General Pumps selection of pressure cleaning pumps, ranging from 400 to 7250 psi, with flows from 1 to 50 GPM. The pumps are used in automotive, surface cleaning, household exterior cleaning, pre-painting surface preparation, heavy equipment maintenance, and various types of contract cleaning.

Additional Information

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS
When looking at pump applications, it is essential to mention three performance characteristics: crankshaft bearing life, volumetric efficiency, and inlet flow curve.

Crankshaft Bearing Life is determined by lubrication, speed, and load. Load is calculated as follows:
Plunger Area (in square inches) x Pressure (psi) = Plunger Load (in pounds)
OR
(( Plunger Diameter in inches)2 x p) x Pressure (psi) = Plunger Load (in pounds)

Volumetric Efficiency compares the pump’s actual output to its theoretical output. If there is no loss in the pumping system, the flow would equal:
Area x Stroke x Number of Cylinders x Crankshaft Speed
231 in3 /gallon = gpm

Volumetric efficiency is the value (in percentage form) of the actual flow divided by the theoretical value, as calculated above.

Valve timing is a major factor in achieving good volumetric efficiency, and is affected by plunger speed, plunger diameter, poppet weight, spring rate, and poppet travel distance.

Inlet Flow Curve relates volumetric efficiency to specific inlet pressures. General Pump provides inlet flow curve charts for all its pumps on request.

Horsepower Requirements
The horsepower required to achieve a given output depends on the energy source, because different types of prime movers vary in their pumping performance capabilities.

Hydraulic power is more efficient than either electric power or internal combustion.
Various requirements may be calculated using these relationships:
Hydraulic horsepower required = Pressure x Flow / 1714
Brake horsepower (electric) required = Pressure x Flow / 1457
Gas engine horsepower required = Pressure x Flow / 1100