1.

RECIPROCATING PUMPS

Reciprocating pump is a positive displacement pump where certain volume of

liquid is collected in the enclosed volume and discharged from the appropriate device
using pressure. Under high pressure, reciprocating pumps are more suited for low flow
volumes.

It is used where a particular quantity of fluid is needed to be delivered, small

quantities of additives are pumped into high pressure structures, and the required
injection pressure is greater than other forms can be achieved.

Such pumps discharge a certain amount of liquid through the width of the stroke
during the piston or plunger. For efficient length, it is recommended to keep supports in
both suction and discharge line by pulsating flow.

As described below, reciprocating pumps can be further divided types.

1.1 Types of Reciprocating Pumps

Reciprocating positive displacement pumps are generally categorized in four ways:

 Direct-Acting and Indirect Acting Pumps

 Simplex and Duplex Pumps
 Single-Acting and Double-Acting Pumps
 Power Pumps

Direct Acting and Indirect Acting Pumps

Many reciprocating pumps, such as a reciprocating pump operated by a

reciprocating steam piston, are driven by primary movers that also have reciprocal
motion. The steam piston rod can be connected directly to the pump's liquid piston, or it
may be linked indirectly to a beam or attachment.
  Direct Acting Pumps
Direct-acting pumps have a plunger on the liquid (pump) end that is powered
directly by the pump rod (including the piston rod or its extension) and holds
the control end piston.

 Indirect Acting Pumps

Indirect pumps are operated by a beam or connection linked to and powered
by a separate reciprocating engine’s power piston rod.

Simplex and Duplex Pumps

 Simplex Pumps

A simplex pump is a pump with a single liquid(pump) cylinder, also referred to

as a single pump.

 Duplex Pumps

A duplex pump is the equivalent of two simplex pumps mounted on the same
base side by side.

The piston driving of a duplex pump is configured in such a way that the other
piston is on its downstroke while one piston is on its upstroke, and vice versa. This
system doubles the duplex pump’s efficiency compared to a similarly designed simplex
pump.
Single-Acting and Double-Acting Pumps

 Single-Acting Pumps
In a single-acting pump, the input liquid takes a suction and then fills up
the pump cylinder on the stroke in just one direction, called the suction
stroke, and then pushes the liquid on the return stroke, called the
discharge stroke, out of the cylinder.
 Double-Acting
A double-acting pump is one that discharges liquid from the other end of
the cylinder as it fills one end of the liquid cylinder. The end of the cylinder
just drained is filled on the return stroke and the end just filled is empty.

Power Pumps
 Power pumps transform rotary motion by reduction gear, crankshaft, connecting
rods and cross heads to low speed reciprocating motion. Crosshead drives power
plungers or pistons. Compared to duplex double-acting steam pumps, rod and piston
construction is used by the liquid ends of the low pressure, higher capacity systems.

Normally, the higher-pressure units are single-acting plungers that typically use
three (triplex)plungers. When contrast to simplex and even duplex pumps, three or more
plungers greatly minimize flow pulsations.

These are relatively expensive pumps which, based on performance over

centrifugal pumps, can seldom be justified. Nevertheless, these are often justified over
steam reciprocating pumps where due to the high steam requirements of direct-acting
steam pumps, continuous duty service is required.

1.2 Piston/Plunger Pumps

The popular variants of the traditional reciprocating pump are a tight-fitting piston
in a closed cylinder or a loose-fitting plunger acting as a displacer.

Furthermore, piston/plunger pumps is capable of almost any pressure, and of

large flow capacity. The NPSH requirements for these pumps are more complex than
for rotary or kinetic pumps due to the pulsed nature of the suction. They are expensive
in large sizes and are easily controlled by stroke adjustment or variable speed.
1.3 Diaphragm Pumps
In many fields, diaphragm pumps are commonly used and can accommodate a
wide variety of liquids. Diaphragm pumps are in the category of "positive
displacement" pumps because their flow rates do not vary greatly with the "front"
discharge (or pressure) against which the pump operates (for a given pump
speed). These can also withstand other harmful chemicals such as acids
because with a wide variety of body materials and diaphragms these can be
built.