Pollution Prevention" is better than cleaning up pollution.Industry's previous attempts to prevent pollution from leaking hazardouschemical pumps included pump designs with impervious barriers; such asperistaltic hose pumps, Vanton Flexiliner pumps, and canned/magneticdrive pumps. However, the poor operating characteristics and/or high costof these "previous impervious barrier pumps" have severely limited theirusefulness. An innovative, new, patented (#5,193,977) centrifugal pumpuses an impervious membrane barrier both as the "rotating" impeller andthe pump seal. The membrane impeller "shape" rotates, which rotates thepumped fluid, and causes the fluid to pump centrifugally; although themembrane itself does not "rotate". Because the impeller materials doesnot rotate, no unreliable rotating shaft seal is required, and the newpump is absolutely leakfree. Phase I proposes to demonstrate thefeasibility of the improved leakfree pump by building and testing workingmodels. Phase II will build and test industrial quality prototype pumps.Because the new pump design has better operating characteristics andlower costs, it will be widely used on a voluntary basis, therebydramatically preventing pollution.
