Industrial Air-Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) Pumps
Engineered for the harshest industrial fluids. Zero leaks, dry-running capable, and 100% explosion-proof. We pump lifespan, not breakdown.
Advantages of this pump
Explosion-Proof
As it is air-driven, it inherently eliminates the risk of explosions caused by static electricity accumulation or electrical sparks, making it the preferred choice for the safe transfer of fluids in flammable or explosive environments.
Long lifespan
Characterized by a simple structural design and exceptional sealing integrity, which significantly reduces the frequency of maintenance requirements.
Dry-running capability
Utilizing a positive displacement operating principle, the pump can run dry without fluid flow—without sustaining damage—thereby eliminating the need for complex monitoring equipment.
Low Shear Force
Relies on the reciprocating displacement of diaphragms—rather than high-speed rotating impellers—to transfer fluids, thereby significantly minimizing mechanical agitation and shear-induced degradation of the fluid material.
Excellent Solids Handling
Features a large-channel valve ball design that reduces flow resistance and accommodates the passage of larger solid particles; diaphragm materials can be customized to suit specific media for corrosion resistance, enabling the effortless pumping of high-viscosity, corrosive, and solid-laden liquids.
Technical Specifications
Performance Specifications
- Flow Range: 22 – 2000 L/min
- Maximum Head: Up to 84 meters
- Particle diameter: 1.5 mm – 9.4 mm
- Self-priming Capability: 4 m – 5.48 m
- Air Consumption: 0.36 – 16 m³/min
Material Construction
- Wetted Body: Various materials available, such as PP (Polypropylene), PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride), Stainless Steel (SS316), or Aluminum Alloy.
- Diaphragm: PTFE (Teflon), NBR, Santoprene, FEP, or customized elastomers upon request.
- Balls & Seats: Various materials available; commonly Stainless Steel, PTFE, or Ceramic.
Physical Specifications
- Pipe Connection (DN):15 – 125 mm
- Air Inlet: 1/4″ – 1″
Comparison of AODD Pump Models
| Model | Max Flow (L/min) | Max Head (m) | Suction Lift (m) | Max Solid Dia. (mm) | Inlet/Outlet | Wetted Materials | Datasheet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. GDXQ Series - New Energy Lithium Battery Pneumatic Pumps | |||||||
| GDXQ-25 | 116 | 84 | 5.48 | 3.2 | 1" | SS, PP, PVDF | 📥 Series PDF |
| GDXQ-40 | 378.5 | 84 | 5.48 | 4.8 | 1.5" | SS, PP, PVDF | |
| GDXQ-50 | 568 | 84 | 5.48 | 6.4 | 2" | SS, PP, PVDF | |
| GDXQ-80 | 1041 | 84 | 7.6 | 9.4 | 3" | SS, PP, PVDF | |
| 2. BFQ & BFQJ Series - Heavy Duty Large Flow AODD Pumps | |||||||
| BFQ-25 | 116 | 84 | 5.48 | 3.2 | 1" | AL, SS, Cast Steel, PP, PVDF | 📥 Series PDF |
| BFQ-40 / BFQJ-40 | 378.5 | 84 | 5.48 | 4.8 | 1.5" | AL, SS, Nodular Iron, PP, PVDF | |
| BFQ-50 / BFQJ-50 | 568 | 84 | 5.48 | 6.4 | 2" | AL, SS, Nodular Iron, PP, PVDF | |
| BFQ-80 / BFQJ-80 | 1041 | 84 | 7.6 | 9.4 | 3" | AL, SS, Nodular Iron, PP, PVDF | |
| BFQ-125 | 2000 | 62 | 4.0 | 9.4 | DN125 | SS304 | |
| 3. BQG Series - Mining Explosion-Proof Pneumatic Pumps | |||||||
| BQG100/0.2 | 100 | 20 | 4.0 | 3.2 | G1" | Aluminum Alloy | 📥 Series PDF |
| BQG200/0.2 | 200 | 20 | 5.0 | 4.8 | G1.5" | Aluminum Alloy | |
| BQG350/0.2 | 350 | 20 | 4.0 | 6.4 | G2" | Aluminum Alloy | |
| BQG450/0.2 | 450 | 20 | 5.0 | 9.4 | DN80 | Aluminum Alloy | |
| 4. GDC Series - Marine Air-Operated Diaphragm Pumps | |||||||
| GDC-40 | 150 | 70 | 5.0 | 3.2 | DN32 | SS304 | 📥 Series PDF |
| GDC-50 | 250 | 70 | 5.0 | 5.48 | DN40 | SS304 | |
| GDC-80 | 450 | 70 | 5.0 | 6.3 | DN80 | SS304 | |
| GDC-125 | 800 | 70 | 5.0 | 9.4 | DN100 | SS304 | |
| 5. QBY3 Series - 3rd Gen Standard AODD Pumps | |||||||
| QBY3-10/15 | 22 | 70 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 3/8" or 1/2" | AL, SS, Cast Steel, PP, PVDF | 📥 Series PDF |
| QBY3-20/25 | 57 | 70 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 3/4" or 1" | AL, SS, Cast Steel, PP, PVDF | |
| QBY3-32/40 | 170 | 84 | 5.48 | 3.2 | 1.25" or 1.5" | AL, SS, Nodular Iron, PP, PVDF | |
| QBY3-50/65 | 378.5 | 84 | 5.48 | 4.8 | 2" or 2.5" | AL, SS, Nodular Iron, PP, PVDF | |
| QBY3-80/100 | 568 | 84 | 5.48 | 6.4 | 3" or 4" | AL, SS, Nodular Iron, PP, PVDF | |
| QBY3-125 | 1041 | 84 | 7.6 | 9.4 | 5" | AL, SS, Nodular Iron, PP, PVDF | |
| QBY3-25TTTT | 32 | 70 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1" | Full PTFE | |
| QBY3-40TTTT | 142 | 84 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 1.5" | Full PTFE | |
| 6. QBW3 Series - Sanitary Food-Grade Pneumatic Pumps | |||||||
| QBW3-25 | 57 | 70 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 3/4" or 1" | SS304 | 📥 Series PDF |
| QBW3-40 | 170 | 84 | 5.48 | 3.2 | 1.25" or 1.5" | SS304 | |
| QBW3-50 | 378.5 | 84 | 5.48 | 4.8 | 2" or 2.5" | SS304 | |
| QBW3-80 | 568 | 84 | 5.48 | 6.4 | 3" or 4" | SS304 | |
| 7. A&O Series - Sand Mill Special Pneumatic Pumps | |||||||
| RA-25L | 133 | 83 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 1" | Aluminum Alloy | 📥 Series PDF |
Case Study
Problem
At a certain coatings plant, the viscosity of the base material consistently fluctuates between 4,500 and 5,000 cps. The original process utilized a conventional rotary gear pump; under prolonged shear stress, this caused pulsations in material flow and led to the formation of stubborn ink accumulation “dead zones” at pipe elbows. Statistics show that a single cleaning cycle took approximately eight hours, and system shutdowns were required every 10 to 14 days.
Solution
The plant replaced its original system with a Mudisen Model BFQ-40 Stainless Steel Air-Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) Pump. The following targeted optimizations were implemented to address the existing issues:
Elimination of Inner-Wall Adhesion: The standard nitrile rubber components were abandoned; instead, both the valve balls and diaphragms—the primary fluid-contacting surfaces—were specifically fabricated from PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene). The inherently low surface tension characteristics of PTFE significantly reduced the adhesion rate of the high-viscosity medium at a fundamental physical level.
Introduction of CIP Compatibility: Utilizing skid-mounted flanged connections, the new system allows for Clean-In-Place (CIP) procedures without requiring complete disassembly. By leveraging the volumetric, reciprocating flushing action inherent to the pneumatic pump itself, injecting a small quantity of cleaning solvent is sufficient to achieve rapid self-cleaning of the internal fluid channels.
Results
1. The flushing time required during batch changeovers plummeted from the original 8 hours to approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
2. The failure rate associated with pump chamber clogging was effectively reduced to zero. Over the course of the year, this effort cumulatively recovered nearly 400 hours of unproductive downtime for the workshop.
Engineering Notes
For shear-sensitive fluids with a viscosity exceeding 3,000 cps, simply increasing the pump’s motor output power often proves counterproductive. During the initial stages of process design, prioritizing the selection of a reciprocating pumping system—characterized by large flow channels and low shear forces—is the key to effectively balancing production throughput with long-term maintenance costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum viscosity an AODD pump can handle?
A standard AODD pump can efficiently handle fluids up to 5,000 - 10,000 cps. With a gravity-fed setup and enlarged piping, it can pump semi-fluids up to 20,000 cps.
Engineering Tip: Because AODD pumps are positive displacement pumps, they handle high-viscosity materials (like inks, resins, or sludge) with low shear. However, keep in mind that as viscosity increases, the actual flow rate will decrease compared to water testing data. We always recommend sizing up the pump by at least 20% for fluids over 3,000 cps
Will dry running (running without fluid) damage my diaphragm pump?
No, it will not cause immediate damage. Unlike centrifugal pumps, AODD pumps have no rotary seals or electrical motors that rely on the pumped fluid for cooling.
Field Advice: While dry running during priming or tank-emptying is completely safe, we strongly advise against leaving the pump running dry continuously for hours. High-frequency dry cycling accelerates the mechanical fatigue of the diaphragms and wastes valuable compressed air.
PTFE vs. Rubber Diaphragms: Which is better for abrasive and corrosive chemicals?
For fluids that are both highly corrosive and abrasive, the best solution is a two-piece configuration: a PTFE primary diaphragm backed by a Santoprene rubber diaphragm.
Detailed Breakdown: PTFE (Teflon) offers unbeatable chemical inertness but lacks mechanical elasticity, making it vulnerable to sharp solid particles. By adding a Santoprene backup web, the PTFE handles the chemical attack while the rubber absorbs the mechanical stress. If you are unsure about chemical compatibility, please check our Chemical Resistance Guide
Why is my AODD pump exhaust (muffler) freezing up, and how do I fix it?
This is a normal physical reaction caused by moisture in your compressed air line, not a pump defect. As highly compressed air expands and exhausts through the muffler, it absorbs heat rapidly, causing trapped water vapor to freeze.
How to Fix: The most effective fix is installing a Filter-Regulator-Lubricator (FRL) unit or an air dryer on your air supply line to reduce the dew point. Alternatively, slightly reducing the air inlet pressure can slow down the icing process.
What are the primary wear parts and daily maintenance routines for the QBY3 series?
The daily routine requires only two checks: air supply quality and bolt tightness. The primary wear parts are the diaphragms, valve balls, and valve seats.
Maintenance Focus: Because AODD pumps generate reciprocating vibrations, manifold bolts may loosen over time, especially if water hammer occurs in your piping. Re-torquing the external bolts monthly ensures a leak-free seal. Keeping y