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Rotary Vane Pump Guide


How do rotary vane pumps work?

Vane pumps, also known as rotary vane or sliding vane pumps, operate via the positive displacement principle. Positive displacement pumps essentially move the fluid by trapping a fixed volume and forcing that trapped fluid into the discharge pipe.

As its name would suggest, vane pumps have rectangular shaped vanes mounted into slots on a rotor that turns inside the asymmetrical pump casing. As the rotor turns, the asymmetrical shape of the casing causes the vanes to move in and out of the slots to touch the casing walls and trap the fluid between this and the rotor. This mechanism draws the fluid round until it is forced out of the discharge port.

Rotary Vane Pump Working Diagram

Design benefits

Little metal to metal contact – As the vanes are generally constructed from carbon graphite, there is no real metal to metal contact inside pump. Not only does this reduce the amount of wear to the internals of the pump, which results in lower maintenance and overall running costs, it also allows the pump to handle non-lubricating fluids such as alcohols and gasoline.

Versatile solution – The vane pump design is able to handle a range of low to medium viscosity clean fluids, including those at high temperatures, those with gas/vapour content and as discussed above non-lubricating fluids thanks to the little metal to metal contact.

Ease of maintenance –The main wearing part within the vane pump design is the vanes themselves. As these are designed to be easily removed and replaced without any significant cost or time implications, vane pumps are generally seen as low maintenance solutions. 

Good suction/vacuum capabilities – Thanks to the tight seal between the vanes, rotor and pump casing, the vane pumping principle benefits from good suction capabilities making them ideal for applications such as tank stripping.

Performance less affected by suction head – A vane pump, like most positive displacement pumps, is not affected by the pressure against which they operate. This is the opposite to a centrifugal pump, which is far more affected by changing suction conditions and is therefore a lot more likely to operate away from the desired duty point.This makes the vane pump particularly suitable for performing applications where the suction pressure may change such as tank to tank transfer.

Dry run for short period times – Whilst not designed to be left to run dry, rotary vane pumps are able to run without fluid entering the pump for a short period. 

Typical applications of a vane pump

Rotary vane pumps are a popular and efficient solution for the transfer of clean, low to medium viscosity fluids and fuels at a range of temperatures and relatively low pressures. Rotary vanes pumps are a particularly good choice for the following applications:

  • Fuel and light oil transferSliding Vane Pump
  • Lubrication
  • Gasoline/petroleum
  • LPG gas (propane)
  • Chemical handling
  • Alcohols and solvents
  • Bitumen transfer
  • High temperature fluids
  • Liquefied gases

The sliding vane pump design makes them generally unsuitable for high viscosity applications, as a thick liquid would prevent the vanes from moving in and out of their slots with ease. In addition, their very tight tolerances mean that solids cannot pass and will jam the vanes; hence them being suited to relatively clean liquids.

Vane pumps tend to be used in low pressure installations rather than high pressure. As the pressure within the pump chamber increases, the vanes start to struggle to maintain contact with the casing walls and push the fluid round. 

Troubleshooting vane pumps

Rotary vane pumps are a robust and reliable design, yet as with anything issues can occur. Should you experience a problem there is a likely explanation which can be identified using the below troubleshooting table. 

SymptomPossible Problem
The pump does not primeThe pump is not wet
Worn vanes
Inlet valve closed
Air entering the inlet pipe
Filter blocked
Inlet pipe or valves blocked or too restrictive
Pump blocked by steam
Pump speed insufficient for priming
Safety valve partially open, worn or incorrectly seated
Reduced capacityPump speed too low
Inlet valves not fully open
Excessive restriction in inlet pipe or outlet pipe
Damaged or worn parts
Safety valve worn, rated to low a value or not properly closed
Vanes incorrectly installed
NoiseJoints undersized or with restrictions in the inlet pipe
Excessive pump speed for the liquid’s viscosity or volatility
Pump too distant from the source of the fluid
Pump operating for too long with a blocked outlet pipe
The pump is not firmly installed
Worn or damaged bearings
Vibrations in due to incorrectly fixed pipes 
Bent shaft or motor coupling misaligned
Failure of a valve in the system
Safety valve rating too low
Damaged vanes
Vanes incorrectly installed
Damaged vanesEntry of foreign bodies in the pump
The safety valve does not open
Hammer blow – pressure spikes
Motor and pump misaligned
Vanes excessively worn or cracked
Accumulated or solidified material in the pump during start-up 
Mechanical leaksO-rings not compatible with the liquid being pumped
O-rings with notches, cuts or damage
Shaft damaged, worn or dirty in the area of the gasket
Ball bearings excessively lubricated.
Excessive cavitation
Faces of mechanical gaskets with cracks, scratches, pitting or dirt 

Sounds like what you need?

Sounds like what you need?

If from reading the above it sounds as though a vane pump is the pumping solution to meet your requirements, take a look at our range. Alternatively, you can contact our technical sales engineers and they will advise you on a suitable model for your application.

View our vane pump range

Castle Pumps are fully accredited to enable you to buy with confidence. Our accreditation includes: Our accreditation A division of the CTS Group, Part of Flow Max Ltd.