or rolling friction instead, this gives diaphragm pumps the ability to run dry without any damage for an extended time period, as well as to handle shear sensitive fluids in a gentle manner.
Even most heavier, viscous liquids can be efficiently transferred by diaphragm pumps: high suction lift easily drawn fluids into the pump where, thanks to the wide flow path sections, they move at relatively low speed, minimizing viscous friction loss.
Due to their design and reliability, diaphragm pumps can easily run 24/7, so they are widely considered to be a process style workhorse pumps for many industries, thanks also for their simplicity and robustness, with the ability to run dry indefinitely and to deal with foreign material or solids without causing the typical damage other pumps might sustain (unless at least a punctured diaphragm).
It should be specified that the majority of industrial transfer diaphragm pumps utilized in United States and Europe is represented by the so called Air Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) variant: if you are using or looking for this diaphragm pump type (e.g. if you need an Atex compliant pump with no electrical motors or controls to cause fire or explosion hazard, or also to prevent electrocution in wet environments), we can suggest the best air operated double diaphragm pumps DEPA, upon which you could place the patented AISI 316 stainless steel fluid flow reverser assembly, with its hygienic design (HD), the ability to grant a great fluid seal, ease of use, cleaning, and can also be remotely driven by pneumatic actuators. Quadia's patented diaphragm pumps fluid flow reverser set with pulsation dampeners located right on suction / discharge manifolds, can widen air operated double diaphragm pumps typical applications range, especially in food and wine industries or wherever there's a need to override as much as possible the reciprocating pressures and to easily reverse fluid flow, for example to clean / drain pipes / hoses after a fluid transfer or in case of a tank overfill or for emergency purposes:
Quadia offers a modern alternative to Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps
Quadia is the first high flow-rate electro-mechanical food grade quad diaphragm pump for fluids transfer and metering: the unique patented system for rectlinear reciprocating sequential motion of four diaphragms, enables to get high volume transfer at low cycle rate, as well as to effective counteracting the reciprocating pressures / pulsations problem (common oddity of double diaphragm pumps), for the full benefit of the transferred fluid preservation (less flow speed inside the pump, minimum amount of shaking), with extreme gentleness, maintaining air operated double diaphragm pump's peculiar features, like the ability to run dry indefinitely whithout damaging or heating, or to transfer shear sensitive fluids without degrading them, with a delicate, soft pumping action, optimal especially with abrasive, viscous fluids, even with entrained solids or gases.
High efficiency mechanical drive with state of the art electric motor with variable frequency drive (VFD) is, however, the factor that really sets Quadia apart from air operated double diaphragm pumps: Quadia simply needs a power source socket to start working immediately, silently and, mainly... inexpensively, to be more precise with low electricity / energy costs compared to a same effective flow rate air operated double diaphragm pump, thanks to the compressed air energetic inefficiency, with losses in the compressor, pipes and valves, and the consequent need for air compressor with electrical power 4 to 5 times greater than Quadia pump's need!
Please note that Quadia pump's energy consumption is a lot less than other pump styles too, as in piston pumps (where there is an extra sliding friction to grant fluid seal between piston and cylinder) or as in peristaltic / hose pumps (that are characterised by great sliding / rotating friction between shoes / rollers and the elastomeric hose element, and where the elastic resistance of the hose itself must be won too); the picture beneath show the actual costs over the typical service life of a pump (Life Cicle Costs) for different pump styles, as sum of purchase price, maintenance / spare parts costs and energy costs:
 So, Quadia's technology allows remarkable energy savings if compared to traditional pump styles commonly used in food / wine industries; add to this the 60% reduction of lubricant needed for the pump to run (compared, for example, to a piston pump with the same effective flow rate), thanks to the patented forced lubrication system, in full confirmation that the ecological consciousness and the environment care, were compulsory requirements to fulfill from the early stages of Quadia's development.
Focusing on wine making / oenological industries, reference market for F.lli Tabanelli, it's easy to understand how diaphragm pumps, quite unusual in European wineries / cellars, are instead for their positive attributes, very well suited for:
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gentle, soft, low-shear handling, minimizes release of seed tannins in must, lees formation and lets entrained air escape;
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seal-less design minimizes air incorporation and oxidation, preserving wine's quality, flavor and aroma;
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great versatility meets the many different needs and applications within every single winery, from transfers of crushed grapes, juices, musts, wines, to pumping over, till barrel work, etc...
Please note that, beetween all the various pump styles, diaphragm pumps cause the lowest amount of tannins and lees in wine musts, because the only grape skins / seeds crushing or tearing eventuality may be produced by back movement of ball check valves to their seats: crushing is however very limited, thanks to the minimal contact surface and force applied between valves and seats, in comparison with contact surfaces and forces involved in a progressive cavity / screw pump (to create an hydraulic tight seal between rotor and rubber stator) or in a peristaltic / hose pump (where the rollers / shoes to create a tight fluid seal, must compress the elastomeric element / hose till its complete closing, trapping and crushing all the skins / seeds that cannot slide ahead or behind the contact point inside the hose itself).
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