INTRODUCTION TO PUMP

A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquids or gases), or sometimes slurries, by

mechanical action. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the
method they use to move the fluid: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps.
Pumps operate by some mechanism (typically reciprocating or rotary), and
consume energy to perform mechanical work by moving the fluid. Pumps operate via
many energy sources, including manual operation, electricity, engines, or wind power,
come in many sizes, from microscopic for use in medical applications to large industrial
pumps.
Mechanical pumps serve in a wide range of applications such as pumping water from
wells, aquarium filtering, pond filtering and aeration, in the car industry for watercooling and fuel injection, in the energy industry for pumping oil and natural gas or for
operating cooling towers. In the medical industry, pumps are used for biochemical
processes in developing and manufacturing medicine, and as artificial replacements for
body parts, in particular the artificial heart and penile prosthesis.
In biology, many different types of chemical and bio-mechanical pumps
have evolved, and biomimicry is sometimes used in developing new types of mechanical
pumps.

PUMP SELECTIONS
The following factors influence the choice of pump for a particular operation:
i.

The quantity of liquid to be handled. This primarily affects the size of the pump and

determines whether it is desirable to use a number of pumps in parallel.

ii. The head against which the liquid is to be pumped. This will be determined by the
difference in pressure, the vertical height of the downstream and upstream reservoirs
and by the frictional losses which occur in the delivery line. The suitability of a
centrifugal pump and the number of stages required will largely be determined by
this factor.
iii. The nature of the liquid to be pumped. For a given throughput, the viscosity largely
determines the friction losses and hence the power required. The corrosive nature
will determine the material of the construction both for the pump and the packing.
With suspensions, the clearance in the pump must be large compared with the size of
the particles.

iv. The nature of power supply. If the pump is to be driven by an electric motor or
internal combustion engine, a high-speed centrifugal or rotary pump will be preferred
as it can coupled directly to the motor. Simple reciprocating pumps can be connected
v.

to steam or gas engines.

If the pump is used only intermittently, corrosion problems are more likely than with

continuous working.
vi. The cost and mechanical efficiency of the pump must always be considered, and it
may be advantageous to select a cheap pump and pay higher replacement or
maintenance costs rather than to install a very expensive pump of high efficiency.

TYPES OF PUMP
A. PUMPING EQUIPMENT FOR LIQUID
1. RECIPROCATING PUMP
i) Piston pump

ii) Plunger or Ram Pump

iii) Diaphragm Pump

iv) Metering Pump

2. POSITIVEDISPLACEMENT
ROTARY PUMPS
i) Gear Pump

ii)
Lobe Pump

iii) Cam Pump

iv) Vane Pump

v) Flexible Vane Pump

vi) Flow Inducer /

Peristaltic Pump

vii) Mono Pump

viii)
Screw
Pump

x) Centrifugal Pump

B. PUMPING EQUIPMENT FOR GASES

1. Fans and Rotary compressor

2. Centrifugal and Turbocompressor

3. Reciprocating Piston Compressor

4. Air-Lift
Pump

5. Vacuum Pump
WORKING
PRINCIPLES
(HOW IT WORK)
1.
RECIPROCATING
PUMP
i.

Piston Pump.
They

use

contracting and
expanding
cavities
move

to
fluids.

Cavities expand and contract in an reciprocating (back and forth; up and down)
motion rather than a circular (rotary) motion. Piston pumps use a mechanism to
create a reciprocating motion along an axis, which then builds pressure in a cylinder
or working barrel to force gas or fluid through the pump. The pressure in the
chamber actuates the valves at both the suction and discharge points. There is two
types of piston pumps which is:
A.

Axial piston pump.

Contains a number of pistons attached to a cylindrical block which
move in the same direction as the blocks centerline (axially). Much
of the pressure and the flow control circuitry can be included
internally, allowing for reliable operation and simple design of the

B.

associated hydraulic system.

Radial piston pump
Contain pistons arranged like wheel spokes around a
cylindrical block. A drive shaft rotates this cylindrical
block which pushes or slings the pistons, causing
compression and expansion. The eccentricity between the

piston housing and cylindrical block centerlines determines

the piston stroke. These pumps have a low noise level, very
high loads at the lowest speeds and high efficiency,Error:
Reference source not found .
ii. Plunger Or Ram Pump
This pump is the same in principle as the piston type but differs in that the gland
is at one end of the cylinder making its replacement easier that with the standard
piston type. The sealing of piston and ram pumps has been much improved, but
because of the nature of the fluid frequently used, care in selecting and
maintaining the seal is very important.
iii. Diaphragm Pump
Diaphragm pump moves gases, liquids or gas-liquid mixture via a reciprocating
diaphragm. They are highly reliable because they do not include parts that rub
against each other. They also contains no sealing or lubricating oils within the
pumping head meaning there is no chance of oil vapor leakage or contamination
of the handled media.
Diaphragm pumps work by flexing the diaphragm out of the displacement
chamber. When the diaphragm moves out, the volume of the pump increases and
causes the pressure within the chamber to decrease and draw in fluid. The inward
stroke has the opposite effect, decreasing the volume and increasing the pressure
of the chamber to move out fluid. This operation is very similar to the draw in,
push out, concept of human breathing.
iv. The metering pump
Metering pumps are designed to dispense precise amount of fluids and measured
flow control. They feature a high level of repetitive accuracy and are capable of
pumping a wide range of chemicals. Metering pumps transfer media in two stages:
the intake stroke and the output stroke. During the intake stroke, liquid is pulled into
the pump cavity past the inlet check valve. During the output stroke, the inlet valve
closes, the outlet valve opens, and the fluid is forced out. The flow may be varied by
changing the stroke length or by adjusting the cycle frequency. Metering pumps are

usually driven by a constant speed AC motor, although different drive mechanisms

may be used depending upon the application at hand. The drive mechanism translate
the rotary motion of the driver into reciprocating movement. Industrial duty metering
will submerge this portion of the pump in an oil bath to assure sufficient lubrication
and reliability during continuous operation.
2. POSITIVE-DISLPLACEMENT ROTARY PUMPS
i. The gear pump and the lobe pump
Gear pumps transports liquids using rotating gears. Specifically, they are rotary
positive displacement pumps, which utilize a rotating mechanism or assembly to
cause this contraction and expansion. Typically, a rotating assembly of two gears (a
drive gear and an idler) moves to create suction at the pump inlet and draw in fluid.
The liquid is then directed between the teeth of the gears and the walls of the
casing to the discharge point. Volume decreases as the liquid travels from inlet to
outlet, causing a buildup pressure. Pressure relief valves are typically built-in to the
pump to protect the pumping system from closed valve in the discharge piping.
Flow in gear pumps is determined by the size of the cavity (volume) between the
gear teeth, the speed of rotation (rpm) of the gears, and the amount of slippage
(reverse flow). Slip increases as pump wears.
ii. The cam pump
A rotating cam is mounted eccentrically in a cylindrical casing and a very small
clearance is maintained between the outer edge of the cam and the casing. As the
cam rotates it expels liquid from the space ahead of it and sucks in liquid behind
it. The delivery and suction sides of the pump are separated by sliding valve
which rides on the cam. The characteristics again are similar to those of the gear
pump.
iii. The vane pump
The rotor of the vane pump is mounted off center in the cylindrical casing. It carries
rectangular vanes in a series of slots arranged at intervals round the curved surface of
the rotor. The vanes are thrown outwards by a centrifugal action and the fluid is

carried in the space bounded by adjacent vanes, the rotor and the casing. Most of the
wear is on the vanes and this can be readily be replaced.

iv. The flexible vane pump

The pumps described above will not handle liquids containing solid particles in
suspension, and the flexible vane pump has been developed to overcome this
disadvantage. In this case, the rotor is an integral elasomer molding of a hub
with flexible vanes which rotates in a cylindrical casing containing a crescentshaped block, as in the case of the internal gear pump.
v. The flow inducer or peristaltic pump
This is a special form of pump in which a length of silicone rubber or other
elastic tubing, typically 3 to 25 mm diameter, is compressed in a stages by means
of a rotor. The tubing is fitted to a curved track mounted concentrically with a
rotor crying three rollers. As the rollers rotate, they flatten the tube against the
track at the points of contact. These flats move the liquid by positive
displacement, and the flow can be precisely controlled by the speed of the motor.
vi. The mono pump
Another example of a positive acting rotary pump is the single screw-extruder
pump typified by the Mono-pump which a specially shaped helical metal rotor
revolves eccentrically within a double-helix, resilient rubber stator of twice the
pitch length of the metal rotor. A continuous forming cavity is created as the
rotor turns- the cavity progressing towards the discharge, advancing in front of a
continuously forming seal line and thus carrying the pumped material within.
vii. Screw pump
Screw pumps are rotary, positive displacement pumps that can have one or more
screws to transfer high or low viscosity fluids along an axis. Although progressive
cavity pumps can be referred to as a single screw pumps, typically screw pumps have
two or more intermeshing screws rotating axially clockwise or counterclockwise.
Each screw thread is matched to carry a specific volume of fluid. Like gear pumps,
screw pumps may have a stationary screw with a rotating screw or screws. Fluid is

transferred through successive contact between the housing and the screw flights
from one thread to the next.
viii. Centrifugal Pump
Centrifugal pumps operate using kinetic energy to move fluid, utilizing an
impeller and circular pump casing. A vacuum is created in the pump which
draws fluid to the impeller by suction. The impeller produces liquid velocity and
the casing forces the liquid to discharge from the pump, converting velocity to
pressure. This is accomplished by offsetting the impeller in the casing and by
maintaining a close clearance between the impeller and the casing at the
cutwater. By forcing fluid through without cupping it, centrifugal pumps can
achieve very high flow rates.

APPLICATIONS
A. RECIPROCATING PUMPS
1. Piston Pump or Ram Pump.
The piston or ram pump may be used for injections of small quantities if
inhibitors to polymerization units or of corrosion inhibitors to high pressure
systems, and also for boiler water feed application.
2. Diaphragm Pump
Diaphragm pumps are commonly called mud hogs and mud sucker because
of their use in pumping slurries and waste water in shallow depths. They are
capable of handling all sorts of aggressive media including gases and gas/ liquid
mixture, and can achieve very high pressures. They should not be used to pump
dangerous or toxic gases, since diaphragm pumps are not hermetically sealed.
Larger models of this pumps type are used to move heavy sludge and debris-filled
wastes from trenches and catch basins, applications where centrifugal pumps
perform poorly due to high discharge volumes and low water levels which would
cause them to lose their prime.

Smaller models are typically use in chemical metering or dosing applications

where very constant and precise amounts of liquid delivery are required.
3. Metering Pump
Metering pumps are generally used in applications with one or more of the
following conditions: low flow rates required; high accuracy feed required; high
system pressure; corrosive, hazardous or high temperature media; slurry or high
viscosity media and controlled dosing.

B. POSITIVE-DISLPLACEMENT ROTARY PUMPS

1. Gear Pump and Lobe Pump
Gear pumps are a popular pumping principle and are often used as lubrication
pumps in machine tools, in fluid power transfer units, and as oil pumps in
engine. Common gear applications include, various fuel oil and lube oil,
chemical additive and polymer metering, chemical mixing and blending,
industrial and mobile hydraulic applications, acids and caustic and low
volume transfer or application.
2. Vane Pump
While vane pump can handle moderate viscosity liquids, they excel at
handling low viscosity liquids. vane pumps have no internal metal-to-metal
contact and self-compensate for wear, enabling them to maintain peak
performance on this non-lubricating liquids. They are used to handle aerosol
and propellants, in aviation service they are used in handling fuels, lubes,
refrigeration coolants, bulk transfer og LPG and NH3, LPG cylinder filling,
and alcohols. In refrigeration, they are used to deal with freons, ammonia.
Lastly, they are also used to handle solvents and aqueous solutions.
3. Flexible Vane Pump
The most common application for flexible impeller pumps is in the marine
industry, where they are used as ballast and bilge pumps in small and medium
sized marine craft. They are ideal for handling fluids that are delicate, usually
with relatively low viscosities, and are also used across the pharmaceutical,

cosmetic, and food industries. Sanitary versions of this pump are available,
with FDA approved rubber materials for the impeller.
4. Flow Inducer or Peristaltic pump
These pumps have been particularly useful for biological fluids where all
forms of contact must be avoided. They are being increasingly used and are
suitable for pumping emulsions, creams, and similar fluids in laboratories and
small plants where the freedom from glands, avoidance or aeration, and
corrotion resistance are valuable, if not essential.
5. Mono Pump
The mono pumps gives a uniform flow and is quiet in operation. It will pump
against high pressures; the higher the required pressure, the longer are the
stator and the rotor and the greater the number of turns. The pump can handle
corrosive and gritty liquids and is extensively used for feeding slurries to filter
presses. It must never run dry. The Mono Merlin Wide Trout pump is used for
highly viscous liquids.
6. Screw Pump
STP's: Sewage Inlet Pumps
On most STPs gravity propels the raw sewage below ground level to the
plant. The use of Archimedean screw pumps makes it possible to lift large
quantities of sewage to a higher level without the need of installing a screen
upstream below ground level.
Storm Water Pumping Stations (Flood Control)
Storm Water Pumping Stations are often waiting in stand-by mode (for 80% of
the year) but when heavy rainfall suddenly strikes, they must be immediately
ready to start pumping thousands of cubic meters of polluted rainwater
containing lots of debris. The storm water pumps must not get blocked during
these critical hours! The Archimedes screw pump is the only type of pump
that can offer this reliability.
Drainage Pumping Stations
The typical problem of drainage pumping stations is the fluctuation in inlet
level. The screw pumps are ideally suitable to handle this fluctuation in inlet

level because the pump efficiency (hence energy consumption) is almost

uneffected by changing levels. Also the screw pump will automatically pump
less when the level in front of the pump decreases.
Industrial Waste Water
In the industry you can find several varied applications for Screw Pumps:
Cooling Water Outfall Pumps
Refineries: for oily sludge and waste water
Potato processing industry
Sugar industry

7. Centrifugal Pump
In energy and oil industry, it is use in refineries and power plants. Building
services also used this pump for pressure boosting, heating installations, fire
protection sprinkler systems, drainage and air conditioning. In industry and
water engineering it is used for boiler feed applications, water supply
(municipal, industrial), wastewater management, irrigation, sprinkling,
drainage and flood protection. The Chemical and Process Industries used it for
paints, chemicals, hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, cellulose, petro-chemicals,
sugar refining, food and beverage production. Lastly secondary systems used
it to handle coolant recirculation, condensate transport, cryogenics,
refrigerants.

NPSH (NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD)

The margin of pressure over vapor pressure, at the pump suction nozzle, is Net Positive
Suction Head (NPSH). NPSH is the difference between suction pressure (stagnation) and
vapor pressure. In equation form:
NPSH = Ps - Pvap
Where:
NPSH
Ps

= NPSH available from the system, at the pump inlet, with the pump running

= Stagnation suction pressure, at the pump inlet, with the pump running

Pvap = Vapor pressure of the pumpage at inlet temperature

Since vapor pressure is always expressed on the absolute scale, suction pressure must
also be in absolute terms. In U.S. customary units, both pressures must be in psia. Gauge
pressure is converted to absolute pressure by adding atmospheric pressure. In equation
form:
absolute pressure = gauge pressure + atmospheric pressure
The above equation provides an answer in units of pressure (psi). This can be converted
to units of head (feet) by the following equation:
h = 2.31p/SG
Where:
h = Head, feet
p = Pressure, psi
SG = Specific gravity of the liquid

SAMPLE CALCULATION
Stagnation suction pressure is determined to be 1-psig at a sea level installation. The
vapor pressure of the liquid is 8-psia. Calculate NPSH in PSI and feet for a 0.9 SG liquid
NPSH = Ps - Pvap
= 1 + 14.7 - 8
= 7.7 PSI
NPSH = 2.31p/SG
= (2.31) (7.7)/0.9
= 19.8 FEET