Finish Thompson FTI Air FT30P 3-Inch Polypropylene AODD Pump
The FT30P is FTI Air's 3-inch non-metallic air-operated double-diaphragm pump: polypropylene wetted parts, up to 300 gpm at 120 psi inlet air, 0.5-inch solids, and a stainless-steel air valve with no separate pilot valve. It weighs about 140 lb and carries FTI Air's five-year warranty. LibertyCES sizes and supplies it across California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.
Video: Finish Thompson FT30P 3-Inch Non-Metallic AODD Pump: 300 GPM, 120 PSI, 1/2-inch solids. Produced by LibertyCES (42 s). Transcript: on-screen title "LibertyCES presents FT30P, 3-inch non-metallic AODD — 300 GPM // 120 PSI // 1/2-in solids", followed by installed views, a center-section close-up, solids moving through a clear pipe, and an exploded view of the diaphragms, check balls and seats.
FT30P specifications
| Specification | FT30P |
|---|---|
| Pump type | Air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD), non-metallic |
| Port size / connection | 3 in, center porting (position adjustable), ANSI / DIN / ISO flange |
| Maximum flow | 300 gpm (1,163 lpm) at 120 psi inlet air |
| Maximum air supply pressure | 120 psi (8.3 bar) |
| Maximum solids | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) |
| Suction lift, wet | 28 ft H₂O |
| Suction lift, dry | 20.1 ft (rubber/TPE diaphragms) · 19.8 ft (PTFE) |
| Wetted housing | Glass-filled polypropylene (model code P) |
| Diaphragms | Neoprene, Santoprene, FKM, EPDM, PTFE, Buna, Hytrel, Polyurethane |
| Check balls | Neoprene, Buna, EPDM, FKM, Santoprene, PTFE, 316 stainless steel |
| Seats | Polypropylene, PVDF |
| Air valve | Stainless steel; no separate pilot valve |
| Air inlet / exhaust | 3/4 in FNPT / 1 in FNPT |
| Air consumption | 30 to 180+ SCFM depending on duty (published chart); spec sheet lists 115 scfm at 100 psi |
| Sound pressure | 87.2 dB(A) (flyer and product page) |
| Dimensions (max) | 43-3/4 in H × 28-3/4 in W × 20 in D |
| Weight (approx.) | 140 lb (64 kg) |
| Warranty | 5 years from date of purchase (repair or replace) |
Sources: FTI Air FT30P technical flyer, ftiair.com product page, and the FT30 plastic pump manual (P/N 212602 Rev. 3). Where FTI documents disagree, the manual governs and we say so: the manual lists 0.98 gal displacement per stroke vs 1.0 gal on the flyer, and 87.5 dB(A) vs 87.2 dB(A).
How to read the FT30P performance curve
An AODD pump has no single rating point. Flow and discharge head move along a curve set by the inlet air pressure. "300 gpm" is where the 120 psi curve ends at about 21 ft of head; it is not what the pump delivers against a real system. Find your required flow and total discharge head, then read which air-pressure curve passes above that point. That is the minimum air pressure the duty needs.
| Inlet air | Shut-off head | Head at 100 gpm | Head at 200 gpm | Curve ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 psi | 277 ft | 213 ft | 106 ft | 300 gpm at 21 ft |
| 100 psi | 231 ft | 182 ft | 84 ft | 280 gpm at 20 ft |
| 80 psi | 185 ft | 142 ft | 58 ft | 258 gpm at 17 ft |
| 60 psi | 139 ft | 104 ft | 37 ft | 230 gpm at 15 ft |
| 40 psi | 92 ft | 64 ft | 15 ft | 203 gpm at 14 ft |
| 20 psi | 46 ft | 26 ft | — | 152 gpm at 10 ft |
LibertyCES rule of thumb: don't select an AODD at the far right end of its curve. Near the end, every gallon costs more air, diaphragms flex harder, and exhaust icing gets worse. If your duty only works at 110–120 psi and the last 10% of the curve, go to a larger pump or run two pumps. Put your flow and head into the FT30P duty-point worksheet to see where you land.
The air valve: stainless steel, no separate pilot valve
Most AODD stalls start in the air system, not the diaphragms. A conventional AODD shifts its main air spool with a pilot valve or pilot pins worked by the diaphragm shaft. Worn pilot parts, ice from expanding exhaust air and dirty plant air are classic reasons a pump stops at the end of a stroke.
The FT30P's air valve body is stainless steel and it does not need a separate or mechanically operated pilot valve. Finish Thompson's launch release calls the design stall-resistant and points to fewer parts in the air system. Clean, dry, regulated air at the 3/4 in inlet still matters: a filter-regulator ahead of the pump is standard on every LibertyCES AODD package.
Wetted materials and diaphragm selection
Polypropylene doesn't make the pump compatible on its own. The fluid also touches the diaphragms, check balls, seats and O-rings, and with eight diaphragm materials the elastomer is usually the deciding part. Chemical, concentration, temperature, solids and duty cycle all count. The housing's published polypropylene limit is 32–158°F, which caps the whole pump no matter which elastomer you pick.
| Material | Published temperature range |
|---|---|
| Glass-filled polypropylene (housing) | 32–158°F |
| PVDF (seat option) | 10–220°F |
| Neoprene | 0–212°F |
| Buna | 10–190°F |
| EPDM | -40–250°F |
| FKM | -40–350°F |
| Santoprene | -40–225°F |
| Hytrel | -20–220°F |
| Polyurethane | 32–150°F |
| PTFE | 40–225°F |
FT30 manual p.7. These are mechanical temperature limits only. Chemical attack can lower them, so every chemical is confirmed in spec review before we quote.
What the glass-filled housing is rated for
| FTI rating | Chemicals (FTI Air chemical resistance guide) |
|---|---|
| Excellent | Hydrochloric acid to 37%, sulfuric acid to 60%, phosphoric acid to 85%, sodium and potassium hydroxide to 50%, ferric chloride and sulfate, aluminum sulfate, calcium hydroxide, copper/nickel/zinc plating solutions, sewage |
| Fair | Chrome plating solutions |
| Not recommended | Sodium hypochlorite (5% and 12.5%), sulfuric acid 70% and stronger, chromic acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid |
Every chemical, every material: AODD diaphragm chemical compatibility chart.
Compare elastomers side by side in Buna-N vs EPDM vs FKM vs PTFE, or look a chemical up in the LibertyCES chemical compatibility chart. Chemical guides: sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, ferric chloride.
What a 1/2-inch solids rating means
FTI Air rates the FT30P to pass particles up to 0.50 in (12.7 mm). That is a clearance limit through the check valves, not a promise for every slurry. Solids loading, particle shape, abrasiveness, settling velocity and suction conditions decide whether a slurry pumps reliably. For abrasive solids we look at harder ball and seat options and lower stroke rates to stretch wear life.
On the suction side the manual lists 28 ft wet lift and 20.1 ft dry lift with rubber/TPE diaphragms (19.8 ft with PTFE). That covers most sump, pit and tote applications where a centrifugal pump would need a flooded suction.
Related: abrasive mining slurry, lime slurry, municipal wastewater.
Where LibertyCES looks at a 3-inch plastic AODD
These are the duties where we would put the FT30P on the shortlist: high-volume transfer of corrosive or dirty fluids, where a sealless, air-driven pump that tolerates solids and suction lift beats a centrifugal pump that needs a flooded suction and a seal.
Tank unloading, tank-to-tank and day-tank fill where the batch time matters.
Lift from pits and sumps with solids present, and intermittent duty.
Bath transfer and waste treatment feed where polypropylene fits the chemistry.
Sludge, backwash and chemical transfer on treatment skids.
FT30P vs Graco Husky 3300 polypropylene, compared fairly
At the same 100 psi air, the two pumps end their curves at about the same flow. The FT30P's 300 gpm headline comes from its 120 psi air rating, which the polypropylene Husky 3300 isn't rated for. The clearer differences are weight and air-pressure headroom.
| 3-inch polypropylene AODD | FTI Air FT30P | Graco Husky 3300 PP |
|---|---|---|
| Max air pressure | 120 psi | 100 psi |
| Flow at the end of the 100 psi curve | ~280 gpm | 280 gpm (rated) |
| Max flow at its own max air | 300 gpm at 120 psi | 280 gpm at 100 psi |
| Max solids | 0.50 in | 0.50 in |
| Approx. weight | 140 lb | 200 lb |
Graco figures from Graco's published Husky 3300 polypropylene technical data (manual 3A0410). Specifying an approved equal? See AODD diaphragm pump approved equals.
Installation checklist for a 3-inch AODD
- Air supply sized for the duty: 3/4 in FNPT inlet, a filter-regulator and gauge at the pump, and a line big enough to hold pressure at full stroke rate. On the published chart, air use climbs from about 30 SCFM at low flow to more than 180 SCFM near full flow — the calculator reads it at your duty point.
- Exhaust: 1 in FNPT. Use a muffler, or pipe the exhaust away when the fluid is hazardous so a diaphragm failure can't vent product into the room.
- Flanges: 3 in ANSI/DIN/ISO; support the piping so it doesn't load the plastic manifolds. The adjustable center ports help line up with existing piping.
- Pulsation: AODDs pulse. A pulsation dampener protects piping, valves and instruments downstream.
- Leak detection: on corrosive service, add diaphragm-failure detection so a ruptured diaphragm shuts the pump down.
- Footprint: 43-3/4 in H × 28-3/4 in W × 20 in D, about 140 lb. Bolt it to a pad or skid.
FT30P frequently asked questions
What is the Finish Thompson FT30P?
The FT30P is FTI Air's 3-inch non-metallic air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump, launched in March 2026. It has glass-filled polypropylene wetted parts, center porting with 3-inch ANSI/DIN/ISO flanges, a stainless-steel air valve that needs no separate pilot valve, and a published maximum of 300 gpm at 120 psi inlet air.
What is the maximum flow of the FT30P?
FTI Air publishes 300 gpm (1,163 lpm). That figure is the end of the 120 psi inlet-air curve on water. At 100 psi inlet air the curve ends at about 280 gpm, and at 80 psi about 258 gpm, so real flow depends on the air pressure you can supply and the discharge head.
What size solids can the FT30P pass?
FTI Air rates the FT30P for particles up to 0.50 inch (12.7 mm). Whether a given slurry pumps well also depends on solids concentration, particle shape, abrasiveness and the ball/seat material chosen.
What suction lift can the FT30P achieve?
The FT30 manual lists 28 ft of wet suction lift and 20.1 ft of dry suction lift with rubber/TPE diaphragms (19.8 ft with PTFE).
What are the FT30P wetted materials and diaphragm options?
The housing is glass-filled polypropylene. Diaphragms come in Neoprene, Santoprene, FKM, EPDM, PTFE, Buna, Hytrel and Polyurethane; balls in those elastomers, PTFE or 316 stainless steel; seats in polypropylene or PVDF. The right combination depends on the chemical, concentration, temperature and abrasion.
What kind of air valve does the FT30P use?
A stainless-steel air valve that does not need a separate or mechanically operated pilot valve. Finish Thompson's launch release describes it as stall-resistant, with fewer parts in the air system.
How much does the FT30P weigh?
About 140 lb (64 kg), per FTI Air. Maximum dimensions are 43-3/4 in high, 28-3/4 in wide and 20 in deep.
How much compressed air does the FT30P use?
It depends on the duty point. FTI Air's published chart shows air-consumption lines from 30 to 180 SCFM: on the 100 psi curve the pump passes 120 SCFM at about 89 gpm and 180 SCFM at about 197 gpm, and near full flow it uses more than 180 SCFM. The spec sheet's single figure, 115 scfm at 100 psi, sits at roughly 82 gpm. Size the compressor for your actual flow and head.
Will the FT30P hit your flow at your head?
Enter your flow, discharge pressure and available plant air. The free worksheet places your duty on the FT30P curve, flags right-of-curve and suction-lift problems, and emails you a Draft Proposal Worksheet to bring to a spec review.
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