An air operated double diaphragm pump (AODD) uses compressed air to drive two flexible diaphragms back and forth in alternating chambers — as one diaphragm is pushed by air pressure to expel fluid through a check valve, the other diaphragm is pulled back to draw fluid in, and an air valve automatically shifts air flow between the two chambers once each stroke completes. This self-priming, positive-displacement design has no motor, no mechanical seals, and no rotating shaft in the fluid path, letting it run dry indefinitely without damage and handle everything from thin solvents to viscous slurries and abrasive solids.
Chemical processing plants, paint and coatings manufacturers, wastewater treatment facilities, and general industrial operations rely on AODD pumps wherever fluid needs to move reliably across a wide range of viscosities, chemical compatibilities, and solids content — drum and tote transfer, chemical metering, filter press feed, and sump/dewatering applications are common uses. Because pump speed is set simply by air supply pressure and volume rather than a fixed motor speed, AODD pumps offer inherently variable flow control, can be throttled to a stall without damage, and — since Jim 'Slim' Wilden invented the format in 1955 — have become the standard choice across industries needing this combination of ruggedness, chemical versatility, and simple air-only operation.
Common configuration: sizes from 1/4" up to 8" discharge, flow rates from a few GPM on the smallest models up to 200+ GPM on large 2"+ models, maximum operating pressure typically 100-125 psi (some metal models rated up to 3,200 psig), and liquid path materials spanning aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel, Hastelloy C, polypropylene, PVDF (Kynar), and acetal. Diaphragm elastomer options — Buna-N, EPDM, FKM (Viton), Neoprene, PTFE, Wil-Flex, and Geolast — are selected based on chemical compatibility and temperature range, spanning roughly -60°F to 350°F depending on material.
Quick-Reference Spec Glossary
- Pump size
- Discharge port size, 1/4" to 8" typical range
- Maximum flow rate (GPM)
- Volumetric output at rated air pressure, varies widely by size
- Maximum air inlet pressure
- Air supply pressure input, commonly up to 100-125 psi
- Maximum discharge pressure
- Equal to air inlet pressure on standard AODD design (1:1 ratio)
- Wetted material
- Aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel, Hastelloy C, polypropylene, PVDF, or acetal
- Diaphragm elastomer
- Buna-N, EPDM, FKM, Neoprene, PTFE, Wil-Flex, or Geolast — chemical/temp dependent
- Maximum solids handling
- Solid particle diameter the pump can pass, often up to 1/4"+
- Suction lift capability
- Maximum dry/wet self-priming lift height (ft)