Air operated fuel transfer pump

[welchygq]

Hey Guys,

Looking into how to transfer diesel from a drum/container to the car.  I am thinking an air operated pump.

Now i know about the tanami pumps but i dislike that they are only suited to one type of container.

Does anyone know of a pump ( not trying to get technical here - but i cant see why it cant work on a venturi principle, sorry - i am an instrument tech).

Even if someone has made one maybe? - just looking for an easy way out - dont really want to do the trail and error if i can avoid it.

Cheers,

Welchy

[qlddsl]

I think trying to use a Venturi style pump for diesel would foam it up, and you would need a fair bit of air to transfer 20 liters. Maybe an air operated delivery pump could be an option.

[HEM19X]

A small in line pump such as a "Whale" might work - not air operated..maybe a small submersable aquarium pump.

Or a good old syphon

[duggie]

Hi Welchy,

I cant see why an air lift/venturi would not work(for twenty litre drums that were full), but for the 44 gallon drums we use a different method.
On the top of the 44 you have the two bungs, in the big bung we made up a long pipe/spear that screwed into the bung hole and was long enough to all but touch the bottom of the 44, in the small bung hole we screwed in a air regulator and pressure relief tap.
Snap you delivery hose to the bung with the spear, air hose to the regulator 2 to 4 psi pressure and the fuel will flow freely, watch the top of the drum and if the top starts to swell, open the pressure relief tap to get rid of pressure build up and close again for continuous fuel flow.
cheers duggie

[austastar]

Hi,
  from what I read on the tanami pump site, they make pumps for many types of container.
While that is good, they can only be used on the type it is designed for.
cheers

[JustJim]

(Quote from welchygq.._
Now i know about the tanami pumps but i dislike that they are only suited to one type of container.

If you check Tanami Pumps website you’ll find they make transfer pumps to suit eight different types of drums and jerrycans
http://www.tanamipump.com.au

Jim

[Roo]

(Quote from welchygq.._
Now i know about the tanami pumps but i dislike that they are only suited to one type of container.

If you check Tanami Pumps website you’ll find they make transfer pumps to suit eight different types of drums and jerrycans
http://www.tanamipump.com.au

Jim

The OP's point being if you had eight different drums you might need eight different Tanami pumps @ $70 a go.

[JustJim]

I take your point Roo..

I read it as he wanted a pump to suit other than the steel jerrycan pump – (the original Tanami pump).

Jim

[Burnsy]

I think a whale type pump inline on a length of hose would give you the greatest flexability and would draw less power than running your air pump for an extended period just to maintain a couple of psi pressure.

[jr]

Bit brave using a electric submersible in fuel ??
There are some electric pumps made for this, like facet. Small and fairly light but slow. Also some manual ones Goatthroat, Scepter flo n Go

[welchygq]

Hi,
  from what I read on the tanami pump site, they make pumps for many types of container.
While that is good, they can only be used on the type it is designed for.
cheers

Yeah thats what i ment in my first post.

[welchygq]

(Quote from welchygq.._
Now i know about the tanami pumps but i dislike that they are only suited to one type of container.

If you check Tanami Pumps website you’ll find they make transfer pumps to suit eight different types of drums and jerrycans
http://www.tanamipump.com.au

Jim

yes but then they are only good for that style of container - what if i what to pump from a 44 one day and a 20l the next?

[welchygq]

the reaon i thought of a venturi was - small, light, and nothing that can break down.

Cheers for the replies so far guys - might have to design one.

Welchy

[macca]

I bought a small electric fuel pump off ebay, cost about $80 from memory, I have mine on a permanent tank but no reason you couldnt have a length of hose either end and wired to an anderson plug, its not fast, 12 minutes to transfer 20 litres but that doesnt worry me as I do it on the run

[LC]

Hi Welchy,

I cant see why an air lift/venturi would not work(for twenty litre drums that were full), but for the 44 gallon drums we use a different method.

I think the Prados use some sort of venturi system to transfer the diesel / petrol from one tank to the other (happy to be corrected if this is not true) and it works without any problems.

On the top of the 44 you have the two bungs, in the big bung we made up a long pipe/spear that screwed into the bung hole and was long enough to all but touch the bottom of the 44, in the small bung hole we screwed in a air regulator and pressure relief tap.
Snap you delivery hose to the bung with the spear, air hose to the regulator 2 to 4 psi pressure and the fuel will flow freely, watch the top of the drum and if the top starts to swell, open the pressure relief tap to get rid of pressure build up and close again for continuous fuel flow.

In my previous life when I drove chemical tankers around the world we used to use this method to occaisionally transfer "small" amounts of liquid from a road tanker on the wharf to a cargo tank on the ship. We would use either air or nitrogen to to pressurise the road tanker. It worked very well but everything was rated to withstand the pressures being applied. I would however avoid doing this with a 44 gallon drum that is not a pressure rated vessel. A ruptured 44 gallon drum would be messy and a fire hazard. Also as you add air the atmosphere in the drum is going to change from an atmosphere that is to rich to support combustion to having an atmosphere that is just perfect.

Hope your not smoking while doing this!!!

[Burnsy]

Bit brave using a electric submersible in fuel ??
There are some electric pumps made for this, like facet. Small and fairly light but slow. Also some manual ones Goatthroat, Scepter flo n Go

I did assume diesel, I would not do this with any other fuel.