Definition
A pump is a machine that moves liquid by adding mechanical energy to it (raising pressure, flow rate, or both) to transport the liquid through a system or overcome resistance such as elevation or friction. It is the general category; centrifugal and positive-displacement pumps are the two main design principles used to achieve that transport.
Key facts
- The general category term for any machine moving liquid via added mechanical energy: the umbrella above specific design types.
- Distinguished from a compressor by the medium: a pump moves an essentially incompressible liquid, a compressor moves a compressible gas.
- Two dominant design principles exist to achieve pumping: centrifugal (kinetic energy from a spinning impeller) and positive displacement (trapping and moving a fixed volume).
- Common failure symptoms include cavitation, seal leakage, and bearing wear, each with distinct diagnostic signatures.
How does Pump work or appear?
A pump adds mechanical energy to a liquid to move it (increasing its pressure, its flow rate, or both) so it can travel through piping, overcome elevation change, or reach a required delivery point, using a motor or other driver to power the mechanism that does the actual work on the fluid.
How it relates to centrifugal and positive displacement pumps
Pump is the general category; centrifugal and positive displacement pump describe the two main design principles used to move the liquid. A centrifugal pump uses a spinning impeller to add kinetic energy; a positive displacement pump traps a fixed volume of liquid and forces it through the system: the choice between them depends on the required flow, pressure, and liquid characteristics.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What role does a pump have in moving a medium?
A pump adds mechanical energy to a liquid to move it, raising its pressure or flow rate to transport it through a system, achieved through either a centrifugal or positive-displacement design principle.
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