RECIPROCATING

PUMP

Group 3
Gatpandan
Fabre
Fadriquela
Fernandez
Francisco
Ferrer
POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMP

Positive-displacement pumps are another category of pumps. Types of positive-displacement

pumps are reciprocating, metering, and rotary pumps. Positive-displacement pumps operate by forcing
a fixed volume of fluid from the inlet pressure section of the pump into the discharge zone of the pump.
These pumps generally tend to be larger than equal-capacity dynamic pumps. Positive-displacement
pumps frequently are used in hydraulic systems at pressures ranging up to 5000 psi. A principal
advantage of hydraulic power is the high power density (power per unit weight) that can be achieved.
They also provide a fixed displacement per revolution and, within mechanical limitations, infinite
pressure to move fluids.

RECIPROCATING PUMP

The term reciprocating is defined as back-and-forth motion. In the reciprocating pump it is this
back-and-forth motion of pistons inside of cylinders that provides the flow of fluid. Reciprocating pumps,
like rotary pumps, operate on the positive principle — that is, each stroke delivers a definite volume of
liquid to the system.

  Reciprocating pumps are generally very efficient and are suitable for very high heads at low
flows. This type of pump is self priming as it can draw liquid from a level below the suction flange even if
the suction pipe is not evacuated. The pump delivers reliable discharge flows and is often used for
metering duties delivering accurate quantities of fluid. The reciprocating pump is not tolerant to solid
particles delivers a highly pulsed flow. If a smooth flow is required then the discharge flow system has to
include additional features such as accumulators to provide even flows. Reciprocating pumps designed
for delivering high pressures must include methods for releasing excessive fluid pressures. The pumps
should include for built in relief valves or relief valves should be included in the fluid circuit which cannot
be isolated from the pump.

WORKING PRINCIPLE

All positive displacement pumps operate on the same basic principle. This principle can be most
easily demonstrated by considering a reciprocating positive displacement pump consisting of a single
reciprocating piston in a cylinder with a single suction port and a single discharge port as shown below.
Check valves in the suction and discharge ports  allow flow in only one direction.

During the suction stroke, the piston moves to the left, causing the check valve in the suction
line between the reservoir and the pump cylinder to open and admit water from the reservoir.
 During the discharge stroke, the piston moves to the right, seating the check valve in the suction
line and opening the check valve in the discharge line. The volume of liquid moved by the pump in one
cycle (one suction stroke and one discharge stroke) is equal to the change in the liquid volume of the
cylinder as the piston moves from its farthest left position to its farthest right position.

Comparison between Centrifugal Pump and Reciprocating Pump

Centrifugal pumps Reciprocating Pumps

1. The discharge is continuous and smooth 1. The discharge is fluctuating and pulsating

2. It can handle large quantity of liquid 2. It can handle small quantity of liquid

3. It is used for large discharge through 3. It is used for small discharge at high heads
small heads

4. Cost of centrifugal pump is less as 4. Cost of reciprocating pump is approximately

compared to reciprocating pump. four times the centrifugal pump.

5. Runs at high speeds. 5.Runs at low speed.

6. Efficiency is high 6.Efficiency is low

7. Needs smaller area and cost of 7.Needs large floor area and installation cost is
installation is less. high

8. Low maintenance cost 8.High maintenance cost

9. It can be used for lifting highly viscous 9. It can be used only for lifting pure water or
liquids less viscous fluids.

TERMS:

Slip(s)

• Slip is the capacity loss as a fraction or percentage of the suction capacity. It consists of
stuffing box loss BL plus valve loss VL. However, stuffing box loss is usually consideredDESIGN,
INSTALLATION AND FABRICATION OF RECIPROCATING PUMP negligible.

Valve Loss (VL)

• Valve loss is the flow of liquid going back through the valve while it is closing and/or seated.

This is a 2% to 10% loss depending on the valve design or condition.

Speed (n)
 • Design speed of a power pump is usually between 300 to 800 rpm depending on the capacity,
size, and horsepower.

To maintain good packing life, speed is limited to a plunger velocity of 140 to 150 ft/minute.

Pump speed is also limited by valve life and allowable suction conditions.

Pulsations

• The pulsating characteristics of the output of a power pump are extremely important in pump
application. The magnitude of the discharge pulsation is mostly affected by the number of plungers or
pistons on the crankshaft.

Net Positive Suction Head Required (NPSHR)

• The NPSHR is the head of clean clear liquid required at the suction centerline to ensure proper
pump suction operating conditions. For any given plunger size, rotating speed, pumping capacity, and
pressure, there is a specific value of NPSHR. A change in one or more of these variables changes the
NPSHR.

• It is a good practice to have the NPSHA (available) 3 to 5 psi greater than the NPSHR. This will
prevent release of vapor and entrained gases into the suction system, which will cause cavitations
damage in the internal passages.

Net Positive Suction Head Available (NPSHA)

• The NPSHA is the static head plus the atmospheric head minus lift loss, frictional loss, vapor
pressure, velocity head, and acceleration loss in feet available at the suction center-line.

COMPONENTS

Cylinder

Suction and releases takes place in the cylinder. Suction Valve and Delivery Valve are connected
to the cylinder. The piston reciprocates inside the cylinder.

Suction pipe

It connects the source of water and cylinder, the liquid is sucked by the pipe from the source to
the cylinder.

Delivery Valve

It admits the flow from the cylinder into delivery pipe It is closed during suction and is in opened
position duting discharging of liquid.

Delivery Pipe

The liquid is delivered into the desired location through this pipe.

Suction valve
 It is a non return valve which only means one directional flow is possible in this valve. When
there is suction of the liquid the valve is opened, during discharge it is closed

Air vessel

It is a cast iron closed chamber having an opening at its pass through which the water flows into
vessel.

Piston and piston rod

Moves backward and forward inside the hallow cylinder to perform suction and deliverance of
the liquid.

Crank and connecting rod

It is connected to the power source like motor, engine, etc. For its rotation. The connecting rod
converts linear motion of the piston rod into rotational motion.

Strainer
Prevents entrance of solids from the water source into the cylinder.

TWO TYPES of Reciprocating Pump:

• PLUNGER /PISTON

• DIAPHRAGM

PISTON/PLUNGER PUMP

A plunger pump is a type of positive displacement pump where the high-pressure seal is
stationary and a smooth cylindrical plunger slides though the seal. This makes them different
from piston pumps and allows them to be used at high pressures.

Piston pumps and plunger pumps are reciprocating pumps that use a plunger or piston to move
media through a cylindrical chamber. The plunger or piston is actuated by a steam powered, pneumatic,
hydraulic, or electric drive. Piston pumps and plunger pumps are also called well service pumps, high
pressure pumps, or high viscosity pumps.

Piston pumps and plunger pumps use a cylindrical mechanism to create a reciprocating
motion along an axis, which then builds pressure in a cylinder or working barrel to force gas or fluid
through the pump. The pressure in the chamber actuates the valves at both the suction and discharge
points. Plunger pumps are used in applications that could range from 70 to 2070 bars. Piston pumps are
used in lower pressure applications.
PLUNGER/PISTON PUMP VARIANTS :

The basic plunger/piston pump has a single plunger/piston cylinder arrangement with intake
and discharge liquid through one side only. Plunger/piston pumps are available in different configuration
and each being suitable for particular application. The discharge of a piston pump can be changed by
varying the stroke length of the piston.

The COMMON VARIANTS of plunger/piston pumps are :

• SINGLE-ACTING PUMP

• DOUBLE ACTING PUMP

• SIMPLEX PUMP

• DUPLEX PUMP

SINGLE-ACTING PUMP

Single-acting pump is one that takes a suction, filling the pump cylinder on the stroke in only one
direction, called the suction stroke, and then forces the liquid out of the cylinderon the return stroke,
called the discharge stroke.  
DOUBLE-ACTING PUMP

Double-acting pump is one that, as it fills one end of the liquid cylinder, is discharging liquid
from the other end of the cylinder. On the return stroke, the end of the cylinder just emptied is filled,
and the end just filled is emptied.

SIMPLEX PLUNGER/PISTON PUMP

A simplex plunger pump, sometimes referred to as a single piston plunger pump, is a pump
having a single liquid (pump) cylinder.

DUPLEX PLUNGER PUMP

A duplex plunger pump is the equivalent of two simplex type pumps placed side by side on the
same foundation. The driving plungers or pistons of a duplex pump is arranged in such a manner that
when one piston is on its upstroke, the other piston is on its down stroke and vice versa.
Diaphragm Pump

A diaphragm pump also known as membrane pump is a positive displacement pump that
enables users in industries to standardize on a pump type that is suitable for a wide variety of fluids. The
only requirement is compressed air supply. The fluid being handled requires a gentle pumping action, is
chemically or physically aggressive the diaphragm pump offers an efficient and low maintenance
solution. 

Types of Diaphragm Pump

• Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps (AODD)

• Hydraulically Operated Diaphragm Pump

Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps (AODD)

An Air Operated Double Diaphragm Pumps (AODD) is a type of positive displacement pump that
uses compressed air as a power source. The compressed air is shifted from one chamber to the other by
a linked shaft that allows the chambers to move simultaneously. This back-and-forth motion forces
liquid out of one chamber and into the discharge piping while the other chamber is being filled with
liquid at the same time.
Hydraulically Operated Diaphragm Pump

The diaphragm is reciprocated by the action of hydraulic fluid and the fluid itself is pumped by a
reciprocating piston. Thus, one piston pump is making the other diaphragm pump work. The diaphragm
has driving hydraulic fluid one side and the liquid to be pumped on the other side. The piston pumps the
driving fluid which moves the diaphragm and in turn pumps the liquid on the other side. This
arrangement avoids any contact between the pumping element and the liquid pumped. This avoids
leakage and makes the pump suitable for handling expensive, explosive or toxic liquids.

ADVANTAGES

• Parameter High: Rated high pressure, high speed, large power-driven pump

• Efficiency, volumetric efficiency is 95% of the total efficiency of about 90%

• Long life

• Variable convenient form for

• More unit power and light weight

• Piston main components are compressive stress, strength of materials can be fully utilized

DISADVANTAGES

• Reciprocating pumps give a pulsating flow.

• The suction stroke is difficult when pumping viscous liquids.

• The cost of producing piston pumps is high. This is due to the very accurate sizes of the cylinders
and pistons. Also, the gearing needed to convert the rotation of the drive motor into a
reciprocating action involves extra equipment and cost.

• The close-fitting moving parts cause maintenance problems, especially when the pump is
handling fluids containing suspended solids, as the particles can get into the small clearances
and cause severe wear. The piston pump, therefore, should not be used for slurries.

• They give low volume rates of flow compared to other types of pump.
RELATED EQUATIONS:

Single acting pump

DISCHARGE THROUGH A RECIPROCATING PUMP

Let:

D=diameter of the piston

A=Cross-sectional area of the piston or cylinder

L=Length of the stroke

hs=Height of the axis of the cylinder from water surface in sump

hd=Height of delivery outlet above the cylinder axis(delivery head)

N=Speed of the crank , r=Radius of crank

Volume of water delivered in one revolution or discharge of water in one revolution,

Qth = A x L

N
Number of revolutions per second =
60
Therefore:

Discharge of the pump per second,

Q = Discharge in one revolution x No. of revolution per second

N ALN
Qth = AL× =
60 60
Weight of water delivered per second,

ρg ALN
W=ρxgxQ=
60
WORK DONE BY RECIPROCATING PUMP

Work done per second = Weight of water lifted per second x Total height through which water is lifted

= W (hs + hd)

ρg ALN
Work done per second = ×(hs + hd)
60
Therefore:

Power required to drive the pump, in kW

 Work done per second
P=
1000
ρgALN ( h s+ h d)
P= , kW
60 x 1000
DISCHARGE, WORK DONE, AND POWER REQUIRED TO DRIVE A DOUBLE-ACTING PUMP

Let:

π 2
D = Diameter of the piston, A = D
4
π 2
d= Diameter of the piston rod, A = d
4
π 2 π 2
Area on one side of the piston, A1 = D - d
4 4
π 2 2
Area of the piston rod = (D - d )
4

Volume of water delivered in one revolution of crank

= (A x Length of stroke) + (A1 x Length of stroke)

= AL + A1L = L (A + A1)

π 2 π 2 2
=L[ D + (D - d )]
4 4
Discharge of pump per second = Volume of water delivered in one revolution of crank x no. of rps

π 2 π 2 2 N
Qth = L [ D + (D - d )] x
4 4 60
Note: if the diameter of the piston rod is very small as compared to the diameter of the piston then it can
be neglected.

π 2 π 2 Lx N 2 AL N
Q=( D + D )x =
4 4 60 60
WORK DONE BY DOUBLE-ACTING RECIPROCATING PUMP

Work done per second = Weight of water delivered x total height

= ρg x discharge per second x total height

2 AL N
P = ρg x x (hs + hd)
60
Power required driving the double- acting pump in kW

2 ρg x AL N x (h s +h d )
P=
60 000
SLIP OF RECIPROCATING PUMP

Slip = Qth – Qact

Qth−Qact
But, Percentage Slip = x 100%
Qact
Volumetric Efficiency (nv) ,

Qact
nv =
Qth
Sample problem:

A double-acting pump, with a diameter of 0.3 m and stroke of 0.4 m, delivers water at a rate of
0.210m3/s under a total head of 15m. What is the percentage slip it delivers at 250 rpm and find also the
volumetric efficiency, work done per second?

Given :

D = 0.3 m

L = 0.4 m

N = 250 rpm

Q = 0.210 m3 / s

H =15m

ᶯm = 75%

Req’d :

% slip

Sol:

%slip = ( Vd – Q) / Vd

• Vd = (πD2/2)(LN)

= (π x 0.32m x 0.4m x (250 rev/min)( 1min/60s)

= 0.2356m 3/s

From eq:

%slip = (0.2356 – 0.210) / (0.2356) = 0.1087 = 10.87%

• Vol. eff’cy = Q / Vd = ( 0.210 / 0.2356)

= 0.8910 = 89.10%

• P = pgQH =1000 x 9.81 x 0.210 x 12 = 24 721.2 W