Pump

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For Wikipedia project-related discussions, see Wikipedia:Village pump
For other uses of "pump" or "pumps", see Pump (disambiguation).

A small, electrically powered pump

A large, electrically driven pump (electropump) for waterworks near the Hengsteysee, Germany.
A pump is a device used to move fluids (liquids or gases) or sometimes slurries by mechanical
action. Pumps can be classified into three major groups according to the method they use to
move the fluid: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps.[1]
Pumps must have a mechanism which operates them, and consume energy to perform
mechanical work by moving the fluid. The activating mechanism is often reciprocating or rotary.
Pumps may be operated in many ways, including manual operation, electricity, a combustion
engine of some type, and wind action.

Contents

1 Types
o 1.1 Positive displacement pump

1.1.1 Positive displacement pump behavior and safety

1.1.2 Positive displacement types

1.1.2.1 Rotary positive displacement pumps

1.1.2.2 Reciprocating positive displacement pumps

1.1.3 Various positive displacement pumps

1.1.3.1 Gear pump

1.1.3.2 Screw pump

1.1.3.3 Progressing cavity pump

1.1.3.4 Roots-type pumps

1.1.3.5 Peristaltic pump

1.1.3.6 Plunger pumps

1.1.3.7 Compressed-air-powered double-diaphragm pumps

1.1.3.8 Rope pumps

o 1.2 Impulse pumps

1.2.1 Hydraulic ram pumps

o 1.3 Velocity pumps

1.3.1 Centrifugal pump

1.3.1.1 Radial flow pumps

1.3.1.2 Axial flow pumps

1.3.1.3 Mixed flow pumps

1.3.2 Eductor-jet pump

o 1.4 Gravity pumps

o 1.5 Steam pumps
o 1.6 Valveless pumps

2 Pump repairs

3 Applications
o 3.1 Priming a pump
o 3.2 Pumps as public water supplies
o 3.3 Sealing multiphase pumping applications

3.3.1 Types and features of multiphase pumps

4 Specifications

5 Pump material

6 Pumping power

7 Pump efficiency

8 Pump testing

9 See also

10 References

11 Further reading

12 External links

Types

Positive displacement pump

A lobe pump

lobe pump internals

Mechanism of a scroll pump

A positive displacement pump causes a fluid to move by trapping a fixed amount of it and then
forcing (displacing) that trapped volume into the discharge pipe.
Some positive displacement pumps work using an expanding cavity on the suction side and a
decreasing cavity on the discharge side. Liquid flows into the pump as the cavity on the suction
side expands and the liquid flows out of the discharge as the cavity collapses. The volume is
constant given each cycle of operation.
Positive displacement pump behavior and safety

Positive displacement pumps, unlike centrifugal or roto-dynamic pumps, will in theory produce
the same flow at a given speed (RPM) no matter what the discharge pressure. Thus, positive
displacement pumps are "constant flow machines". However due to a slight increase in internal
leakage as the pressure increases, a truly constant flow rate cannot be achieved.
A positive displacement pump must not be operated against a closed valve on the discharge side
of the pump, because it has no shut-off head like centrifugal pumps. A positive displacement
pump operating against a closed discharge valve will continue to produce flow and the pressure
in the discharge line will increase, until the line bursts or the pump is severely damaged, or both.
A relief or safety valve on the discharge side of the positive displacement pump is therefore
necessary. The relief valve can be internal or external. The pump manufacturer normally has the
option to supply internal relief or safety valves. The internal valve should in general only be used
as a safety precaution, an external relief valve installed in the discharge line with a return line
back to the suction line or supply tank is recommended.
Positive displacement types

Screw pump
A positive displacement pump can be further classified according to the mechanism used to
move the fluid:

Rotary-type positive displacement: internal gear, screw, shuttle block, flexible vane or
sliding vane, circumferential piston, helical twisted roots (e.g. the Wendelkolben pump)
or liquid ring vacuum pumps.

Reciprocating-type positive displacement: piston or diaphragm pumps.

Linear-type positive displacement: rope pumps and chain pumps.

Rotary positive displacement pumps

Rotary vane pump

Positive displacement rotary pumps move fluid have a rotating mechanism that creates a vacuum
that captures and draws in the liquid[citation needed].
Advantages: Rotary pumps are very efficient[citation needed] because they naturally remove air from
the lines, eliminating the need to bleed the air from the lines manually.
Drawbacks: Because of the nature of the pump, the clearance between the rotating pump and the
outer edge must be very close, requiring that it rotate at a slow, steady speed. If rotary pumps are
operated at high speeds, the fluids will cause erosion, eventually developing enlarged clearances
through which liquid can pass, reducing the efficiency of the pump.
Rotary positive displacement pumps can be grouped into three main types:

Gear pumps - a simple type of rotary pump where the liquid is pushed between two gears.

Screw pumps - the shape of the internals of this pump usually two screws turning against
each other pump the liquid.

Rotary vane pumps - similar to scroll compressors, consisting of a cylindrical rotor

encased in a similarly shaped housing. As the rotor turns, the vanes trap fluid between the
rotor and the casing, drawing the fluid through the pump.

Reciprocating positive displacement pumps

Main article: Reciprocating pump

Simple hand pump

Hand-operated, reciprocating, positive displacement, water pump in Koice-ahanovce, Slovakia

(walking beam pump).
Reciprocating pumps are those which cause the fluid to move using one or more oscillating
pistons, plungers or membranes (diaphragms), and restrict motion of the fluid to the one desired
direction by valves.
Pumps in this category range from "simplex", with one cylinder, to in some cases "quad" (four)
cylinders or more. Many reciprocating-type pumps are "duplex" (two) or "triplex" (three)
cylinder. They can be either "single-acting" with suction during one direction of piston motion
and discharge on the other, or "double-acting" with suction and discharge in both directions. The
pumps can be powered manually, by air or steam, or by a belt driven by an engine. This type of
pump was used extensively in the early days of steam propulsion (19th century) as boiler feed
water pumps. Reciprocating pumps are now typically used for pumping highly viscous fluids
including concrete and heavy oils, and special applications demanding low flow rates against

high resistance. Reciprocating hand pumps were widely used for pumping water from wells; the
common bicycle pump and foot pumps for inflation use reciprocating action.
These positive displacement pumps have an expanding cavity on the suction side and a
decreasing cavity on the discharge side. Liquid flows into the pumps as the cavity on the suction
side expands and the liquid flows out of the discharge as the cavity collapses. The volume is
constant given each cycle of operation.
Typical reciprocating pumps are:

Plunger pumps - a reciprocating plunger pushes the fluid through one or two open valves,
closed by suction on the way back.

Diaphragm pumps - similar to plunger pumps, where the plunger pressurizes hydraulic
oil which is used to flex a diaphragm in the pumping cylinder. Diaphragm valves are used
to pump hazardous and toxic fluids.

Piston displacement pumps - usually simple devices for pumping small amounts of liquid
or gel manually. An example is the common hand soap pump.

Radial piston pump

Various positive displacement pumps

The positive displacement principle applies in the following types of pumps:

rotary lobe pump

Progressive cavity pump

rotary gear pump

piston pump

diaphragm pump

screw pump

gear pump

Hydraulic pump

vane pump

regenerative (peripheral) pump

peristaltic pump

rope pump

Gear pump

Gear pump
Main article: Gear pump
This is the simplest of rotary positive displacement pumps. It consists of two meshed gears
rotating in a closely fitted casing. Fluid is pumped around the outer periphery by being trapped in
the tooth spaces. It does not travel back on the meshed part, since the teeth mesh closely in the
centre. It is widely used on car engine oil pumps, and also in various hydraulic power packs.
Screw pump

Main article: Screw pump

Screw pumps are a more complicated type of rotary pumps, featuring two or three screws with
opposing thread - that is, one screw turns clockwise, and the other counterclockwise. The
screws are each mounted on shafts that run parallel to each other; the shafts also have gears on
them that mesh with each other in order to turn the shafts together and keep everything in place.
The turning of the screws, and consequently the shafts to which they are mounted, draws the
fluid through the pump. As with other forms of rotary pumps, the clearance between moving
parts and the pump's casing is minimal.
Progressing cavity pump

Main article: Progressive cavity pump

Widely used for pumping difficult materials such as sewage sludge contaminated with large
particles, this pump consists of a helical shaped rotor, about ten times as long as its width. This
can be visualized as a central core of diameter x, with typically a curved spiral wound around of
thickness half x, although of course in reality it is made from one casting. This shaft fits inside a
heavy duty rubber sleeve, of wall thickness typically x also. As the shaft rotates, fluid is
gradually forced up the rubber sleeve. Such pumps can develop very high pressure at quite low
volumes.
Roots-type pumps

Named after the Roots brothers who designed and invented it, this lobe pump works by
displacing the liquid trapped between two long helical twisted rotors, each fitting into the other
when perpendicular at 90, rotating inside a triangular shaped sealing line configuration, both at
the point of suction and at the point of discharge.
This design produces a continuous flow with equal volume and no vortex. It can work at low
pulsation rates and results with gentle performance, more fit for some applications.
Some applications are:

High capacity industrial air compressors

Roots superchargers on internal combustion engines.

A brand of civil defense siren, the Federal Signal Corporation's Thunderbolt.

Peristaltic pump

360 Degree Peristaltic Pump

Main article: Peristaltic pump
A peristaltic pump is a type of positive displacement pump used for pumping a variety of fluids.
The fluid is contained within a flexible tube fitted inside a circular pump casing (though linear
peristaltic pumps have been made). A rotor with a number of "rollers", "shoes" or "wipers"
attached to the external circumference compresses the flexible tube. As the rotor turns, the part of
the tube under compression closes (or "occludes") thus forcing the fluid to be pumped to move
through the tube. Additionally, as the tube opens to its natural state after the passing of the cam
("restitution") fluid flow is induced to the pump. This process is called peristalsis and is used in
many biological systems such as the gastrointestinal tract.
Plunger pumps

A plunger pump compared to a piston pump

Main article: Plunger pump
Plunger pumps are reciprocating positive displacement pumps.
They consist of a cylinder with a reciprocating plunger in them. The suction and discharge valves
are mounted in the head of the cylinder. In the suction stroke the plunger retracts and the suction

valves open causing suction of fluid into the cylinder. In the forward stroke the plunger pushes
the liquid out of the discharge valve.
Efficiency and common problems: With only one cylinder in plunger pumps, the fluid flow
varies between maximum flow when the plunger moves through the middle positions, and zero
flow when the plunger is at the end positions. A lot of energy is wasted when the fluid is
accelerated in the piping system. Vibration and "water hammer" may be a serious problem. In
general the problems are compensated for by using two or more cylinders not working in phase
with each other.
Compressed-air-powered double-diaphragm pumps

One modern application of positive displacement diaphragm pumps is compressed-air-powered

double-diaphragm pumps. Run on compressed air these pumps are intrinsically safe by design,
although all manufacturers offer ATEX certified models to comply with industry regulation.
Commonly seen in all areas of industry from shipping to processing, Wilden Pumps, Graco,
SandPiper or ARO are generally the larger of the brands. They are relatively inexpensive and can
be used for almost any duty from pumping water out of bunds, to pumping hydrochloric acid
from secure storage (dependent on how the pump is manufactured elastomers / body
construction). Lift is normally limited to roughly 6m although heads can reach almost 200 Psi.
[citation needed]
.
Rope pumps

Main article: Rope pump

Devised in China as chain pumps over 1000 years ago, these pumps can be made from very
simple materials: A rope, a wheel and a PVC pipe are sufficient to make a simple rope pump. For
this reason they have become extremely popular around the world since the 1980s. Rope pump
efficiency has been studied by grass roots organizations and the techniques for making and
running them have been continuously improved.[2]

Impulse pumps

The pulser pump

Impulse pumps use pressure created by gas (usually air). In some impulse pumps the gas trapped
in the liquid (usually water), is released and accumulated somewhere in the pump, creating a
pressure which can push part of the liquid upwards.
Impulse pumps include:

Hydraulic ram pumps - uses pressure built up internally from released gas in liquid flow.
(see below)

Pulser pumps - run with natural resources, by kinetic energy only.

Airlift pumps - run on air inserted into pipe, pushing up the water, when bubbles move
upward, or on pressure inside pipe pushing water up.

Hydraulic ram pumps

Airlift pump vs. Geyser pump

A hydraulic ram is a water pump powered by hydropower.
It functions as a hydraulic transformer that takes in water at one "hydraulic head" (pressure) and
flow-rate, and outputs water at a higher hydraulic-head and lower flow-rate. The device uses the
water hammer effect to develop pressure that allows a portion of the input water that powers the
pump to be lifted to a point higher than where the water originally started.
The hydraulic ram is sometimes used in remote areas, where there is both a source of low-head
hydropower, and a need for pumping water to a destination higher in elevation than the source.
In this situation, the ram is often useful, since it requires no outside source of power other than
the kinetic energy of flowing water.

Velocity pumps

A centrifugal pump uses a spinning "impeller" which has backward-swept arms

Rotodynamic pumps (or dynamic pumps) are a type of velocity pump in which kinetic energy is
added to the fluid by increasing the flow velocity. This increase in energy is converted to a gain
in potential energy (pressure) when the velocity is reduced prior to or as the flow exits the pump
into the discharge pipe. This conversion of kinetic energy to pressure can be explained by the
First law of thermodynamics or more specifically by Bernoulli's principle.
Dynamic pumps can be further subdivided according to the means in which the velocity gain is
achieved.[3]
These types of pumps have a number of characteristics:
1. Continuous energy
2. Conversion of added energy to increase in kinetic energy (increase in velocity)
3. Conversion of increased velocity (kinetic energy) to an increase in pressure head
One practical difference between dynamic and positive displacement pumps is their ability to
operate under closed valve conditions. Positive displacement pumps physically displace the
fluid; hence closing a valve downstream of a positive displacement pump will result in a
continual build up in pressure resulting in mechanical failure of either pipeline or pump.
Dynamic pumps differ in that they can be safely operated under closed valve conditions (for
short periods of time).
Centrifugal pump

Centrifugal pump

Open Type Centrifugal Pump Impeller

Main article: Centrifugal pump
A centrifugal pump is a rotodynamic pump that uses a rotating impeller to increase the pressure
and flow rate of a fluid. Centrifugal pumps are the most common type of pump used to move
liquids through a piping system. The fluid enters the pump impeller along or near to the rotating
axis and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing radially outward or axially into a diffuser or
volute chamber, from where it exits into the downstream piping system. Centrifugal pumps are
typically used for large discharge through smaller heads.
Centrifugal pumps are most often associated with the radial flow type. However, the term
"centrifugal pump" can be used to describe all impeller type rotodynamic pumps[4] including the
radial, axial and mixed flow variations.
Radial flow pumps

Often simply referred to as centrifugal pumps. The fluid enters along the axial plane, is
accelerated by the impeller and exits at right angles to the shaft (radially). Radial flow pumps
operate at higher pressures and lower flow rates than axial and mixed flow pumps.
Axial flow pumps

Axial pump (propeller in pipe)

Main article: Axial flow pump
Axial flow pumps differ from radial flow in that the fluid enters and exits along the same
direction parallel to the rotating shaft. The fluid is not accelerated but instead "lifted" by the
action of the impeller. They may be likened to a propeller spinning in a length of tube. Axial flow
pumps operate at much lower pressures and higher flow rates than radial flow pumps.
Mixed flow pumps

Mixed flow pumps, as the name suggests, function as a compromise between radial and axial
flow pumps, the fluid experiences both radial acceleration and lift and exits the impeller
somewhere between 090 degrees from the axial direction. As a consequence mixed flow pumps
operate at higher pressures than axial flow pumps while delivering higher discharges than radial
flow pumps. The exit angle of the flow dictates the pressure head-discharge characteristic in
relation to radial and mixed flow.
Eductor-jet pump
Main article: Eductor-jet pump
This uses a jet, often of steam, to create a low pressure. This low pressure sucks in fluid and
propels it into a higher pressure region.

Gravity pumps
Gravity pumps include the syphon and Heron's fountain and there also important qanat or
foggara systems which simply use downhill flow to take water from far-underground aquifers in
high areas to consumers at lower elevations. The hydraulic ram is also sometimes referred to as a
gravity pump.

Steam pumps

Steam pumps have been for a long time mainly of historical interest. They include any type of
pump powered by a steam engine and also pistonless pumps such as Thomas Savery's, the
Pulsometer steam pump or the Steam injection pump.
Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in low power solar steam pumps for use in
smallholder irrigation in developing countries. Previously small steam engines have not been
viable because of escalating inefficiencies as vapour engines decrease in size. However the use
of modern engineering materials coupled with alternative engine configurations has meant that
these types of system are now a cost effective opportunity.

Valveless pumps
Valveless pumping assists in fluid transport in various biomedical and engineering systems. In a
valveless pumping system, no valves are present to regulate the flow direction. The fluid
pumping efficiency of a valveless system, however, is not necessarily lower than that having
valves. In fact, many fluid-dynamical systems in nature and engineering more or less rely upon
valveless pumping to transport the working fluids therein. For instance, blood circulation in the
cardiovascular system is maintained to some extent even when the hearts valves fail.
Meanwhile, the embryonic vertebrate heart begins pumping blood long before the development
of discernable chambers and valves. In microfluidics, valveless impedance pump have been
fabricated, and are expected to be particularly suitable for handling sensitive biofluids.

Pump repairs
Examining pump repair records and MTBF (mean time between failures) is of great importance
to responsible and conscientious pump users. In view of that fact, the preface to the 2006 Pump
Users Handbook alludes to "pump failure" statistics. For the sake of convenience, these failure
statistics often are translated into MTBF (in this case, installed life before failure).[5]
In early 2005, Gordon Buck, John Crane Inc.s chief engineer for Field Operations in Baton
Rouge, LA, examined the repair records for a number of refinery and chemical plants to obtain
meaningful reliability data for centrifugal pumps. A total of 15 operating plants having nearly
15,000 pumps were included in the survey. The smallest of these plants had about 100 pumps;
several plants had over 2000. All facilities were located in the United States. In addition,
considered as "new," others as "renewed" and still others as "established." Many of these plants
but not allhad an alliance arrangement with John Crane. In some cases, the alliance contract
included having a John Crane Inc. technician or engineer on-site to coordinate various aspects of
the program.
Not all plants are refineries, however, and different results can be expected elsewhere. In
chemical plants, pumps have traditionally been "throw-away" items as chemical attack can result
in limited life. Things have improved in recent years, but the somewhat restricted space available
in "old" DIN and ASME-standardized stuffing boxes places limits on the type of seal that can be
fitted. Unless the pump user upgrades the seal chamber, only the more compact and simple
versions can be accommodated. Without this upgrading, lifetimes in chemical installations are
generally believed to be around 50 to 60 percent of the refinery values.

It goes without saying that unscheduled maintenance often is one of the most significant costs of
ownership, and failures of mechanical seals and bearings are among the major causes. Keep in
mind the potential value of selecting pumps that cost more initially, but last much longer between
repairs. The MTBF of a better pump may be one to four years longer than that of its nonupgraded counterpart. Consider that published average values of avoided pump failures range
from $2600 to $12,000. This does not include lost opportunity costs. One pump fire occurs per
1000 failures. Having fewer pump failures means having fewer destructive pump fires.
As has been noted, a typical pump failure based on actual year 2002 reports, costs $5,000 on
average. This includes costs for material, parts, labor and overhead. Let us now assume that the
MTBF for a particular pump is 12 months and that it could be extended to 18 months. This
would result in a cost avoidance of $2,500/yrwhich is greater than the premium one would pay
for the reliability-upgraded centrifugal pump.[5][6][7]

Applications

Metering pump for gasoline and additives.

Pumps are used throughout society for a variety of purposes. Early applications includes the use
of the windmill or watermill to pump water. Today, the pump is used for irrigation, water supply,
gasoline supply, air conditioning systems, refrigeration (usually called a compressor), chemical
movement, sewage movement, flood control, marine services, etc.
Because of the wide variety of applications, pumps have a plethora of shapes and sizes: from
very large to very small, from handling gas to handling liquid, from high pressure to low
pressure, and from high volume to low volume.

Priming a pump
Liquid and slurry pumps can lose prime and this will require the pump to be primed by adding
liquid to the pump and inlet pipes to get the pump started. Loss of "prime" is usually due to
ingestion of air into the pump. The clearances and displacement ratios in pumps used for liquids
and other more viscous fluids cannot displace the air due to its lower density.

Pumps as public water supplies

First European depiction of a piston pump, by Taccola, c.1450.[8]

One sort of pump once common worldwide was a hand-powered water pump, or 'pitcher pump'.
It would be installed over a community water well that was used by people in the days before
piped water supplies.
In parts of the British Isles, it was often called "the parish pump". Although such community
pumps are no longer common, the expression "parish pump" is still used. It derives from the kind
of the chatter and conversation that might be heard as people congregated to draw water from the
community water pump, and is now used to describe a place or forum where matter of purely
local interest is discussed.[9]
Because water from pitcher pumps is drawn directly from the soil, it is more prone to
contamination. If such water is not filtered and purified, consumption of it might lead to
gastrointestinal or other water-borne diseases. A notorious case is the 1854 Broad Street cholera
outbreak. At the time it was not known how cholera was transmitted, but physician John Snow
suspected contaminated water and had the handle of the public pump he suspected removed; the
outbreak then subsided.
Modern hand-operated community pumps are considered the most sustainable low-cost option
for safe water supply in resource-poor settings, often in rural areas in developing countries. A
hand pump opens access to deeper groundwater that is often not polluted and also improves the
safety of a well by protecting the water source from contaminated buckets. Pumps such as the
Afridev pump are designed to be cheap to build and install, and easy to maintain with simple
parts. However, scarcity of spare parts for these type of pumps in some regions of Africa has
diminished their utility for these areas.[citation needed]

Sealing multiphase pumping applications

Multiphase pumping applications, also referred to as tri-phase, have grown due to increased oil
drilling activity. In addition, the economics of multiphase production is attractive to upstream
operations as it leads to simpler, smaller in-field installations, reduced equipment costs and

improved production rates. In essence, the multiphase pump can accommodate all fluid stream
properties with one piece of equipment, which has a smaller footprint. Often, two smaller
multiphase pumps are installed in series rather than having just one massive pump.
For midstream and upstream operations, multiphase pumps can be located onshore or offshore
and can be connected to single or multiple wellheads. Basically, multiphase pumps are used to
transport the untreated flow stream produced from oil wells to downstream processes or
gathering facilities. This means that the pump may handle a flow stream (well stream) from 100
percent gas to 100 percent liquid and every imaginable combination in between. The flow stream
can also contain abrasives such as sand and dirt. Multiphase pumps are designed to operate under
changing/fluctuating process conditions. Multiphase pumping also helps eliminate emissions of
greenhouse gases as operators strive to minimize the flaring of gas and the venting of tanks
where possible.[10]
Types and features of multiphase pumps
Helico-Axial Pumps (Centrifugal) A rotodynamic pump with one single shaft requiring two
mechanical seals. This pump utilizes an open-type axial impeller. This pump type is often
referred to as a "Poseidon Pump" and can be described as a cross between an axial compressor
and a centrifugal pump.
'Twin Screw (Positive Displacement)' The twin screw pump is constructed of two intermeshing
screws that force the movement of the pumped fluid. Twin screw pumps are often used when
pumping conditions contain high gas volume fractions and fluctuating inlet conditions. Four
mechanical seals are required to seal the two shafts.
Progressive Cavity Pumps (Positive Displacement) Progressive cavity pumps are single-screw
types typically used in shallow wells or at the surface. This pump is mainly used on surface
applications where the pumped fluid may contain a considerable amount of solids such as sand
and dirt.
Electric Submersible Pumps (Centrifugal) These pumps are basically multistage centrifugal
pumps and are widely used in oil well applications as a method for artificial lift. These pumps
are usually specified when the pumped fluid is mainly liquid.
Buffer Tank A buffer tank is often installed upstream of the pump suction nozzle in case of a
slug flow. The buffer tank breaks the energy of the liquid slug, smoothes any fluctuations in the
incoming flow and acts as a sand trap.
As the name indicates, multiphase pumps and their mechanical seals can encounter a large
variation in service conditions such as changing process fluid composition, temperature
variations, high and low operating pressures and exposure to abrasive/erosive media. The
challenge is selecting the appropriate mechanical seal arrangement and support system to ensure
maximized seal life and its overall effectiveness.[10][11][12]

Specifications

Pumps are commonly rated by horsepower, flow rate, outlet pressure in metres (or feet) of head,
inlet suction in suction feet (or metres) of head. The head can be simplified as the number of feet
or metres the pump can raise or lower a column of water at atmospheric pressure.
From an initial design point of view, engineers often use a quantity termed the specific speed to
identify the most suitable pump type for a particular combination of flow rate and head.

Pump material
The pump material can be Stainless steel (SS 316 or SS 304), cast iron etc. It depends on the
application of the pump. In the water industry and for pharma applications SS 316 is normally
used, as stainless steel gives better results at high temperatures.

Pumping power
Main article: Bernoulli's equation
The power imparted into a fluid will increase the energy of the fluid per unit volume. Thus the
power relationship is between the conversion of the mechanical energy of the pump mechanism
and the fluid elements within the pump. In general, this is governed by a series of simultaneous
differential equations, known as the Navier-Stokes equations. However a more simple equation
relating only the different energies in the fluid, known as Bernoulli's equation can be used. Hence
the power, P, required by the pump:

where P is the change in total pressure between the inlet and outlet (in Pa), and Q, the fluid
flowrate is given in m^3/s. The total pressure may have gravitational, static pressure and kinetic
energy components; i.e. energy is distributed between change in the fluid's gravitational potential
energy (going up or down hill), change in velocity, or change in static pressure. is the pump
efficiency, and may be given by the manufacturer's information, such as in the form of a pump
curve, and is typically derived from either fluid dynamics simulation (i.e. solutions to the Navierstokes for the particular pump geometry), or by testing. The efficiency of the pump will depend
upon the pump's configuration and operating conditions (such as rotational speed, fluid density
and viscosity etc.)

For a typical "pumping" configuration, the work is imparted on the fluid, and is thus positive.
For the fluid imparting the work on the pump (i.e. a turbine), the work is negative power required
to drive the pump is determined by dividing the output power by the pump efficiency.
Furthermore, this definition encompasses pumps with no moving parts, such as a siphon.

Pump efficiency
Pump efficiency is defined as the ratio of the power imparted on the fluid by the pump in relation
to the power supplied to drive the pump. Its value is not fixed for a given pump, efficiency is a
function of the discharge and therefore also operating head. For centrifugal pumps, the efficiency
tends to increase with flow rate up to a point midway through the operating range (peak
efficiency) and then declines as flow rates rise further. Pump performance data such as this is
usually supplied by the manufacturer before pump selection. Pump efficiencies tend to decline
over time due to wear (e.g. increasing clearances as impellers reduce in size).
One important part of system design involves matching the pipeline head loss-flow characteristic
with the appropriate pump or pumps in order to operate at or close to the point of maximum
efficiency.
Pump efficiency is an important aspect and pumps should be regularly tested. Thermodynamic
pump testing is one method.
Pump selection is done by performance curve which is curve between pressure head and flow
rate, with power supply also taken care of. Pumps are normally available that run at 50 Hz or
60 Hz.

Pump testing
To minimise energy use, and to ensure that pumps are correctly matched to the duty expected
pumps, and pumping stations should be regularly tested.
In water supply application, which are usually fitted with centrifugal pumps, individual large
pumps should be 70 - 80% efficient. They should be individually tested to ensure they are in the
appropriate range, and replaced or prepared as appropriate.
Pumping stations should also be tested collectively, because where pumps can run in
combination to meet a given demand, it is often possible for very inefficient combination of
pumps to occur. For example. it is perfectly possible to have a large and a small pump operating
in parallel, with the smaller pump not delivering any water, but merely consuming energy. See
Pump station manager
Pumps are readily tested by fitting a flow meter, measuring the pressure difference between inlet
and outlet, and measuring the power consumed.
Another method is thermodynamic pump testing where only the temperature rise and power
consumed need be measured