What are the advantages and limitations of a gear pump?

What is a Gear Pump?

Gear pumps are a type of positive displacement pump. Fluid is moved through the pump by a series of gears. There are two types of gears in a gear pump, the driver and the driven. The driver gear is connected to the main shaft that is then connected to the engine.

Advantages

Compact Form Factor – One of the benefits of gear pumps is that they possess a compact form factor. A gear pump is typically comprised of a pump body, the front and rear covers, and two gears. And with these components, it is expected for the gear pump to boast a smaller body and a lighter weight compared to others. With the accompanying characteristics of gear pumps, industries can use and maintain them on their applications without any complicated issues.
High Performance – Another benefit of gear pumps is that they can yield high work efficiency. While the fluid loss in gear pumps can be small, they can still operate with an efficiency of 100%. They can likewise provide higher pressures compared to vane or lobe pumps.
Insensitive to Fluid Viscosity–One more benefit of gear pumps is that they can be insensitive to fluid viscosity and density. Other types of pumps can be easily affected by the changes in the viscosity or density of the fluid. But for gear pumps, any changes that may occur on the liquid will not affect their performance.
Cost-Effective – The small and compact form factor of gear pumps makes them not only easier to maximise, but also cheaper to obtain. The form factor of gear pumps allows them to be transported and assembled without spending too much money. Even the maintenance of the gear pumps is so much easier, making them cost-effective to industries that will be using them.

Limitations of Gear Pumps

Just like other pumps, gear pumps also have limitations that must be accounted for.

Difficult to Repair – Maintenance of gear pumps can be easy. But when it comes to fixingsome of their issues, industries may have to spend some more time as gear pumps are difficult to repair. Once they are worn, many industries would just replace them as they are almost impossible to be fixed.
Loud Operating Noise – Another limitation of gear pumps is that they can emit loud operating noise. Gear pumps may be known for their radial force imbalance and large flow artery, which makes them generate loud noise during operations. With applications that may be sensitive to noise, it would be better if other types of pumps will be maximised.