HYDRAULIC PUMPS

Pumps is a mechanical device used to convert mechanical energy into hydraulic energy
(or) pressure energy. In industrial, agricultural and domestic applications, it is necessary
to move liquids from one location to another and one level to another. To achieve this
objective, hydraulic pumps are employed.

Pumps are Classified into Two Types.

1. Positive Displacement pump : In positive displacement pump, the pressure of

the liquid is increased by displacing it with a piston. Ex : Reciprocating pump.

2. Rotodynamic pump : In rotodynamic pump, the pressure of the liquid is increased

by dynamic action of rotating element (impeller). Ex : Centrifugal pump.
Reciprocating Pump Centrifugal Pump

It is suitable for low discharge and It is suitable for large discharge and
high head. low head.
It is a low speed machine It is a High speed machine

It is intermittent in operation hence It is continues in operation hence its

its delivery is fluctuating delivery is smooth

Maintenance cost is high. Maintenance cost is low

Initial cost is high. Initial cost is low

Torque on the crankshaft is non- Torque is uniform on the shaft.

uniform.
Space required for installing Less floor area is required and it is
reciprocating pump is larger than the compact
centrifugal pump
Single Acting Reciprocating Pump

In the case of single acting

reciprocating pump, the liquid acts
on one side of the piston.
The pump sucks the liquid into the
cylinder in the suction stroke and
delivers it out during delivery
stroke.
Single acting reciprocating pump consists of
the following main parts

1.A cylinder with a piston

2. Connecting rod and a crank.
3. Suction pipe.
4. Delivery pipe.
5. Suction valve.
6. Delivery valve.
7. Piston rod.
 In single acting reciprocating pump,
liquid enters on one side of the piston only. The
piston reciprocates inside the cylinder as the
crank rotates.

When crank rotates clockwise direction

from A to B, the piston moves forward (moves
from left to right) creating a vacuum in the left
space of the cylinder. Due to vacuum in the
cylinder liquid rises up through the suction pipe
and opens the suction valve. At the end of the
suction stroke (when the crank reaches B), the
cylinder is filled with liquid.

When the crank further rotates from B

to A, piston moves backward (from right to left).
During backward motion of the piston (discharge
stroke), the pressure of liquid increases causing
the suction valve to close and delivery valve to
open. Due to high pressure, the liquid is pumped
out of the cylinder through the delivery pipe.
Double acting reciprocating pump

Double acting reciprocating pump

consists of the following main parts
1. Cylinder.
2. Piston
3. Suction pipe
4. Suction valve
5. Delivery pipe.
6. Delivery valve
7. Crank and connecting rod mechanism.

Working Principle :
In this case liquid acts on both sides of the piston. When the piston moves
towards right (forward stroke), the suction (left side of the piston) and delivery (right side
of the piston) strokes occur simultaneously. Similarly when the piston moves towards left
(backward stroke), the suction stroke on the right side and delivery stroke on the left side
occur.
Double acting pumps make two deliveries per revolution of the crank for each cylinder.
 Centrifugal Pump
The main components of a
centrifugal pump are :
1. Casing 2. Suction pipe
3. Impeller 4. Delivery pipe.

Casing : Casing is an air tight chamber which

surrounds the impeller. It collects liquid from
the impeller and leads it away under high
pressure to the delivery side.

Suction Pipe : A pipe whose

one end is connected to the
centre of the impeller and
other end dips into the water
in a sump is known as suction
pipe.
Impeller : Impeller is a rotor which is provided
a series of backward curved vanes (or)
blades. The impeller is mounted on a shaft
which coupled to the shaft of an electric motor.

Delivery Pipe : It is a pipe through

which water is delivered. Its lower end
is connected the outlet of the pump.
At outlet of the pump a delivery valve
is provided to control the flow from
the pump into the delivery pipe.
ln a centrifugal pump, the impeller is
rotated at high speed by an electric motor.
The rotation builds up centrifugal force and
throws the water outwards from the impeller
center.
This creates partial vacuum in the eye of
the impeller. The suction valve opens and
water is sucked through the suction pipe
from the sump into the eye.
Water passes through the eye and flows
outwards with high velocity and pressure into
the casing. Since the cross sectional area of
the casing is increasing towards delivery side,
the high velocity head is partially converted
into pressure head of the water.
 The delivery valve opens and water is
delivered to the over head tank. This process
is continued as long as the pump is operating'
The following are the Advantages of Centrifugal Pumps :
1. Its initial cost is low.
2. Discharge is uniform and continuous.
3. Easy to install and low maintenance cost.
4. It can run at high speeds, without the risk of separation of flow.
5. Efficiency is high.

The Important Applications of a Centrifugal Pump are :

1. Lifting water from ground to overhead tanks in residential buildings.
2. Irrigation works and agricultural works.
3. Public water supply in villages and towns.
4. Sewage pumping plants.
5. Operating hydraulic lifts, cranes and elevators.
6. In steam power plants to circulate boiler feed water, condensate water and drain
water.
 Jet Pump
A jet pump consists of a nozzle and a diffuser
assembly. A jet of water with high pressure
from the delivery pipe of the pump is allowed
to flow through the nozzle. The pressure
energy of water is converted into kinetic
energy and consequently the pressure gets
reduced. Because of the decreases in pressure,
suction is created and water is sucked from the
sump in to the ejector assembly. This action
ensures a considerably more

supply of low pressure water. Because of the mixing of streams coming with different
velocities, there exists, some pressure rise in the mixing zone. The mixing zone is
followed by u diverging section where more pressure rise occurs due to decrease in
velocity. These pumps are able to lift water with suction heads as large as 6 m. This
pumps are mainly used in mining and for pumping oil.
 submersible pump
In submersible pump is a device which
has a sealed motor close-coupled to
the pump body. The whole assembly is
submerged in the fluid to be pumped.

The liquid is subjected to great

centrifugal force caused by the high
rotational speed of the impeller. The
liquid flows into the diffuser where a
conversion of kinetic energy to pressure
energy takes place. This is the basic
principle of submersible pump. The
fluid enters the pump through an intake
screen and is lifted by the pump stages.
Submersible Pumps are found in many
applications :
. Single stage submersible pumps are
used for drainage, sewage pumping,
general industrial pumping and slurry
pumping.