| A pump is a device used to move gases, liquids, | | | | the pump is used for irrigation, water supply, air |
| or slurries. A pump moves liquids or gases from | | | | conditioning systems, refrigeration (usually called a |
| lower pressure to higher pressure, and | | | | compressor), chemical movement, sewage |
| overcomes this difference in pressure by adding | | | | movement, flood control, marine services, etc. |
| energy to the system (such as a water system). | | | | Because of the wide variety of applications, |
| A gas pump is generally called a compressor, | | | | pumps have a plethora of shapes and sizes: from |
| except in very low pressure-rise applications, such | | | | very large to very small, from handling gas to |
| as in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning, the | | | | handling liquid, from high pressure to low pressure, |
| equipment is known as fans or blowers. | | | | and from high volume to low volume. |
| The earliest pump was described by Archimedes | | | | Power source |
| in the 3rd century BC and is known as the | | | | 19th century Dutch diesel pump in Rijswijk, |
| Archimedes screw pump. Pumps work by using | | | | Netherlands Domestic Central Heating PumpPumps |
| mechanical forces to push the material, either by | | | | may be powered by an internal combustion |
| physically lifting, or by the force of compression. | | | | engine, electric motor, manually (as with the hand |
| Pumps fall into three categories: positive | | | | pump used for pumping groundwater, called |
| displacement, kinetic (centrifugal), and jet | | | | walking beam pump), or by wind power (common |
| (eductor). Their names describe the method for | | | | for irrigation). Solar power has been used to |
| moving a liquid, such as water. | | | | power an electric motor, for remote locations |
| A positive displacement pump causes a fluid to | | | | Eductor-jet pumps are useful for draining areas |
| move by trapping a fixed volume of water and | | | | which may contain combustible fluids (which could |
| then forcing (displacement) that trapped volume | | | | ignite if exposed to the workings of a standard |
| into the receiving pipe. Positive displacement | | | | electric or internal combustion powered pump) or |
| pumps can be further classified as either | | | | high levels of debris (which could damage screws |
| rotary-type (for example the rotary vane pump) | | | | or blades in conventional pump designs). |
| or reciprocating-type (for example the diaphragm | | | | A source of pressurized fluid (e.g. a firehose) is |
| pump). | | | | connected to a chamber which is open on one |
| A centrifugal pump causes a fluid to move by | | | | end, and leads to an exhaust hose on the other |
| transferring the kinetic (rotational) energy from a | | | | end. The pressurized fluid is forced through |
| motor (through an impeller) into water pressure | | | | nozzles (called eductor jets) mounted axially on |
| (potential energy). | | | | the inside of the pump chamber, pointed in the |
| A eductor-jet pump is special type of pump | | | | direction of the exhaust hose. The passage of the |
| without moving parts that uses the kinetic energy | | | | pressurized fluid through the chamber and into the |
| of a fluid to increase the pressure of a second | | | | exhaust hose creates a suction on the open end |
| fluid. | | | | of the chamber (Venturi effect), such that any |
| Application | | | | fluid the pump chamber has been submerged in |
| Pumps are used throughout society for a variety | | | | will be drawn into the chamber and thence into |
| of purposes. Early applications includes the use of | | | | the exhaust hose along with the fluid from the |
| the windmill or watermill to pump water. Today, | | | | eductor jet nozzles. |