INTRODUCTION TO

PUMPS

PUMP
A Mechanical Device for transportation of Liquids.
Transportation achieved by adding energy to the liquid
(Centrifugal or Positive Displacement)
Applications:
Irrigation
Water pumping stations
Sewage movement
Chemical movement
Marine services etc.

TYPES OF PUMPS (BASED ON ENERGY

ADDITION TO THE FLUID)

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP
MAIN COMPONENTS OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP
A rotating component comprised of an impeller and a shaft
A stationary component comprised of a casing, casing cover, and bearings
WORKING
Imparts Velocity energy to the pumped medium
which is converted to pressure energy when
discharging from the pump casing.

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP

WORKING
Traps a fixed amount of liquid and forces that
trapped volume into the discharge pipe.
Pumps constant volume of liquid irrespective
of the varying Discharge pressure/heads.
Divided into two classes:
Reciprocating (Plunger pumps, Piston
Pumps etc.
Rotary (Rotary gear pumps, Peripheral
pumps, Screw pumps, Lobe pumps etc.)

Centrifugal PumpsVs. Positive Displacement Pumps

Centrifugal

Positive
Displacement

Mechanics Imparts velocity to the liquid

resulting in a pressure at the
outlet

Captures confined
amounts of liquid and
transfers it from the
suction to the
discharge port

Performanc Flow varies with changing

e
pressure

Flow is constant with

changing pressure.

Viscosity

Efficiency decreases with

increasing viscosity due to
frictional losses inside the
pump

Efficiency increases
with increasing
viscosity.

Efficiency

Efficiency peaks at bestefficiency-point. At higher or

lower pressures, efficiency
decreases.

Efficiency increases
with increasing
pressure.

Inlet
Liquid must be in the pump to
Conditions create a pressure differential

Negative pressure is
created at the inlet
port

PUMP SPECIFICATIONS
CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
Depends on the Application being served. Material can be Cast Iron or Stainless
steel etc.
PUMPING POWER
Depends on the head requirement, end pressure requirement etc.
SUCTION LIFT
The vertical distance that a pump may be placed above the water level (and be able to
draw water) is determined by pump design and limits dictated by altitude.

FLOW RATE
Depends on the system requirement

CAVITATION
Phenomenon of formation of vapour bubbles of a flowing liquid in a region where the pressure
of the liquid falls below its vapour pressure.
Divided into two classes of behaviour: inertial (or transient) cavitation and non-inertial
cavitation.
Inertial cavitation is the process where a void or bubble in a liquid rapidly collapses, producing
a shock wave.
Non-inertial cavitation is the process in which a bubble in a fluid is forced to Oscillate in size
or shape due to some form of energy input, such as an acoustic field

PUMP EFFICIENCY

Ratio of the power imparted on the fluid by the pump in relation to the power
supplied to drive the pump. Depends on the system pressure requirements,
viscosity etc.
EFFICIENCY VS. PRESSURE
Changes in pressure have little effect on the PD pump but a dramatic one on the
centrifugal.

EFFICIENCY VS. VISCOSITY

Viscosity also plays an important role in mechanical efficiency.
For centrifugal pumps, efficiency goes down as viscosity increases due to increased
frictional losses within the pump. Efficiency often increases in a PD pump with
increasing viscosity.

SYSTEM HEAD CALCULATIONS FOR PUMP

SELECTION

Static Suction Lift - The vertical distance from the water line to the centerline of
the impeller.
Static Discharge Head - The vertical distance from the discharge outlet to the
point of discharge
Dynamic Suction Head - The Static Suction Lift plus the friction in the suction
line. Also referred to as a Total Suction Head.
Dynamic Discharge Head - The Static Discharge Head plus the friction in the
discharge line. Also referred to as Total Discharge Head.
Total Dynamic Head - The Dynamic Suction Head plus the Dynamic Discharge
Head. Also referred to as Total Head.

Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH)

NPSH can be defined as two parts:

NPSH Available (NPSHA): The absolute pressure at the suction port of the pump.
AND
NPSH Required (NPSHR): The minimum pressure required at the suction port of
the pump to keep the pump from cavitating.
NPSHA is a function of your system and must be calculated.
NPSHR is a function of the pump and must be provided by the pump manufacturer.
NPSHA MUST be greater than NPSHR for the pump system to operate without
cavitating.

Specific Gravity

The term specific gravity compares the density of some substance to the density of
water.