Air in suction

[TWPE]

We are trying to pump water with a lot of air bubbles. We want to keep the air bubbles in the water so don't want an air release valve. We tried one pump and had trouble with air locking. What type of pump would work best for this?

We're talking small flows, a few gpm.

 

[chicopee]

About an air lift pump. This type of pump is well covered in Perry's Chemical Engineering handbook and Mechanical Engineering handbook such as Kent.
In essence, you create a lot of air bubbles at the pump intake and as the bubbles rise up, water is entrained in the bubbles and is discharged. You'll need an air compressor to create the bubbles. The design is covered in the handbooks mentioned above.

 

[BigInch]

Rotary vane pump will handle quite a bit of gasous content, but expect some efficiency reduction with increasing amount of gas.

Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone. - Pablo Picasso

 

[stanier]

How about a peristaltic pump where the air bubbles would just be squeezed out.

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[bimr]

Air Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) pump should work fine.

You should have your piping arranged such that you will have no pockets.

 

[DubMac]

AOD probably the best option....Progressive cavity (PC) pump also works very well when you want minimal shearing or separation of the medium.

 

[Pumpsonly]

YOu need to provide more info , what capacity and pressure /head to narrow own the selection.
If the flow rate is high and low pressure, a self priming centrifugal pump may be of your choice.
You also need to look at the discharge piping configuration such that no high point that will trap and accumulate air.

 

[chicopee]

bimr, I think that you are also refering to mud suckers.

 

[cvis]

Any idea how much air is entrained? Where does the water come from?