PUMP

4. Pump
4.1 Centrifugal and Reciprocating Types
4.2 Theory of the Centrifugal Pump, Specific Speed, Pump Head
4.3 Pump Characteristics, Energy loss, Cavitation, Efficiency, Effect of
Viscosity, Series and parallel combination
4.4 Selection of Pumps
Positive Displacement Pump
Positive displacement means liquid is displaced in the same direction of
movement of pumping element.

In a positive displacement pump, a known quantity of liquid is pushed into

delivery pipe by exerting a thrust on it by means of moving pumping
element.

This is done by trapping a fixed amount of liquid between the moving

pumping element and stationary casing.

The moving pumping element may be a reciprocating type like piston or

plunger, diaphragm etc. or rotary type like gears, vanes, screws etc.
Positive Displacement Pump

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT
PUMPS

RECIPROCATING
PUMPS ROTARY

GEAR PUMP
PISTION/
PLUNGER
VANE PUMP

DIAPHRAGM SCREW
PUMP etc.
Reciprocating Pump
Reciprocating pump is a positive displacement pump.
The fixed amount of liquid is trapped or collected between the piston and
stationary cylinder.
The trapped liquid is pushed to the discharge side by exerting a thrust on it
by the movement of piston inside the cylinder.
The piston reciprocates in a cylinder with the help of crank connecting rod
mechanism.
The inward reciprocating motion creates suction which helps to take the
liquid into the cylinder from the sump and through the suction pipe and
during return motion of the piston, high pressure liquid is discharged through
delivery pipe.
Classification of Reciprocating Pump
1. According to the water being in contact with piston
Single-acting Pump
Double-acting pump

2. According to number of cylinder

Single cylinder pump
Double cylinder pump
Triple cylinder pump
Duplex double cylinder pump
Components of Reciprocating
pump
Cylinder
Piston
Suction Valve
Delivery Valve
Suction Pipe
Delivery Pipe
Crank and Connecting Rod
1. Suction Pipe
Suction pipe connects the source of liquid to the cylinder of the reciprocating
pump. The liquid is suck by this pipe from the source to the cylinder.
2. Suction Valve
Suction valve is non-return valve which means only one directional flow is
possible in this type of valve. This is placed between suction pipe inlet and
cylinder. During suction of liquid it is opened and during discharge it is
closed.
3. Delivery Pipe
Delivery pipe connects cylinder of pump to the outlet source. The liquid is
delivered to desired outlet location through this pipe.
4. Delivery Valve
Delivery valve also non-return valve placed between cylinder and delivery
pipe outlet. It is in closed position during suction and in opened position
during discharging of liquid.
5. Cylinder
A hollow cylinder made of steel alloy or cast iron. Arrangement of piston and
piston rod is inside this cylinder. Suction and release of liquid is takes place
in this so, both suction and delivery pipes along with valves are connected to
this cylinder.
6. Piston and Piston Rod
Piston is a solid type cylinder part which moves backward and forward
inside the hollow cylinder to perform suction and deliverance of liquid. Piston
rod helps the piston to its linear motion.
7. Crank and Connecting Rod
Crank is a solid circular disc which is connected to power source like motor,
engine etc. for its rotation. Connecting rod connects the crank to the piston
as a result the rotational motion of crank gets converted into linear motion of
the piston.
Working of Reciprocating Pump
When the power source is connected to crank, the crank will start rotating
and connecting rod also displaced along with crank.
The piston connected to the connecting rod will move in linear direction. If
crank moves outwards then the piston moves towards its right and create
vacuum in the cylinder.
This vacuum causes suction valve to open and liquid from the source is
forcibly sucked by the suction pipe into the cylinder.
When the crank moves inwards or towards the cylinder, the piston will
move towards its left and compresses the liquid in the cylinder.
Now, the pressure makes the delivery valve to open and liquid will discharge
through delivery pipe.
When piston reaches its extreme left position whole liquid present in the
cylinder is delivered through delivery valve.
Then again the crank rotate outwards and piston moves right to create
suction and the whole process is repeated.
Generally the above process can be observed in a single acting
reciprocating pump where there is only one delivery stroke per one
revolution of crank.
But when it comes to double acting reciprocating pump, there will be two
delivery strokes per one revolution of crank.
DOUBLE ACTING RECIPORCATING PUMP:
Double Acting Reciprocating Pump
A double acting pump is one which has two suction
valves, delivery valves and two suction and delivery
pipes. In double acting reciprocating pump suction and
delivery strokes occur together.
When the piston moves forward, it makes the water to
move out from the cylinder through the discharge valve
at right side and the adjacent suction valve is closed in
position. At this moment, the suction will be created
inside the cylinder which draws the water into the
cylinder through left side suction valve whereas the
adjacent delivery valve is closed.
During the reverse stroke, the water moves out from the
cylinder through the delivery valve at left side, and the
adjacent suction valve is closed in position.
Discharge-Crank Angle Diagram

Discharge crank angle diagram of double acting pump

Single acting reciprocating pump
Volume of liquid sucked in during suction stroke
𝐴×𝐿
Discharge of the pump per second, Q
𝑁
𝐴×𝐿×
60
Weight of water delivered per second, W
𝑤𝐿𝐴𝑁
= 𝑤𝑄 =
60
Work done per second
𝑤𝐿𝐴𝑁
ℎ! + ℎ" kW
60
Double acting Reciprocating Pump
Volume of liquid sucked in one revolution of crank
𝜋 $ 𝜋 $
𝐴𝐿 + 𝐴 𝐿 = 𝐷 + 𝐷 − 𝑑$ 𝐿
#
4 4
Discharge of the pump per second, Q
𝜋 $ 𝜋 $ $
𝑁
𝐷 + 𝐷 − 𝑑 𝐿×
4 4 60
If d << D, then
2𝐿𝐴𝑁
𝑄=
600
Weight of water delivered per second, W
2𝑤𝐿𝐴𝑁
= 𝑤𝑄 =
60
Work done per second
2𝑤𝐿𝐴𝑁
ℎ! + ℎ" kW
60
Coefficient of Discharge of Reciprocating Pump
In a reciprocating pump, the actual discharge (𝑄% ) is always slightly different
from the theoretical discharge (𝑄& )
Leakage through the valves, glands and piston packing
Imperfect operation of the valves (suction and discharge)
Partial filling of cylinder by the liquid

The ratio between the actual discharge and theoretical discharge is known
as the co-efficient of discharge

Actual discharge 𝑄%
𝐶" = =
Theoretical discharge 𝑄&
Slip of Reciprocating Pump
The difference between the theoretical discharge and actual discharge is
called slip of the pump
Slip = 𝑄& − 𝑄%
In percentage
𝑄& − 𝑄%
= = 1 − 𝐶"
𝑄&
The percentage slip of the pumps which maintained good condition is 2% or
even less
Negative slip:
If actual discharge of pump is more than the theoretical discharge, the slip of
the pump is negative. In that case the slip of the pump is called negative
slip.
Condition of negative slip:
When length of the suction pipe is very long, short delivery pipe and pump is
running at high speed.
The slip will be negative when there is direct flow of liquid from suction side
to delivery side before end of suction stroke. This happens if the momentum
of liquid is large enough to open delivery valve before beginning of delivery
stroke.
NUMERICAL PROBLEM:
A single acting reciprocating pump, running at 50 rpm delivers
0.00736 m3 of water per second. The diameter of pistion is
200mm and stroke length 300 mm. The suction and delivery
head are 3.5 m and 11.5 m respectively. Determine:
(i). Theoretical discharge
(ii). Coefficient of discharge
(iii). Percentage of slip of the pump
(iv). Power required to run the pump
NUMERICAL PROBLEM:
A single acting reciprocating pump, running at 50 rpm delivers 0.00736 m3 of
water per second. The diameter of pistion is 200mm and stroke length 300
mm. The suction and delivery head are 3.5 m and 11.5 m respectively.
Determine:
(i). Theoretical discharge
(ii). Coefficient of discharge
(iii). Percentage of slip of the pump
(iv). Power required to run the pump
(i). Theoretical discharge

(ii). Coefficient of discharge

(iii). Percentage of slip of the pump

(iv). Power required to run the pump

NUMERICAL PROBLEM:
A double acting reciprocating pump, running at 40 rpm is
discharging 1000 litres/min of water. The diameter of piston is
200 mm and stroke length of 300 mm. The delivery and suction
heads are 25 m and 4m respectively. Find:
(i).% slip of the pump
(ii). Power required to drive the pump
(a). Neglecting rod diameter of the pump
(b). Take rod diameter of piston as 50 mm
 NUMERICAL SOLUTION:
A double acting reciprocating pump, running at 40 rpm is discharging 1000
liters/min of water. The diameter of piston is 200 mm and stroke length of 300
mm. The delivery and suction heads are 25 m and 4m respectively. Find:
(i).% slip of the pump
(ii). Power required to drive the pump
(a). Neglecting rod diameter of the pump
(b). Take rod diameter of piston as 50 mm

For case (a): the theoretical discharge is given by

For case (b): the theoretical discharge is given by

Numerical Problem: Homework
A single acting reciprocating pump, running at 60 rpm delivers 0.53 m3 of
water per minute. The diameter of piston is 200mm and stroke length 300
mm. The suction and delivery head are 4 m and 12 m respectively.
Determine:
(i). Theoretical discharge
(ii). Coefficient of discharge
(iii). Percentage of slip of the pump
(iv). Power required to run the pump

(0.00785 m3/s, 0.937, 6.24%, 1.155 kW)

NUMERICAL PROBLEM: Homework
A “three throw” Pump has cylinders of 250 mm diameter and stroke of 500 mm
each. The pump is required to deliver 0.1 m3/s at a head of 100 m. Friction losses
are estimated to be 1 m in suction pipe and 19 m in delivery pipe. Velocity of water
in delivery pipe is 1 m/s, overall efficiency is 85% and the slip is 3%.Determine:
(i). Speed of the pump, and
(ii) Power required to run the pump.

Hint:
ØFind theoretical discharge from slip.
ØUse : to find value of N.

ØTo Find Power use:

Where, ;
Air Vessel
An Air vessel is a closed chamber having an
opening at the base which contains
compressed air in the top portion and the liquid
to be pumped at the bottom of the chamber.

When the liquid enters the air vessel, the air

gets compressed further and when the liquid
flows out of the air vessel, the air will expand in
the chamber.
Function of Air Vessel
(1).The working of reciprocating pump, with simple harmonic motion, is of
pulsating and intermittent nature. Air vessel is fitted to obtain continuous flow
of liquid and to reduce the fluctuation of discharge(to obtain uniform
discharge).
(2). By fitting the air vessel as close to pump cylinder as possible, the length
of suction and delivery pipe in which acceleration takes place is reduced.
This reduce the acceleration head and the pump can run at higher speed
without any danger of separation.
(3). The power required to drive the pump is saved by fitting the air vessel.
 APPLICATION SCOPES OF PUMPS:

Types of pump Application

Piston pump For low head and more discharge

Plunger pump For high head and less discharge and

for denser liquids
Centrifugal pump For continuous flow, high discharge,
low head
Multistage centrifugal pump(parallel) High discharge

Multistage centrifugal pump(Series) For high head

Rotary pump For viscous fluid like lubricating oil

10/08/22 32
Centrifugal Pump Reciprocating Pump

It’s functioning basically depends on the It’s functioning depends on the change of
principle of fluid dynamics volume of a certain amount of fluid
It uses kinetic energy of impeller It is a positive displacement type pump
which is forced by piston
It continuously discharge the fluid It doesn’t discharge the fluid continuously

Efficiency of these pumps are low compared Efficiency is high compared to centrifugal
to reciprocating pump pump
It gives higher discharge at low heads It gives higher heads at low discharge

They are lighter and required less They are heavier and required higher
maintenance maintenance
Priming is required in centrifugal pump Priming is not required in reciprocating
pump. They have self priming
Practice Questions:
Q. A double acting reciprocating pump has piston of diameter of 250 and piston rod diameter of 50
mm which is on one side only. Length of piston stroke is 350 mm and speed of crank is 60 rpm.
The suction and delivery heads are 4.5 m and 18m respectively. Determine the discharge capacity
of the pump and power required to operate the pump.
(ANS: 33.6 l/s , 7.416 KW)

Q. Show that the work done or power expended(saved) against friction by using air vessels in
reciprocating pump is:
(a). 84.4 % , in single acting pump and
(b). 39.2 % , in double acting pump.

Q. The piston and stroke length of a single acting reciprocating pump are 300 mm and 500 mm
respectively. The speed of the pump is 50 rpm. The diameter and length of the delivery pipe
are 150 mm and 55 mm respectively. If the pump is equipped with an air vessel on the
delivery side at the centre line of the pump, find the power saved in overcoming friction in
delivery pipe.
(Take frictional coefficient,f=0. 01). Ans: 3.343

10/08/22 34
Thank You