Preface We have written this book to help provide you, the user of a WGO reciprocating pump, with the knowledge of how a reciprocating pump works and guidance in your selection and op- eration of a reciprocating power pump. For specific recommendations, which are not covered within, please contact our applications department and provide them with all pertinent informa- tion regarding your pumping application. ‘Thanks to all the persons and companies who have provided reference material used in this book. Our further thanks and acknowledgment is extended to the "Hydraulic Institute", for their section on Hydraulic Institute Standards - Reciprocating Pumps, Power (Types, Nomen- lature, Ratings, and Applications). ‘We sincerely hope this book will give you some insight into how your reciprocating pump ‘works and why reciprocating pumps are stil one of the most efficient and effective way of trans- Porting liquids of all types. : Although all the information in this book generally applicable to all reciprocating pumps, the specific data within applies only to WGO pumps. Wheatley Gaso Omega Operations (WGO) Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA Revised 07-25-2000Introduction ‘We believe the commonly accepted conventional nomenclature and descriptions of liq- uid supply systems for reciprocating pumps is often misleading and provides an inaccurate de- scription of the pumping action. This nomenclature often describes attributes of the pump, which do not exist. Intellectually, we all understand the conventional notations and descriptions, however the concept of the pump being a machine which takes action on a liquid often confuses and deceives the intellect into believing that the pump has control over the amount of liquid be- ing introduced into the pump. ‘The pump relies upon outside forces to push the liquid through the inlet manifold and inlet valve into the liquid chamber of the pump. The pump cannot pull the liquid into the liquid chamber, as there is no tensile strength to the liquid. The pump merely creates a partial vac- tuum in the liquid chamber, which is then filled by the forces acting upon the liquid on the inlet side of the pump. Also, please remember when reading this manual, that liquids remain liquids only so ong as outside pressure remains high enough to keep the liquid from boiling. ‘If the pressure on the liquid is reduced below the pressure at which the liquid boils at the pumping temperature, the liquid changes to its vapor state and is no longer a liquid. It is the responsibilty of the liquid supply system to provide liquid to the pump inlet at sufficient pressure to keep the liquid from boiling during the pumping cycle. Doing this will prevent many dollars from being spent on re- pair of the pump, the supply system, and the discharge system. This manual is not intended to solve all the problems, which come up in applications in- volving WGO reciprocating pumps. We do hope it does provide enough insight to allow the reader to place the action of a reciprocating pump in its proper perspective.