An air operated diaphragm pump is a positive displacement pump that traditionally uses compressed air as its power source. These pumps are now also available as an electric diaphragm pump. On standard air operated pumps, the compressed air is shifted from one chamber to the other by a linked shaft that allows the chambers to move simultaneously.
This back-and-forth motion, forces liquid out of one chamber and into the outlet manifold, while filling the opposite fluid chamber via the inlet manifold. Upon changeover, the fluid section that was filled on the previous shift empties into the outlet manifold and the fills the opposite chamber via the inlet manifold. The rapid changeover allows for reduced pulsation at the outlet.
These pumps are available with ball check valves or flap type check valves for handling sheer sensitive products and products with large particles that require gentle handling.