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High-flow or High-pressure, what is the difference?

High-Flow or High-Pressure, What Is the Difference?

Water pump stations are used for many different applications, from domestic and municipal to commercial and industrial areas. There are application-specific pumps, with two broad categories of water pumps: high-flow and high-pressure. Keep reading to learn more about each type.

High-Flow Water Pump Stations

High-flow water pump systems are used to move a large quantity of water from one area to another. These pumps are generally used for floodwater removal scenarios, filling home or public swimming pools, or moving cooling water in industrial applications. In these cases, the requirement is less about using the water to perform a task and more about simply removing an obstacle or filling a holding vessel of some sort.

High-Pressure Water Pump Australia

A high-pressure pump is most often used in an application where water is required to complete a task. Common applications for a high-pressure booster pump are power washers, sprinklers, cleaning and manufacturing. The purpose of the booster pump is to increase water pressure so it can be used to apply a cleaning or cutting force. Other uses include large-scale irrigation, firefighting and water distribution, where increased pressure is required to propel water over greater distances.

What Do You Need from Your Water Pump?

To find out which water pump system will best suit your requirements, think about what you need the pump to achieve. Water transfer is one of the most common uses of a high-flow pump versus a high-pressure water pump. The need to move water from one place to another in large quantities will require a high-flow pump to complete the task quickly and efficiently. Water tank transfer, dam filling, farming, building and construction all use high-flow pumps.

In comparison, fire protection applications usually require a high-pressure water pump, as they must be able to project a stream of water at a fire to extinguish it. For domestic or remote applications, fire pumps may need to be powered without a source of main power. In this situation, a high-pressure pump is typically used with a generator and water storage tank so it can function in a standalone manner.

Final Thoughts: High-Flow vs. High-Pressure Pumps

When buying a water diaphragm pump or sewer pump, flow and pressure are two major considerations. Depending on your application, you may require a certain level of flow, as well as pressure. However, the two variables are inversely proportionate. There are many types of water pumps that combine the features of a high-flow pump and a high-pressure pump for a happy medium where both adequate flow and pressure are achieved.

It should also be noted that for a given power input, there is a finite limit of both pressure and flow that can possibly be achieved by a single pump.

Shop New Water & Sewer Pump Systems in Australia

If you need any advice on choosing the right pump for your needs, feel free to contact our friendly and professional team at Aline Pumps. We have a large range of booster and diaphragm pump systems to suit every application.