PUMPS
Introduction
Pumps are used to transfer and distribute liquids in various industries. Pumps convert mechanical energy into
hydraulic energy. Electrical energy is generally used to operate the various types of pumps.
Definition
A pump is a device that moves fluids (liquid/gases) by mechanical action typically converted from electrical
energy to hydraulic energy. (Hydraulic Energy a type of energy that takes advantage of the movement of water. It
is sometimes also called water energy and it enables us to obtain electricity by making use of kinetic energy and
potential energy from currents and waterfalls.)
A pump is a device which moves fluids by mechanical action from one place to other.
Pumps have two main purposes.
Transfer of liquid from one place to another place (e.g. water from an underground into a water
storage tank).
Circulate liquid around a system (e.g. Cooling water or lubricants through machines and equipment).
Components of a Pumping System
Pump casing and impellers
Prime movers: electric motors, diesel engines or air system
Piping used to carry the fluid
Valves, used to control the flow in the system
Other fittings, controls and instrumentation
End-use equipment, which have different requirements (e.g. pressure, flow) and therefore determine the
pumping system components and configuration. Examples include heat exchangers, tanks and hydraulic
machines.
Classification
There exist a wide variety of pumps that are designed for various specific applications. However, most of them can
be broadly classified into two categories as mentioned below.
i. Positive displacement
ii. Dynamic pressure pumps
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Classification of pumps
A. Positive Displacement Pumps
The term positive displacement pump is quite descriptive, because such pumps are designed to displace a more or
less fixed volume of fluid during each cycle of operation. The volumetric flow rate is determined by the
displacement per cycle of the moving member (either rotating or reciprocating) times the cycle rate (e.g. rpm). The
flow capacity is thus fixed by the design, size, and operating speed of the pump. The pressure (or head) that the
pump develops depends upon the flow resistance of the system in which the pump is installed and is limited only
by the size of the driving motor and the strength of the parts. Consequently, the discharge line from the pump
should never be closed off without allowing for recycle around the pump or damage to the pump could result. They
can be further classified as:
Types of Positive Displacement Pumps
Reciprocating pumps
Pumping takes place by to and fro motion of the piston or diaphragm in the cylinder. It is often used where
relatively small quantity of liquid is to be handled and where delivery pressure is quite large.
i. Piston pump: A piston pump is a type of positive displacement pump where the high-pressure seal
reciprocates with the piston. The pump has a piston cylinder arrangement. As the piston, goes away
after the delivery stoke, low pressure is created in the cylinder which opens the suction valve. On
forward stoke, the fluid filled inside the cylinder is compressed which intern opens the delivery valve
for the delivery of liquid.
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Piston pump
ii. Diaphragm pump: uses a combination of the reciprocating action of a rubber, thermoplastic or Teflon
diaphragm and suitable non-return check valves to pump a fluid. Sometimes this type of pump is also
called a membrane pump.
Diaphragm pump
Rotary pumps
In rotary pumps, relative movement between rotating elements and the stationary element of the pump cause the
pumping action. The operation is different from reciprocating pumps, where valves and a piston are integral to the
pump. They also differ from centrifugal pumps, where high velocity is turned into pressure. Rotary pumps are
designed so that a continuous seal is maintained between inlet and outlet ports by the action and position of the
pumping elements and close running clearances of the pump. Therefore, rotary pumps do not require valve
arrangements similar to reciprocating pumps.
i. Gear pumps: uses the meshing of gears to pump fluid by displacement. They are one of the most
common types of pumps for hydraulic fluid power applications. The rigid design of the gears and
houses allow for very high pressures and the ability to pump highly viscous fluids.
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Gear pump
ii. Lobe pump: Lobe pumps are similar to external gear pumps in operation in that fluid flows around the
interior of the casing. As the lobes come out of mesh, they create expanding volume on the inlet side of
the pump. Liquid flows into the cavity and is trapped by the lobes as they rotate. Liquid travels around
the interior of the casing in the pockets between the lobes and the casing. Finally, the meshing of the
lobes forces liquid through the outlet port under pressure.
Lobe pump
iii. Screw Pump: These 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. Screw pumps provide a specific volume with each cycle and can be dependable in
metering applications.
Screw pump
iv. Vane pump: A rotary vane pump is a positive-displacement pump that consists of vanes mounted to a
rotor that rotates inside of a cavity. In some cases, these vanes can be variable length and/or tensioned
to maintain contact with the walls as the pump rotates.
Vane pump
v. Rotary plunger pump: The pumping action takes place by rotating rotor and reciprocating plunger. In
a rotary plunger rotary pump, the axes of the plungers are perpendicular to the rotational axis of the
rotor or at an angle of not less than 45° to the axis; the rotor is located eccentrically with respect to the
axis of the case.
Rotary plunger pump
Suction and forced delivery of the liquid occur with the reciprocating motion of the plungers as a result of
centrifugal forces and spring action. Rotary pumps of this type may have as many as 72 plungers arranged in
multiple rows, provide a delivery Q ≤ 400 liters/min, and build up a pumping pressure ρ ≤ 100 MN/m2 .
Advantages of reciprocating pumps
1. Its self priming-not requires filling the cylinder by starting.
2. Can work in wide pressure range.
3. Provide high pressure at outlet.
4. Provide consistent flow rate if there is a change in pressure.
Disadvantages of reciprocating pumps
1. Flow is extremely less and cannot use high flow process.
2. High wear and tear so need lot of maintenance.
3. Initial price is much more
4. Low discharging capacity.
Dynamic Pressure Pumps
In dynamic pressure pump, during pumping action, tangential force is imparted which accelerates the fluid
normally by rotation of impeller. Some systems which contain dynamic pump may require positive displacements
pump for priming. They are normally used for moderate to high discharge rate. The pressure differential range for
this type of pumps is in a range of low to moderate. They are popularly used in a system where low viscosity fluids
are used.
Centrifugal pumps
They use a rotating impeller to increase the pressure of a fluid. Centrifugal pumps are commonly used to move
liquids through a piping system. The fluid enters the pump impeller along or near to the rotating axis and is
accelerated by the impeller, flowing radially outward into a diffuser or volute chamber (casing), from where it exits
into the downstream piping system. Centrifugal pumps are used for large discharge through smaller heads. These
types of pumps are used for supply of water and handling of milk in dairy plants.
Components:
1. Impeller: A wheel with series of backward curved vanes.
2. Casing: Air tight chamber surrounding the impeller.
3. Suction Pipe: One end is connected in eye and other is dipped in a liquid.
4. Delivery pipe: One end is connected to eye, other to overhead tank.
5. Foot valve: Allow water only in upward direction.
6. Strainer: Prevent the entry of foreign particle/material to the pump
Centrifugal pump
Advantages of centrifugal pumps
1. They are capable of pumping both hazardous and sensitive fluids.
2. There are no leakage problems with centrifugal pumps.
3. There is no power loss caused by friction, and they are remarkably simple in design and operation.
4. Heat transfer is also not an issue because the space between the motor and the chamber is sufficiently wide.
Disadvantages of centrifugal pumps
1. Magnetic resonance in a centrifugal pump results in a minor energy loss.
2. Because of the particle-attractive nature of magnetic drives, there is a high chance of pipe
clogging.
3. These pumps can be damaged by vibrations caused by the external environment.
4. The risk of cavitation is a constant concern. It is one of the major centrifugal pump disadvantages.
5. When the pump does not operate for a long time, rusting occurs and lead to damage
N/B
Cavitation is the formation and accumulation of bubbles around a pump impeller. This tends to form in liquids of
any viscosity as they are being transported through and around a pump system. When each of these tiny bubbles
collapses or bursts, it creates a high energy shock wave inside the liquid.
Indicators of cavitation
1. Noise
2. Fluctuating discharge pressure flow
3. Fluctuating pump motor current
Steps that can be taken to stop pump cavitation.
1. Increase the pressure at the suction of pipe
2. Reduce temperature of the liquid being pumped
3. Reduce head losses in the pump suction piping
4. Reduce flow rate through the pump
5. Reduce the speed of the pump impeller
Effect of pump cavitation
1. Degraded pump performance
2. Excessive pump vibration
3. Damage to pump impeller, bearings, wearing rings and seals.
Propeller pump
A propeller pump is a high flow, low lift impeller type device featuring a linear flow path. The propeller pump may
be installed in a vertical, horizontal, or angled orientation and typically has its motor situated above the water level
with the impeller below water. These pumps function by drawing water up an outer casing and out of a discharge
outlet via a propeller bladed impeller head.
Propeller pump
Turbine pump
Turbine pumps are centrifugal pumps that use pressure and flow in combination with a rotary mechanism to
transfer fluid. They typically employ blade geometry, which causes fluid circulation around the vanes to add
pressure from inlet to outlet. Turbine pumps operate using kinetic energy to move fluid utilizing an impeller. The
centrifugal force drives the liquid to the housing wall in close proximity to the vanes of the impeller or propeller.
The cyclical movement of the impeller produces pressure in the pumping bowl. The shape of turbine pumps also
contributes to suction and discharge rates.
Turbine pump
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