PUMPS

Hydraulic Pump
It is device which converts mechanical
energy into hydraulic energy.
Here the term hydraulic energy refers to
potential energy and kinetic energy of a
liquid.
The pump does not produce pressure .
It produces only fluid flow.
Pump requires mechanical power to
operate / run, they are known as the
energy absorbing machines.

Pump Vs Turbine
S.no
1

Pumps
Turbine
It converts
It converts hydraulic
mechanical energy to energy to
hydraulic energy
mechanical energy

It is an energy
absorbing machine

It is an energy
producing machine

Flow takes place

from low-pressure
side to high-pressure
side

Flow takes place

from high-pressure
side to low-pressure
side

Where do you need a

pump?

Pump is used to transport liquid in fluid

transport systems.

Pump is used to develop pressure in fluid

power systems.

Applications
Manufacturing industry
Automobile industry
Agricultural industry
Naval industry
Aerospace industry
Mechatronics field
Material handling field
Construction field
Other industries

Classification
Hydraulic pumps

Positive displacement

Reciprocating pumps

Non Positive displacement

Centrifugal pumps

Positive Displacement
Pump

The functioning of a positive-displacement

pump derives from changes of the volume
occupied by the fluid within the pump.
These pumps discharge a fixed quantity of
liquid into the hydraulic system per
revolution of pump shaft rotation.
Eg: Reciprocating, rotary

Advantages
It can operate at very high pressure (up to
700 bar)
They are small and compact in size
They achieve high volumetric efficiency
EG: These pumps are widely used in all
fluid power applications.

Non Positive
Displacement

The fluid flow is achieved using the inertia

of the fluid in motion.
These pumps are suitable for low-pressure
(up to 40 bar).
These pumps cannot withstand high
pressures.
They are used only for transporting fluid
from one place to another.
Eg: Centrifugal

Advantages
Have fewer moving parts
Initial and maintenance costs are
comparatively less
They provide smooth continuous flow
Simple in operation
Suitable for handling almost any type of
fluid (Sludges)

Disadvantages
Volumetric efficiency is very low
They are not self priming

Reciprocating Pumps

The mechanical energy is converted into

hydraulic energy or pressure energy by
sucking the liquid into a cylinder in which
a piston is reciprocating (moving
backwards and forwards), which exerts
the thrust on the liquid and increases its
hydraulic energy (pressure energy), the
pump is known as reciprocating pump.

Classification

i.
ii.

i.
ii.
iii.

According to the water being in contact

with piston
Single - acting pump
Double acting pump
According to number of cylinders
Single cylinder pump
Double cylinder pump
Triple cylinder pump

Main Parts of a
Reciprocating Pump
A cylinder with a Piston, Piston rod,
Connecting rod and a crank.
Suction pipe,
Delivery pipe
Suction valve and
Delivery valve.

The piston reciprocates in a cylinder.

The movement of the piston is obtained by the
crank and connecting rod mechanism.
The suction pipe connects the liquid source
(sump) and the cylinder.
The delivery pipe connects the cylinder and the
pump outlet.
The suction valve admits the flow from the suction
pipe into the cylinder.
The delivery valve admits the flow from the
cylinder into the delivery pipe.

Single Acting
Reciprocating Pump
In this pump, liquid acts on one side of the
piston only.
It has only one suction pipe and one
delivery pipe.
It is usually placed above the liquid level
in the sump.

Working

i.

ii.

Suction Stroke:
Initially the crank is at the inner dead
centre (IDC) and the crank rotates in the
clockwise direction.
When the crank rotates clockwise from
IDC to outer dead centre (ODC) (i.e.
from 0 to 180), the piston moves
outward to the right and a vacuum is
created on the left side of the piston.

This vacuum causes a suction valve to

open and the liquid is forced from the
sump into the left side of the piston.
When the crank is at ODC, the suction
stroke is completed and the left side of
cylinder is full of liquid.

Delivery stroke:
i. When the crank rotates from ODC to IDC
(i.e. from 180 to 360) the piston moves
inward to the left and a high pressure is
built up in the cylinder.
ii. The increased pressure causes a suction
valve to close and the discharge valve
open.

iii. Thus the liquid is carried to the discharge

tank through the delivery pipe.
iv. The delivery stroke is completed when
the crank occupies the IDC position.
v. In the same way , the suction & delivery
strokes are carried out alternatively and
thus the liquid is pumped from the sump
to the discharge tank.

Working of Double Acting

Reciprocating Pump
In this pump, the liquid is acting on both
sides of the piston.
They require two suction pipes and two
delivery pipes.
The right side of the cylinder having the
piston rod is known as crank end.
The left side of the cylinder known as
cover end.

Forward Stroke
i.

ii.

iii.

When the crank rotates from IDC to ODC (0 to

180), a vacuum is created on the cover side of
the piston and the liquid is sucked from the
sump through suction valve S1.
At the same time , the liquid on the right side of
the piston is pressed and a high pressure
causes the delivery valve D2 to open and the
liquid is passed on to the discharge tank.

The operation continues till the crank

reaches ODC.

Return Stroke
i.

ii.

iii.

When the crank rotates from ODC to IDC (180

to 360), the liquid is sucked in from the sump
through the suction valve S2 and is delivered to
the discharge tank through delivery valve D1.
When the crank reaches IDC, the piston is in
the left extreme left position and thus one cycle
of operation is completed.
Thus for one complete revolution of the crank
there are two delivery strokes and liquid is
delivered to the pipes by the pump during these
two delivery strokes.

Applications
Light oil pumping
Feeding small boiler condensate return
Pneumatic pressure system

SLIP OF RECIPROCATING
PUMP
Slip of a pump is defined as the difference
between the theoretical discharge and
actual discharge of the pump.
Percentage slip is given by

Percentage Slip =

Q th - Q act
Q th

Q
1 act
Q th

x 100
x 100

= (1- Cd ) x 100 where Cd =

Q act
Q th

Cd is called co- efficient of discharge.

NEGATIVE SLIP OF
RECIPROCATING PUMP
If the actual discharge is greater than the
theoretical discharge, then the slip of the
pump is ve.
In that case, slip of the pump is known as
negative slip.
Negative slip occurs when delivery pipe is
short, suction pipe is long and pump is
running at high speed.

CENTRIFUGAL
PUMPS

Definition

They are the devices which convert the

mechanical energy into hydraulic energy
by means of centrifugal force acting on the
liquid.

Classification
Based on the shape and type of casing:
a. Volute or spiral casing
b. Vortex or whirlpool casing
c. Volute casing with guide blades
2. Based on the working head
a. Low head (up to 15m)
b. Medium head (15m to 40m)
c. High head (over 40m)
1.

3. Based on the relative direction of flow

through impeller
a. Radial flow pump
b. Axial flow pump
c. Mixed flow pump

Components of a
Centrifugal Pump
Impeller
Casing
Suction pipe with a foot-valve & strainer
Delivery pipe

Impeller

i.
ii.
iii.

Rotating part of a centrifugal pump.

It consists of series of backward curved vanes
or blades.
The impeller is mounted on a shaft which
connects to the shaft of an electric motor.
The impellers are of any of the following three
types
Closed
Semi-open
Open

There are three main categories of impeller due type of impellers vane,
which are used in the centrifugal pumps as;
Radial vanes, Fig. (a).
Backward vanes, Fig. (b).
Forward vanes, Fig. (c).

Casing
It is an airtight chamber surrounding the
pump impeller.
It is similar to the casing of a reaction
turbine.
It is designed in such a way that the
kinetic energy of the liquid is converted
into pressure energy before the liquid
leaves the casing.

Two essential uses of casing are

i. To guide liquid to and from the impeller
ii. To partially convert the kinetic energy into
pressure energy.
Types of casing:
a. Volute
b. Vortex
c. Volute casing with guide blades

Suction Pipe with a FootValve & a Strainer

Suction pipe connects the centre (eye) of
the impeller to the sump from which the
liquid is to be lifted.
The pipe is air-tight so that there is no
possibility of formation of air pockets.
Foot valve is a one-way valve/non-return
valve fitted at the lower end of the suction
pipe.

It is used to fill the pump with liquid

before it is started (i.e. priming) &
prevents back flow when the pump is
stopped.
A strainer is also fitted at the lower end of
the suction pipe, so as to prevent the
entry of solid particles, into the pump.

Delivery Pipe
The pipe which is connected at its lower
end to the outlet of the pump and it
delivers the liquid to the required height is
known as delivery pipe.
A regulating valve is provided on the
delivery pipe to regulate the supply of
water.

Working Principle
Step 1:
The delivery valve is closed and the suction
pipe, casing and portion of the delivery
pipe up to the delivery valve are
completely filled with the liquid so that no
air pocket is left. This process known as
priming.

Step 2:
The electric motor is started to rotate the
impeller when keeping the delivery valve
still closed.
The rotation of the impeller causes strong
or vacuum just at the eye of the casing.

Step 3 :

The speed of the impeller is gradually

increased till the impeller rotates at its
normal speed and develops normal
hydraulic energy required for pumping the
liquid.

Step 4:

The delivery valve is opened after the impeller

attains the normal speed.
Now, the liquid is continuously sucked by the
suction pipe and passes through the eye of
casing.
Then it enters the impeller at its centre .
This liquid is impelled out by the rotating vanes
and it comes out at the outlet tips of the vanes
into the casing.
During this process, the pressure head as well as
velocity head of the liquid are increased.

Step 5:

The liquid is now entered into

vertex/volute chamber of the casing where
some of the velocity head is converted into
pressure head in the casing.

Step 6:

From casing, the liquid passes into the

delivery pipe and is lifted to the required
height.

Step 7:
When pump is stopped, the delivery valve
should be closed, otherwise there may be
some back flow from the reservoir.
If there is a foot-valve , no need to close
the delivery valve.
It is a one-way non-return valve.
It arrests the back flow.

Comparison reciprocating
& Centrifugal Pumps
S.no Reciprocating pump

Centrifugal pump

It is suitable for less

discharge and higher
heads

It is suitable for
large discharge and
smaller heads

It cannot handle high

viscous liquids. (oil,
sewage water)
Efficiency is more

It can handle high

viscous liquids.

It requires large floor

area

It requires small
floor area

3
4

Efficiency is less

It does not need priming

It needs priming

Installation &
maintenance cost are
difficult and costly.

More wear and tear

Installation &
maintenance
cost are easier
and cheaper.
More wear and
tear

It cannot run at higher

speeds

It can run at
higher speeds

The operation is
complicated and noisy.

The operation is
smooth and
quiet.

10

The thrust on the

crankshaft is not uniform

The thrust on
the crankshaft is
uniform

11

The cost of this pump is

more.

The cost of this

pump is less.