Both regenerative turbine and centrifugal pumps are "velocity" type pumps. Each generates pressure and flow from the tangential and angular velocities imparted to the liquid by the speed and shape of the impeller. In both pumps, pressure and flow can be modulated by throttling a discharge valve.

The head-capacity curve displayed is indicative of a centrifugal pump (see graph below). Relatively large flows can be generated at low to moderate heads. At higher heads approaching "shut off" (no flow condition), the curve is nearly horizontal in direction. A slight change in head, as results from throttling a valve, can alter the flowrate substantially. A flow change of 5 gpm, as when moving from point A to point B on the curve (20 to 15 gpm), resulted by throttling a valve to increase the head by 3' or slightly more than 1 psi of water pressure. Metering in this region of the pump curve is very imprecise.

Alternatively, the head-capacity curve of a regenerative turbine pump has a different shape(see graph below). It is nearly linear and slopes downward. At low to moderate heads, the flow is typically much smaller than for a centrifugal pump. However, the slope never approaches a horizontal plane. Therefore, throttling a valve for a regenerative turbine pump will permit more precise changes in flow, without major overshooting or undershooting of the duty point. To throttle the flow of the regenerative pump from 20 - 15 gpm as shown on the curve, a head change of 34' or 14 psi of water pressure is required.

In a centrifugal pump liquid enters and exits the pump in one revolution of the impeller. During that short time frame the liquid velocity increases, while the pressure initially decreases and then increases reaching a maximum at the cutwater (discharge point). If the liquid entering the pump is near its vapor pressure, it is likely that the initial drop in pressure will create vaporization of the liquid and cavitation in the pump, with possible damaging effects.

In a regenerative turbine pump liquid enters and exits the pump during several revolutions of the impeller. The velocity and pressure increases of the liquid are more gradual than for the centrifugal pump. A liquid entering the pump near its vapor pressure is less likely to experience the pressure drop that can cause cavitation due to the smaller pressure gradient of the regenerative turbine pump. Therefore, regenerative turbine pumps, typically, require lower net positive suction heads than centrifugal pumps.

• Downward sloping, nearly linear head - capacity curve permits accurate throttling with a control valve; overshooting or undershooting of the duty point, which frequently occurs with centrifugal pumps, is minimized.
• Modular balanced impeller eliminates axial thrust, removing a wear factor associated with centrifugal pumps.
• Handles 20% entrained gases; ideal for tank stripping where vortexing or cavitation can occur.
• Upon tank evacuation, pump cavity remains filled with liquid, unlike centrifugal pumps; this resists dry run damage.
• Capable of reversible impeller rotation, with an accompanying reversal of the suction and discharge porting.

The standard material of construction of the MT Series is either POLYPROPYLENE or PVDF (a fluoropolymer).

Materials of construction for the POLYPROPYLENE pump are as follows:

Materials of construction for the PVDF pump are as follows: