Finish Thompson – Drum pump. Eight series for chemicals, solvents and viscous liquids

A Finish Thompson drum pump consists of an immersion tube with an operating element and a removable motor for emptying drums, IBC containers and tanks. The manufacturer is Finish Thompson Inc. (FTI), Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. The range consists of eight series: six pump series for various purposes, one series for high viscosity operating on a different principle, and a drum turbine mixer. About the company can be found on the brand page Finish Thompson.

How is a Finish Thompson drum pump designed?

The pump consists of a pipe that is immersed in a barrel, and a motor that is inserted from above. The pipes are interchangeable with several types of motors, so a single drive serves multiple pipes for different media.

Series are classified by seal type. Glandless series (EF, PF, SF) have no friction pair in the medium and require less maintenance. Series with seals (TT, TB, HVDP, BT) operate with PTFE screw pumps or on the positive displacement principle and cover higher viscosities.

The pipe material determines chemical resistance and temperature limits: polypropylene, PVDF, CPVC or 316 stainless steel.

All specifications are provided by the manufacturer based on water tests at 20 °C. Actual figures may vary by ±10% and decrease as the viscosity and density of the medium increase.

Eight episodes: comparison table

Temperatures for EF, PF and SF are given in the order: polypropylene / PVDF / 316 stainless steel.

Glandless series: EF, PF and SF

EF — economic design for infrequent operations. The manufacturer positions it as a replacement for a manual pump. 1¼-inch pipe (EFP, EFS) or 1-5/16-inch pipe (EFV), lengths of 16, 27, 40, 48 and 54 inches (for EFS — up to 48). EFV, EFP and EFS designs are available with ATEX certification.

PF — a high-capacity series with a double-suction impeller that delivers both high flow rate and high head simultaneously. This is the highest-capacity series in the range: 151 l/min and 24 m. 2-inch pipe, 1-inch discharge, lengths from 27 to 72 inches. The PFS modification features materials compliant with FDA requirements and an ATEX option.

SF — series with two impeller options: for flow (140 l/min, 15 m) or head (91 l/min, 25 m). The 1.6-inch tube allows working with narrow drum necks. Outlet 1 inch, for SFM — ¾ inch. Tube materials: polypropylene, pure PVDF, PP/PVDF or 316SS.

Compaction series: TT, TB, HVDP, BT and TM mixer

TT — low to medium viscosity liquids. 1½ inch (TTS, STTS) or 1-5/8 inch (TTC) tube in 316 stainless steel or CPVC. Lengths: TTS — 27, 40 or 48 inches, TTC and STTS — 40 inches. The STTS modification features materials compatible with FDA requirements. With a pneumatic actuator, the series handles up to 2,000 cP; with an electric actuator — up to 50 cP.

TB — lightweight, economic design for mildly corrosive environments, solvents and low to medium viscosity chemicals. 316 stainless steel outer tube, 40-inch length, 1½-inch tube, 1-inch outlet.

HVDP — progressive cavity positive displacement pump for high viscosity. This is the only series in the positive displacement range, and it delivers the highest head: over 91 m. 316SS outer tube, 2-inch tube, 1½ or 2-inch discharge, lengths of 27, 40 and 48 inches. There is a camlock for quick disassembly and an optional foot design for drums with a liner. FDA-compliant materials are available.

BT — stainless steel series with PTFE screw rotors for increased viscosity: up to 15,000 cP and head up to 61 m. The design allows the passage of small solid inclusions. Optionally — materials compatible with FDA requirements and a tri-clamp outlet.

TM - four-blade drum turbine mixer. Provides circulation without air entrainment and without vortex formation. 316 stainless steel shaft, 2 inches, length 40 inches, circulation up to 53 l/min, viscosity up to 1500 cP.

Which engines are available?

The manufacturer offers four ranges of drives: pneumatic motors, explosion-proof electric motors, ODP motors, and TEFC motors. The tubes are interchangeable between compatible motors.

Pneumatic motors (M series). S4 — 400 W, 40 psi at 27 cfm, 300–11,000 rpm, up to 300 cP, for EF. M6 — 400 W, 80–100 psi at 15–32 cfm, 300–9,000 rpm, for PF, SF, TT, TB and TM mixer. M6X — 600 W, 300–6,000 rpm, for PF, TT, TB and TM. M65 — 560 W, 100 psi at 25 cfm, up to 15,000 cP, for HVDP. M66 — 1000 W, up to 100,000 cP, for HVDP. M18, M19 and M20 — 750, 1500 and 2200 W for the BT series. S4, M6 and M6X motors carry CE marking and an ATEX option.

Flameproof electric motors. S2X — 210 W for EF. M7XV — 450 W for TT. M5XV and M8XV — 1000 W with 0–12,000 rpm adjustment for SF and PF. M69 — 1.5 kW, 115–230 V single-phase, and M72 — 1.5 kW, 230/460 V three-phase, for HVDP. M26X — 2.2 kW, 230–460 V, 1450–1725 rpm, for BT. Certification: CE, ATEX, IECEx depending on model.

Working with flammable liquids and ATEX zones

To pump combustible and flammable liquids, the manufacturer requires a combination of three elements: an explosion-proof electric motor or pneumatic motor, a stainless steel tube and a static protection kit.

This requirement is repeated in the specifications for the PF, TB, HVDP, BT series and the TM mixer. Plastic piping is not used for such media.

ATEX-certified versions are available for EFV, EFP, EFS and PFS pipes, as well as for S4, M6 and M6X pneumatic motors. Explosion-proof electric motors have CE, ATEX and IECEx certification depending on the model.

How to select a Finish Thompson drum pump?

Start with viscosity. Up to 300 cP — EF. Up to 1200–2000 cP — PF, SF or TT. Up to 15,000 cP — BT. Up to 20,000 or 100,000 cP — HVDP.

Next, check the temperature and density. Grade 316 stainless steel provides the highest limit (100–104 °C), while PVDF in the PF series is limited to 49 °C. Maximum density by series ranges from 1.4 (TB) to 2.0 (SF).

Then flow rate and head. The highest flow rate is PF (151 l/min). The highest head is HVDP (over 91 m) and BT (61 m).

Next is the barrel neck: the SF pipe has a diameter of 1.6 inches and passes through narrower necks than the two-inch PF, HVDP, BT and TM pipes.

Finally — the actuator: pneumatic if compressed air is available, explosion-proof electric for combustible environments, ODP or TEFC for normal conditions.

Frequently asked questions about the Finish Thompson drum pump

What is the maximum capacity?
151 l/min (40 gpm) — PF series. This is the highest flow rate in the range.

What is the maximum viscosity?
Up to 100,000 cP for the HVDP series in the HR modification. This is a progressing cavity positive displacement pump, not a centrifugal one.

What is the maximum head?
Over 91 m (300 ft) for the HVDP series. The second highest head is the BT series: 61 m.

Which series is suitable for a narrow barrel neck?
SF: a 1.6-inch (4.1 cm) pipe is designed specifically for smaller holes.

Is there a food-grade version available?
The manufacturer specifies FDA-compliant materials for PFS, STTS (TT series), HVDP, and BT. A tri-clamp connection is available for the BT.

Can flammable solvents be pumped?
Yes, provided: explosion-proof electric motor or pneumatic motor, stainless steel pipe, and static protection kit.

Can multiple pipes be served by a single motor?
Yes, the pipes are interchangeable between compatible engines. This is a standard scenario when there are multiple media on-site.

Why is the actual delivery less than the rated capacity?
The manufacturer states that all tests were carried out in water at 20 °C, and actual performance may differ by ±10% and decreases as viscosity and density increase.

What is needed for the selection?
Medium and its concentration, viscosity, density, temperature, required flow rate, delivery head or hose length, container neck diameter, presence of an ATEX zone, availability of compressed air, food-grade compliance requirements.