FP 70 Smooth Flow Pump – Low in Pulsation, High in Efficiency 

KNF is bringing some much-needed calm to the world.  By adding the FP 70 to its Smooth Flow liquid pump family, KNF is addressing the market need for pumps with lower pulsation.

The new product combines the established strengths of KNF diaphragm pump technology – self priming and dry running ability, gentle and clean liquid transfer, excellent chemical and abrasion resistance – with the smooth flow normally associated with gear and centrifugal pump technologies. This unique combination makes the FP 70 a tempting all round package for customers in all markets, where reliable and gentle transfer of precious liquids is key.

The integrated low-pulsation technology generates customer value in many ways.

First and foremost, it improves the efficiency of the pump and the customer’s fluidic system.  Due to the smooth and steady flow, the impedance of the customer’s fluid system is greatly reduced and therefore flow performance is significantly improved.  This can be a crucial factor if small bore tubing is used in the customer’s system.

Another benefit is the reduced risk of bubble formation and foaming, which helps to keep the liquid in a stable state and therefore increases the reliability of the customer’s processes.

Most fluid systems incorporate other components, such as filters and sensors, which are also positively affected by the low pulsation.  Lower pressure means less stress on these parts, which results in a longer lifetime.

In many systems, the pumps are part of a closed-loop PID control system using flow or pressure sensors to provide feedback.  Pulsation in these systems can make integration more complicated and the choice of flow sensors which can cope with large pulsations is limited and more costly.  A pump with smooth flow delivery makes control and integration much simpler and allows the use of more common and lower-cost sensors.  This offers an interesting cost and time saving potential for customers.

In medical applications, where equipment is often situated close to, or in direct contact with the patient, minimising pulsation can have a positive impact.  Any pulses in the liquid are transferred to the tubing and to other parts of the equipment, so smooth flow helps to make treatments a calmer and less stressful experience.

Integrating a pump into a system with additional pulsation damping elements and extra fittings and tubing can be challenging where space is limited, and the extra components add cost.  The FP 70 solves these problems by having all the necessary damping technology integrated.

In its standard configuration, the FP 70 delivers flowrates up to 850 ml/min and is designed for continuous operation up to 2 bar pressure.  On a project basis, configurations offering up to 1.2 l/min, or up to 4 bar are possible.  The integrated dampers reduce the pulsation very effectively at both the pump inlet and outlet.  Patented 4-point valves ensure reliable self-priming of the pump, even at very low motor speed.  This means no additional priming pump is needed in the customer’s system.

To match the customer’s control and lifetime requirements, the FP 70 can be equipped with motors ranging from high-end programmable BLDC motors to lower-end DC motors.  Depending on the operating parameters, the BLDC motors can achieve a lifetime of more than 20,000 hours.  Furthermore, our programmable BLDC motors can be customised by KNF to provide customer-specific control behaviour and individual pump calibration to deliver precise and consistent performance from every pump.  Along with a wide selection of elastomers such as EPDM, PTFE, FFKM and FKM, different hydraulic connectors such as compression fittings, push-in fittings, inside threads or hose barbs, the pump may be further customised according to the customer’s needs.

All in all, the FP 70 offers great value to the customer by combining the best of both worlds: the low pulsation from gear and centrifugal pumps and the strengths known from diaphragm pumps such as self-priming and dry-running ability, gentle and clean liquid transfer as well as excellent chemical resistance.  Combined with KNF’s ability to customise the pumps to meet specific customer needs, regardless of lot size, value is delivered to the customer in many ways.  Learn more about the FP 70 and other Smooth Flow Solutions by visiting www.knf.com or by contacting your local KNF sales office directly.

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