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Shear Forces

Shear forces occur in a medium when external forces move adjacent layers against each other at different speeds. They have a decisive role in pump systems, especially when sensitive, viscous or multiphase media are being pumped.

High shear forces can alter the structure of the pumped media, which is undesirable in the case of emulsions, biological substances or polymer solutions, for example. Therefore, selecting the correct pump and optimal operating parameters minimises shear forces and ensures gentle pumping. In particular, rotary positive displacement pumps enable almost shear-free pumping, transporting the medium evenly and at a low flow rate.