Pumps

A pump is a mechanical device used to transfer liquids from one point to other by imparting
energy supplied by a prime mover to the liquid. The prime mover can be an electric motor, an IC
engine, a steam engine or a turbine. The power required to pump the liquid depends on the
quantity of the liquid, the height (head) to which it is to be lifted, and the viscosity of the liquid.
A pump works by imparting energy supplied by the prime mover, to the liquid, in two ways:
i) by imparting kinetic energy to the liquid by an impeller as in centrifugal pumps and
(ii) by physically pushing (displacing) the liquid as in displacement pumps.
Centrifugal pumps work on the principle of centrifugal force acting on any mass when rotating.
The liquid entering axially through the eye of the impeller comes in contact with the rotating
impeller blades, whirled tangentially and radially; hence takes up the kinetic energy from it, and
is acted upon by centrifugal force causing it to move towards the periphery of the impeller.
Vacuum (negative pressure) is generated at the center of the pump; so the liquid is sucked from
the sump via suction pipe connected to the pump. It is important to note that the water is not
pushed radially outward by centrifugal force, rather by inertia, the natural tendency of an object
to continue in a straight line (tangent to the radius) when traveling around circle. The rise in the
pressure head of the rotating liquid at any point is directly proportional to the square of the
tangential velocity of the rotating liquid. At the outlet of the impeller, radius is more, this raises
the pressure head of the liquid. It then enters the volute chamber or the diffuser vanes where its
kinetic energy is converted into pressure. This pressure causes the liquid to move ahead in the
pipes to its delivery point.
A centrifugal pump containing two or more impellers is called a multistage centrifugal pump.
The impellers may be mounted on the same shaft or on different shafts. At each stage, the fluid is
directed to the center before making its way to the discharge on the outer diameter. For higher
pressures at the outlet, impellers can be connected in series. For higher flow output, impellers
can be connected in parallel.
The reverse function of the centrifugal pump is a water turbine which converts potential energy
of water pressure into rotational (mechanical) energy.
Common uses include water, sewage, agriculture, food, chemical, automobile, marine,
manufacturing and petrochemical pumping. They are often chosen for their high flow rate and
abrasive solution compatibility, mixing potential, as well as their relatively simple engineering.
Main parts: four: impeller, casing, suction pipe (with a foot valve and strainer) and delivery pipe.
Impeller: rotating part of the pump, mounted on a shaft which is again connected to the shaft of
an electric motor. It consists of series of backward curved blades, higher efficiency.
Casing: an air tight passage that surrounds the impeller. The design of the casing is done in such
a way that it is capable of converting the kinetic energy of the water discharging from the outlet
of the impeller into pressure energy before leaving the casing and enters into the delivery pipe.
Three types of casing are mostly used in centrifugal pumps:
(i) Volute casing: a spiral type of casing in which the area of flow increases gradually. The
increase in area of flow decreases the velocity and increases the pressure of the liquid that flows
through the casing.
(ii) Vortex casing: an annular circular space known as vortex or whirlpool chamber is provided
between the impeller and volute casing. This is done in order to prevent the loss of energy due to
formation of eddies. The efficiency of the vortex casing is more than that of the volute casing.
(iii) Casing with guide blades: the impeller is surrounded by series of guide blades, mounted on
a ring which is called as diffuser. The design of the guide vanes are kept as such that the water
leaving the impeller enters the guides without shock. The area of the guide vanes increases; this
decreases the velocity of the liquid and increases its pressure. The liquid then passes through the
surrounding casing. In most cases, the casing remains concentric with the impeller.
Suction pipe with foot valve and strainer: pipe with one end is connected to the inlet of the
impeller and the other end is dipped into the sump of water. It consists of a foot valve and
strainer at the lower end. The foot valve is a one way valve that opens in the upward direction.
The strainer is used to filter the unwanted particle present in the water to prevent the centrifugal
pump from blockage.
Delivery pipe: pipe with one end is connected to the outlet of the pump and other end is
connected to the required height where water is to be delivered.
Pump heads: may be expressed as suction head, delivery head, static head, manometric head,
Euler’s head and total head.
Suction head (hs): the vertical distance between liquid levels in the sump and the center line of
the pump. Usually, it is kept 7 to 8 m to avoid cavitation.
Delivery head (hd): the vertical height of the liquid surface in the overhead tank to which the
liquid is delivered above the center line of the pump.
Static head (hst): the vertical distance between liquid levels in the sump and the overhead tank. It
is the sum of suction head and delivery head. (hst =hs + hd).
Manometric head (Hm): available head against which a centrifugal pump has to work.
Euler’s head (He): the head developed by the impeller.
Total head (H): the total head which has to be developed by a pump to deliver the liquid from the
sump into the overhead tank.
Energy losses: hydraulic loss, mechanical loss and leakage loss.
Hydraulic losses: two types – (i) pipeline (friction and bend losses) and (ii) pump losses – eddy
or shock losses, frictional losses in impeller, guide vane/ diffuser, casing.
Mechanical losses: losses due to friction of main bearings and glands.
Leakage losses: slipping back of part of liquid through the clearance between the impeller and
casing due to pressure diff. between inlet and outlet. Energy carried by these liquid is wasted.
Efficiency: hydraulic, mechanical, volumetric and overall efficiencies.
Hydraulic efficiency: ratio of total head and manometric head.
Mechanical efficiency: ratio of power delivered by the impeller to the to the liquid and power
input to the pump shaft. Usually 96% - 98%.
Volumetric efficiency: ratio of actual liquid discharge per sec. and discharge per sec. passing
through the impeller. Usually 98% -- 99%.
Overall efficiency: product of hydraulic, mechanical and volumetric efficiencies. It is the ratio of
actual hydraulic power developed by a pump and power input to the pump shaft.
Advantages: small in size- space saving, steady and consistent output, easy maintenance, no
danger if discharge valve is closed while starting, large volume flow, able to work on medium to
low head, able to work on medium to low viscous fluid, almost no noise etc.
Disadvantages: requires priming process, unable to work on high speeds, cannot deal with
highly viscous liquid.
Problems of centrifugal pumps: Cavitation—the net positive suction head (NPSH) of the system
is too low for the selected pump; Impeller wear —can be worsened by suspended solids;
Corrosion – inside the pump caused by the fluid properties; Overheating – due to low flow;
Leakage – along rotating shaft; Lack of prime — centrifugal pumps must be filled (with the fluid
to be pumped) in order to operate; Surge – occurs when the flow through a pump begins to
greatly fluctuate, when the pump is being driven at a constant speed. Pumping pressure is
developed by slowing down the fast moving liquid thrown by the rotating impeller. If the
pressure that the pump needs to overcome exceeds the amount of slowing down in the pump’s
volute casing, some of the flow begins to flow backward creating a temporary blockage that the
remaining flow eventually overcomes. This speeds up the flow momentarily and initiates the
next cycle. Bubbles in the liquid or damages to the impeller profile can worsen surge.
Self-priming Pumps: During the priming cycle, air enters the pump and mixes with water at the
impeller. Water and air are discharged together by centrifugal action of the impeller into the
water reservoir. The air naturally tends to rise, while the water tends to sink.
Air-free water, now heavier than air-laden water, flows by gravity back down into the impeller
chamber, ready to mix with more air coming in the suction line. Once all air has been evacuated
and a vacuum created in the suction line, atmospheric pressure forces water up into the suction
line towards the impeller, and pumping begins.
Recirculation of water within the pump stops when pumping begins. The next time the pump is
started, it will self-prime — that is, it will be able to once again mix the water and air in the
casing to create a pump able fluid until the pump is fully primed again. This type of pump differs
from a standard centrifugal pump in that it has a water reservoir built into the unit which enables
it to rid pump and suction line of air by recirculating water within the pump on priming cycle.
This water reservoir may be above the impeller or in front of the impeller. In either case, the
“self-priming” capability of the pump comes from the pump’s ability to retain water after the
very first prime.
Advantages  of self-priming pumps: Handling solids (capable of pumping the debris) is one of its
most important advantages, as some self-priming pumps can handle solids up to 3 inches. It can
continue pumping fluid while it is situated out of the pit.
Disadvantages of self-priming pumps: inefficient; as clearances often need to be larger to allow
for better solids handling, also a larger volute to assist with self-priming.
Uses of self-priming pumps: commonly used in sewage lift stations, where raw sewage is
pumped into a treatment facility. They are also commonly mounted on portable skids and used to
pump storm water and for dewatering of construction and mining operations.
Displacement pumps are of mainly two types: reciprocating (piston) pumps and rotary rumps.
There are several types in reciprocating pumps. Similarly, there are several rotary displacement
pumps like gear pumps, screw pumps, and vane pumps. All the displacement type pumps work
by physically displacing the liquid by pump’s moving parts.
Rotary type displacement pumps do not require
suction and delivery valves connecting to suction
and delivery pipes. The liquid is always pushed
in one direction and there is no reversal of
motion as in reciprocating pumps. All rotary
displacement pumps like gear pump, screw
pump, vane pump etc. work on the same
principle: liquid is trapped between teeth,
threads, or vanes and is pushed from the suction
side to the delivery side by rotating parts. Screw
pumps can have a single screw, double screw, or
Reciprocating pump is a positive displacement pump where certain volume of liquid is
collected in enclosed volume and is discharged using pressure to the required application. They
are suitable for low volumes of flow at high pressures.
A reciprocating pump (RP) has a piston or plunger moving to and fro via a crankshaft rotated by
an electric motor. The top space above the piston is connected to suction and delivery pipes
through suction and delivery valves. When the piston moves down, the suction valve opens and
liquid from the suction pipe enters and fills the cylinder space above piston. Similarly, when the
piston moves up, the liquid in the space above piston is pushed out through delivery valve into
the delivery pipe. When only space above the piston is used, the pump is called single acting
pump. However, the underside of the piston also can be fitted with suction and delivery valves,
connecting to suction and delivery pipes and used as separate unit. The pump using both sides of
the piston is called double acting pump.
 The main components of reciprocating
pump are: suction pipe, suction valve,
delivery pipe, delivery valve, cylinder,
piston and piston rod, crank and
connecting rod, strainer and air vessel
(eliminates the frictional head and to
give uniform discharge rate). RP are
mainly used for oil drilling operations,
pneumatic pressure systems, light oil
pumping, feeding small boilers
condensate return etc. However, they
are bulky, require high maintenance,
can undergo rigorous wear and tear and
costly as well.

Deep well pumps are usually multi-staged

(centrifugal) pumps with a built on water
cooled underwater motor. Mainly two types: submersible and well jet.
Submersible deep-well pumps are buried within a well deep in the ground. They are cylindrical
units nested in the well casing. A sealed pump motor is wired to a power supply on the ground
level. These pumps are long, cylinder-shaped devices that are submerged in water with the water
pressure easing the movement of water through the pipe system. An array of stacked impellers
push water up through a pipe that is connected to one end of the pump. They provide a constant
supply of water even during dry seasons and they don’t require priming since they are
submerged in water. A submersible pump is connected to a tank to keep water pressure
consistent. They are more effective for deep wells and go down several hundred feet. They are
widely used in farmland irrigation and drainage, industrial and mining enterprises, urban water
supply and drainage, and sewage treatment. Since the motor is submerged into the water at the
same time, the structural requirements for the motor are special to those of the general motor.
 A submersible pump

Deep well jet pumps: are designed for drawing water from wells of 22 to 120 feet; use an
injector and centrifugal pump. When the pump and the pipe system are full of water, the impeller
pushes the water upwards by its spinning vanes. When the water is thrown out, a vacuum is
automatically created at the impeller’s eye. This draws in more water to replace what was pushed
out. The process repeats itself as more water is thrown and more is pushed through the pump into
the pressure tank. The vacuum is created at the injector by the venturi and nozzle. It’s this
vacuum that draws the water from the deep well. When the water passes through the venturi on
its way to the suction line, pressure builds up which forces the water back to the impeller. They
are Easily adaptable to various depths and yields, Quite inexpensive when compared to other
pumps, Less troublesome to maintain when chosen wisely and installed correctly. However,
pumps tend to be affected by abrasives like sand and less efficient with the increase in pumping
lift. The general rule is that for lifts that are greater than 80 feet opt for submersible pumps.