47 Pumps

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The scope of this chapter is the movement of liquids.

Pumps can be classified as velocity (centrifugal) pumps and positive displacement pumps.

A centrifugal pump increases a fluids velocity by the use of an impeller. Water enters the suction side of a pump and enters the center of the impeller. The water’s velocity is increased as it travels outward towards the volute. The volute channels the water to the pump’s outlet. The volute’s diameter gradually increases resulting in a pumps ability to generate Head pressure.

A positive displacement pump relies on the displacement of a fixed volume of fluid for each cycle or rotation. Positive displacement pumps are often used in hydraulic or metering applications.