Pitbull® Pumping Principle . . . How does it Work?
Pitbull will pump anything that flows
Pitbull patented Pneumatic Displacement Sump and Transfer Pumps are simple to install and easy to operate. The pumping principle is based on the concept of compressed air acting like a "piston" directly on the surface of the liquid being pumped. No diaphragm and no bladder.
A Pitbull pump consists of a pressure chamber with two specially selected check valves and a control panel located remote to the pump. The pump chamber is connected to the control panel by a 15-foot bundle of rubber hoses.
Fill Cycle
In submerged and flooded suction installations, the displaced air is vented to atmosphere as fluid enters the chamber. Optional self-priming models incorporate an integral vacuum generator that creates a vacuum inside the pump chamber. These self-priming models are used for suction lifts of 10 to 20 feet and provide flow inducement for specific applications. Installations include where space restrictions or extreme corrosives limit the use of submerged pumps.
When fluid level in the pump chamber is sensed to be near full, the controls automatically close the air exhaust valve and open the air discharge valve, releasing compressed air energy into the top of the pumping chamber and on the liquid surface. The inlet check valve is automatically pushed closed. Liquid and contents are forced out through the now open discharge check valve and connected piping.
After each discharge cycle, the air is automatically shut off and the filling and discharge cycle is repeated. An air/liquid interface is maintained, eliminating the need for any form of diaphragm or bladder. The full energy is directed onto the surface of the fluid in the pump chamber.
Discharge Cycle
The pump cycles as frequently as the chamber becomes full, automatically speeding up and slowing down to match the incoming flow rate, and on standby when no liquid is present. Unlike centrifugal pumps, Pitbull pumps have no restriction between solids capacity, flow and discharge head. Large "pipe size" ports allow effective pumping of trash and solids. Stringy, fibrous and hard solids are easily passed.
Solids buildup in sumps using vertical centrifugal pumps can now be prevented. Conventional pumps must wait for the high level "ON" to start pumping, while the solids accumulate unabated. Their inherent design requires large volumes of water to convey large amounts of solids. Pitbull operates automatically, pumping out the solids at the same rate that they flow into the sump.
Pitbull pumps are designed for low cycle rates (1/20th to 1/50th the rate) and require significantly less compressed air than most double diaphragm pumps. Custom design and materials of construction including 316 stainless, Kynar, vinyl ester, Hastelloy-C, Alloy-20, etc. are available for the most corrosive fluids, even those operating at elevated temperatures.
The simplified design provides wide open passages for the most difficult flows, while velocities are kept down to a minimum. Downtime and chronic maintenance due to highly abrasive slurry applications have been virtually eliminated. No tolerance fits or complicated settings further simplify the operation of Pitbull pumps
