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Positivedisplacementpumps
Positivedisplacementpumpsweredevelopedlongbeforecentrifugalpumps.Liquidispositivelydisplacedfromafixedvolumecontainer.Positivedisplacementpumpsarecapable
ofdevelopinghighpressureswhileoperatingatlowsuctionpressures.Theyarecommonlyreferredtoasconstantvolumepumps.Unlikecentrifugalpumps,theircapacityisnot
affectedbythepressureagainstwhichtheyoperate.Flowisusuallyregulatedbyvaryingthespeedofthepumporbyrecycle.Positivedisplacementpumpsaredividedintotwo
groups:rotaryandreciprocatingpumps.

Contents
1Rotarypumps
1.1Slidingvane
1.2Externalgear
1.3Internalgear
1.4Lobe
1.5Screw
1.6Singlescrew
1.7Multiplescrew
2Reciprocatingpumps
2.1Plungerandpistonpumps
2.2Diaphragmpumps
3Reciprocatingpumpperformanceconsiderations
3.1Capacity
3.2Speed
4Installationguidelines
4.1Foundationsandalignment
4.2Anchorboltsleeveinstallation
4.3Metalshimadjustments
4.4Grouting
4.5Operatingtemperatureconsiderations
4.6Piping
4.7Pulsationconsiderations
5Nomenclature
6References
7NoteworthypapersinOnePetro
8Externallinks
9Seealso

Rotarypumps
Rotarypumpsarenormallylimitedtoservicesinwhichthefluidviscosityisveryhighortheflowratetoosmalltobehandledeconomicallybyotherpumps.Rotarypumpsare
commonlyusedtocirculatelubeoilsthroughengines,turbines,reductiongears,andprocessmachinerybearings.Rotarypumpsdisplaceafixedquantityoffluidforeveryrevolution
ofthedrivershaft.Theyhavedifferentpumpingelementssuchasvanes,lobes,gears,andscrews.Fig.1illustratesthree(internalgear,externalgear,andscrew)ofthemost
commonlyusedrotarypumpsinproductionoperations.

(/File%3AVol3_Page_251_Image_0001.png)

Fig.1Commonlyusedrotarypumps.

Mostmanufacturersraterotarypumpsbycapacity(i.e.,throughout).Capacityisthetotalliquiddisplacementofthepumplessslip.Slipisthequantityoffluidthatleaksfromthe
higherpressuredischargetothelowerpressuresuction.Slipoccursbecauseallrotarypumpsrequireclearancesbetweentherotatingelementsandpumphousing.Theseclearances
providealeakpathbetweenthedischargeandsuctionsides.Apumpwithlargeclearances,becauseofmachiningtolerancesorwear,exhibitsaproportionallylargerslip.Rotary
pumpscannotmovenonlubricatingfluidssuchaswaterorfluidscontaininghardorabrasiveparticles.Rotarypumpscanmovelargequantitiesofairorvaporforshortperiodsof
timewithoutlosingprime.

Rotarypumpsareselfprimingbutarenotdesignedtorundryforlongperiods.Forbestoperation,theremustbeenoughfluidatthesuctionporttokeepthepumpingchamber
completelyfilled.

Fig.2illustratestherelationshipbetweenspeed,volumetricefficiency,anddisplacementofarotarypositivedisplacementpump.Theprinciplesofoperationofsomeofthemore
commontypesofrotarypumpsaredescribednext.
 (/File%3AVol3_Page_252_Image_0001.png)

Fig.2Relationshipbetweenspeed,volumetric
efficiency,anddisplacementofarotarypositive
displacementpump.

Slidingvane

Asetofvanesismountedinarotorinwhichthevanesslideinandoutoftherotor.Therotorismountedoffcenterinthecasing.Asthevanesrotatepastthesuctionport,theyslide
outoftherotorwhilemaintainingconstantcontactwiththecasing.Springsorsealerringshelpholdthevanesagainstthecasing,thusthevanesmakeacloseseal,orfit,againstthe
casingwall.Trappedfluidisforcedfromthesuctionporttothedischargeport.

Theslidingvanedesigniscapableofdeliveringmediumcapacityandhead.Theydeliveraconstantflowrateforasetrotorspeed.Theyworkwellwithlowviscosityfluidsandare
somewhatselfcompensatingforwear.Theyarenotsuitableforusewithhighlyviscousfluids(thickerfluidsinterferewiththeslidingactionofthevanes).Alargeweararearesults
fromthefrictionfitbetweenthevanesandthecylinder.

FlexibleVane.Theflexiblevaneissimilartotheslidingvaneexceptthatthevanesaregenerallyasoft,pliablematerialandareintegralwiththerotor.Astherotorturns,thevanes
bendandconformtotheeccentricshapeofthecylinder.Theyaresimple,inexpensive,andarecapableofdevelopingavacuum.Theyshouldnotbeallowedtorundryandshouldbe
usedonlywithlowtemperaturefluidsandinlowheadapplications.

Externalgear

Theexternalgearconsistsoftwoequalsizedmeshinggears,oneadriverandtheotheranidler,thatrotateinsideahousing.Asthegearsunmeshatthesuctionsideofthepump,a
vacuumisformed.Pressureforcesthefluidintothepumpwherethefluidiscarriedbetweenthegearteethandthecasetothedischargeport.Atthedischarge,themeshingofthe
gearteethcreatesaboundarythatpreventsthefluidfromreturningtothesuction.Gearpumpsoperateequallywellwhendrivenineitherdirection.Precautionsshouldbetakento
ensurethattheshaftrotationiscorrectwhenspecialfeatures,suchasbuiltinreliefvalvesorableedbackoftheshaftseal,areused.

Therearealsomodelsthatusemultiplesetsofgearsononeshafttoproducemorecapacity.Externalgearpumpsarecompactinsizeandcanproducehighpressures.Theyarewell
suitedforhighlyviscousfluids.Theyareeasilymanufacturedinabroadrangeofmaterialstoensurecompatibilitywiththepumpedfluids.Becauseoftheirclosetolerances,theyare
limitedtocleanfluidapplications.

Internalgear

Theinternalgearpumpissimilarinprincipletotheexternalgearexceptthedriveshaftturnsaringgearwithinternalteeth.Theexternalgeartooth(idler)rotatesonanoffsetcenter
andmesheswiththedrivegearthroughonlyasegmentalarcofrotation.Afixedcrescentshapedfilteroccupiesthespacebetweeninternalandexternalgeartoothtipsoppositethe
meshpoint.Asthegearteethdisengageattheinputport,fluidentersandistrappedinthetoothspaceofeachgearandiscarriedtothedischargeport.Themeshingofthetwogears
andtheeliminationofthetoothspaceforcesfluidfromthepump.

Lateralgearpumpsareusedinlowheadapplications.Theyarelimitedtoamaximumbackpressureof100psiandrequireapressurereliefvalveonthedischargeside.Because
smallclearancesexist,theycannothandleliquidsthatcontainsolids.Themanufacturershouldalwaysbeconsultedbeforeanygearpumpisusedwithfluidhandlingsolids.

Lobe

Lobepumpsoperateinthesamemannerasgearpumpsexcepttherotatingelementshavetwo,three,orfourlobesinsteadofgearteeth.Lobescannotdriveeachother,sotiming
gearsareused.Thelobesnevercomeintocontactwitheachothersothepumpcanbeallowedtorundry.Lobesareusedwhereproductintegritymustbemaintainedandin
applicationsinwhichliquidsareshearsensitive.Thelargevolumecreatedbetweenthecasingandlobesallowsmanyproductstobepumpedwithoutdamagingtheproductitself.A
majoradvantageisthatthereisnometaltometalcontactbetweenthelobes,thusthepossibilityoftracesofiron,steel,orotherpumpconstructionmaterialsendingupintheproduct
becauseofwearisgreatlyreduced.Ontheotherhand,theyaremoreexpensivethangearorvanepumpsandaredifficulttorepairandmaintain.

Screw

Screwpumpscanbesinglerotor(progressivecavity)ormultiplerotor(intermeshing)design.Screwpumpsarerelativelyhighspeedpumpsbut,becauseofthereversalofflow
requiredtoenterthesuctionpassage,NPSHcanoftenbeaproblem.Screwpumpsareusedforhighheadapplicationstheyarethemostcommonrotarypumptypeinusein
producingoperations.

Singlescrew

Inthesinglescrewdesign,thefluidistrappedbetweenthetreadsofarotatingscrewandthetreadsoftheinternalstationaryelement.Thesepumpsareusedforviscousliquidsand
liquidswithhighsolidscontent.Theycanproducesignificantsuctionliftandrelativelyhighpressures.Theycanhandlefluidsrangingfromcleanwatertosludgeswithoutchanging
clearancesorcomponents.Ontheotherhand,theyareexpensive,bulky,anddifficulttomaintain,andreplacementpartsareexpensive.

Multiplescrew
Inthemultiplescrewdesign,thefluidflowsbetweenacentraldrivescrewandoneormoreidlerscrewsinaclosefittinghousing.Intwoscrewpumps,bothshaftsaredrivenwith
timinggears.Inthreescrewpumps,thescrewtreadsarecutsoonescrewcandrivetheothertwo.Therotationofthescrewsproducesavacuumattheinlet,movesthefluidthrough
thepump,anddeliversthefluidtothedischarge.Insmallsizes,theyareusedtosupplylubricatingoiltoenginesandindustrialmachinery.Inintermediatesizes,theyareusedin
officebuildingsasasourceofhydraulicenergytooperateelevators.Inlargesizes,theyareusedtoloadandunloadbargesandtankers.

Reciprocatingpumps
Reciprocatingpumps
Reciprocatingpumpsmoveliquidbymeansofaconstantbackandforthmotionofapiston,plunger,ordiaphragmwithinafixedvolumeorcylinder.Reciprocatingpumpscan
handleviscousandabrasivefluids.Theyarelowspeedmachineswhencomparedwithcentrifugalandrotarypumps.Theyofferhigherefficiencies,generally85to94%,thusthey
requirelesshorsepower.Reciprocatingpumpsarebestsuitedforhighpressureandlowvolumeapplications.Theyfrequentlyrequirepulsationdampenersbecauseofthepulsating
natureoftheflow.Theyhavehigherinstalledcosts(usuallyoffsetbyhigherefficiencies)andhighermaintenancecoststhancentrifugalorrotarypumps.

Plungerandpistonpumps

Inplungerpumps,aplungermovesthroughastationarypackedsealandispushedintoandwithdrawnfromaliquidcavity.Inpistonpumps,apistonmovingbackandforthwithina
liquidcavitypushesthefluidfromthecylinder.Movementofeithertheplungerorpistoncreatesanalternatingincreaseanddecreaseofflow.Astheplungerorpistonmoves
backward,theavailablevolumeinthecylinderincreasesandasuctionvalveopenstoallowtheliquidtoenterthecylinderthroughaonewaysuctionvalve.Astheplungerorpiston
movesforward,thevolumeavailableinthecylinderdecreases,thepressureoftheliquidincreases,andtheliquidisforcedoutthroughaonewaydischargevalve.

Efficienciesremainhighregardlessofheadorspeed(tendtodecreaseslightlywithincreasingspeed).Becausereciprocatingpumpsrunatlowerspeedsthancentrifugalorrotary
pumps,theyarebettersuitedforhandlingviscousliquids.Theyarecapableofproducinghighpressuresandlargecapacitiesandareselfpriming.Ontheotherhand,theyrequire
moremaintenancebecauseofthelargenumberofmovingparts.Theyareheavierinweightandrequiremorefloorspacethancentrifugalorrotarypumps.Inaddition,theyarepoor
athandlingliquidscontainingsolidsthattendtoerodevalvesandseats.PlungerandpistonpumpsrequirelargerNPSHsbecauseofpulsatingflowandpressuredropthroughthe
valves.Asaresultofpulsatingflow,theyrequirespecialattentiontosuctionanddischargepipingdesigntoavoidbothacousticalandmechanicalvibrations.

Diaphragmpumps

Fig.3showsatypicalfluid(gas,air,orliquidpowered)diaphragmpump.Itsprincipleofoperationissimilartoplungerandpistonpumpsexceptthat,insteadofaplungeror
piston,thereisaflexiblepulsatingdiaphragmthatdisplacestheliquid.Varyingpowerfluidpressureononesideofthediaphragmcausesthediaphragmtodeflectalternatively
drawingliquidintothepumpsidechamberordischargingtheliquidfromthepumpsidechamber.Diaphragmpumpsarecapableofpumpingliquidsthatareviscous,erosive,
corrosive,orthatcontainlargeamountsofsolids.Inaddition,diaphragmpumpsareselfpriming,canrunperiodicallywithoutliquids,andareinexpensivetorepairbecausethey
havenostuffingboxandhavefewmovingparts.

(/File%3AVol3_Page_254_Image_0001.png)

Fig.3Diaphragmpump.

Diaphragmpumpsarelimitedtosmallflowrates(90gal/min),moderatedischargepressures,andmoderatetemperatures.Theyrequirefrequentmaintenanceandexhibitfatigue
failurewithtime.Leakscancauseahazardbymixingpowerfluidwiththeprocessfluid.Gas/airpowereddiaphragmpumpsarecommonlyusedassumppumps.

Itispossibletouseadiaphragmtopoweraplungerorpistonpump.Thistypeofpumpisoftenusedforchemicalinjectionbecauseitiswellsuitedforlowvolumeandlargehead
applications,andthespeedcanbecontrolledbyathrottlingvalveonthepowerfluid.

Reciprocatingpumpperformanceconsiderations
Reciprocatingpumpsareconstantvolumepumps.Variationsindischargepressuresdonotaffectflowrate.Becausethesepumpscontinuetodeliverthesamecapacity,anyattemptto
throttlethedischargeflowmayoverpressurethepumpcasingand/orthedischargepiping.Thus,noreciprocatingpumpshouldeverbestartedoroperatedwiththedischargeblock
valveclosed.Flowisregulatedbyspeed.

Capacity

Thecapacityofareciprocatingpumpisthecylinderdisplacementlessslip.Forasingleactingcylinder,cylinderdisplacementcanbedeterminedfrom

(/File%3AVol3_page_255_eq_001.PNG)(Eq.1)

Fordoubleactingcylinders,thecylinderdisplacementcanbedeterminedby

(/File%3AVol3_page_255_eq_002.PNG)(Eq.2)

where

s=cylinderdisplacement

A=plungerorpistonarea

a=pistonrodcrosssectionalarea

LS=strokelength

N=speed

m=numberofpistonsorplungers.
m=numberofpistonsorplungers.

Slipisthelossofcapacityasapercentageofthecylinderdisplacementbecauseofvolumetricefficiency,stuffingboxlosses,andvalvelosses.Volumetricefficiency(nottobe
confusedwithmechanicalefficiency)isnormally95to97%.Efficiencyisalsoreducedwhenpumpingalighthydrocarbonthathassomedegreeofcompressibility.

Thepumpcapacitycanbedeterminedfrom

(/File%3AVol3_page_255_eq_003.PNG)(Eq.3)

where

q=pumpcapacity.

Speed

Speedistheprimaryfactorthatdeterminesboththecapacityofareciprocatingpumpanditsmaintenancecosts.Runningathighspeedsshortenspackinglifeandincreases
accelerationanddecelerationforcesonallmovingcomponents.Operatingbelowthemaximumratedspeedmaybeadvantageouswhenthepumpisoperatedunattended,when
therearenosparesandnostandby,whenthereisahighpenaltyfordowntime,whenunitmaintenanceispoor,whenlonglifeisdesired,andwhentheNPSHmarginislow.
Operatingatthemaximumratedspeedsrequires:

Clean,coolfluids
Excellentpipinglayoutwithrigidlyfixedpiping
GoodNPSHmargin
Solidfoundation
Welldesignedsuctionanddischargepulsationdampeners
Goodmaintenance

Wheneveritbecomesnecessarytooperateabovethemaximumratedspeeds,verycloseattentionshouldbegiventoalldesign,operation,andmaintenancedetails.

Installationguidelines
Ifpositivedisplacementpumpsareproperlyinstalledandoperated,satisfactoryperformancecanberealizedforalongtime.Thesepumpsaremanufacturedinavarietyofdesigns
formanydifferentservices.Eachmanufacturersinstructionsshouldbefollowedcarefullyforspecificmachinesorapplicationequipment.Thefollowingdiscussionrelatestogeneral
installationguidelinesforpositivedisplacementreciprocatingpumps.

Foundationsandalignment

Mostpumpfoundationsareconstructedofreinforcedconcrete.Thepumpanddriverareboltedtoacastironorsteelbaseplate,whichissecuredtotheconcretefoundationwith
anchorbolts.Smallpumpsneedafoundationlargeenoughtoaccommodatethebaseplateassembly.Largepumpsrequireafoundationthatisthreetofourtimestheweightofthe
pumpanddriver.

Anchorboltsleeveinstallation

Eachanchorboltisfittedwithawasherandpassedthroughapipesleevethathasadiameterthreetofourtimesgreaterthanthebolt.Theboltsleeveunitissetintotheconcreteat
thepredeterminedbaseplateholepositions.Theflexibilityinthesleevewasherunitallowsminoradjustmentstobemadeintheboltpositionbeforefinaltighteningevenafterthe
concretefoundationhasset.

Metalshimadjustments

Metalshimsareusedtopositionthepumponthefoundation.Adjustmentsaremadeuntilthepumpshaftandflangesarecompletelylevel.Alignmentbetweenthepumpanddriveris
thenadjustedbeforeconnectingthepumptothesuctionanddischargelines.Thelattershouldhavebeenalignedduringtheinitialpositioningofthebaseplate.

Grouting

Becauseofpipestrain,theentirepumpassemblyshouldberecheckedforalignmentoncethepipinghasbeensecurelybolted.Ifthedrivealignmenthasnotbeenchangedbybolting
thepiping,thespacebetweenthebaseplateandconcretefoundationsisfilledwithgrouting.Groutingshouldbesufficientlyfluidtofillalltheavailablespaceunderthebaseplate.

Operatingtemperatureconsiderations

Itisessentialthatthealignmentbetweenthepiping,pump,anddrivernotchange.Ideally,alignmentsshouldbemadeattheoperatingtemperatureafterinitialcoldalignmentofthe
pumpingsystem,thuseliminatinganyalignmentchangesbecauseofthermalexpansion.

Piping

Nexttotheselectionofoperatingspeeds,properpipingdesignisthemostimportantconsiderationinpumpinstallationdesign.Poorpipingisoftentheresultofinattentiontodetails,
whichcanleadtomorethanaveragedowntime,highermaintenancecosts,andlossofoperatingpersonnelconfidence.

Suctionpipingshouldbedirect,freeofbends,asshortaspossible,andatleastonenominalpipesizelargerthanthepumpsuctionconnection.Directionalpipingchangesshouldbe
madewithlongradiuselbows.Afullopeningblockvalveshouldbeinstalledinthesuctionpiping.Thesuctionvesselshouldhavesufficientretentiontimefortheevolutionoffree
gasandshouldbeequippedwithavortexbreaker(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex_breaker)atthedischargenozzle.Thesuctionandbypasslinesshouldenterthevesselbelow
theminimumliquidlevel.

Suctionpipingshouldbelargeenoughsothatthevelocitylimitsarenotexceeded.Eccentricreducerswiththeflatsideupshouldbeusedinsteadofconcentricreducers.Suction
pipingshouldincludeasuctionstrainerandapulsationdampener.Suctionstrainersshouldnotbeinstalledunlessregularmaintenancecanbeassured.Afluidstarvedcondition
resultingfromapluggedstrainercancausemoredamagetothepumpthansolidsingestion.

Thedischargepipingshouldbedirect,freeofexcessivebends,andatleastonenominalpipesizelargerthanthepumpdischargeconnection.Directionalpipingchangesshouldbe
madewithlongradiuselbows.Concentricreducersmaybeused,buttheyshouldbeplacedasneartothepumpaspractical.Tofacilitateprimingandstarting,abypass(recycle)line
withcheckvalveandblockvalveshouldbeinstalledtothesuctionsource.Ifapulsationdampenerisnotincludedintheinitialinstallation,aflangedconnectionshouldbeprovided
ifpulsationattenuationmayberequired.Areliefvalveshouldbeinstalledupstreamofthedischargeblockvalve,incaseoverpressurizationinthedischargepipingoccurs.

Pulsationconsiderations
Flowfromareciprocatingpumpisnotuniform.Theoscillatingmotionoftheplungerscreatesdisturbances(pulsations)thattravelatthespeedofsoundfromthepumpcylinderto
thepipingsystem.Pulsationsareafunctionofthepumpspiston/plungervelocity,internalvalves,andoperatingspeed.Pulsationscausethepressurelevelofthesystemtofluctuate
withrespecttotime.

Suctionpulsationscancausethepressureleveltodropinstantaneouslybelowthefluidvaporpressure,whichresultsincavitation.Caviationcancausefailureofpumppartssuchas:

Valves
Crossheads
Rods
etc.

Caviationcanalsocausehighpipingvibrationsthatresultinthefailureof:

Vents
Drains
Gaugelines

Normalpipeclampsandsupportsmaynotbeeffectiveincontrollingthesevibrations.

Pulsationscanbeamplifiedbytheacousticalresonancesofthepipingsystem,whichresultsinpumpfluidendfailuresandpipingfailuresbecauseoftheshakingcausedbypressure
pulsation.Forsimplepipinglayoutsandlowtomoderatepumpspeeds,pulsationdampenersareusedtoattenuatetheeffectsofpulsatingflows.Pulsationdampenersarenormally
installedonboththesuctionanddischarge.Dampenerscanbeliquidfilledgascushioned,ortunedacousticalfilters.Forcomplicatedandmultiplepumppipingandhighpump
speeds,acousticalfiltersareused.

Thedesignofapulsationdampeningsystemisbeyondthescopeofthischapter.Specialexpertiseisneededforanalyzingandcontrollingpulsationsinmultipumpinstallations.

Nomenclature
s = cylinderdisplacement
A = plungerorpistonarea
a = pistonrodcrosssectionalarea
LS = strokelength
N = speed
m = numberofpistonsorplungers
q = pumpcapacity

References
Usethissectionforcitationofitemsreferencedinthetexttoshowyoursources.[Thesourcesshouldbeavailabletothereader,i.e.,notaninternalcompanydocument.]

NoteworthypapersinOnePetro
UsethissectiontolistpapersinOnePetrothatareaderwhowantstolearnmoreshoulddefinitelyread

Externallinks
UsethissectiontoprovidelinkstorelevantmaterialonwebsitesotherthanPetroWikiandOnePetro

Seealso
PEH:Pumps(/PEH%3APumps)

Pumps(/Pumps)

Centrifugalpumps(/Centrifugal_pumps)

Pumpdrivers(/Pump_drivers)

Category(/Special%3ACategories): 4.4Measurementandcontrol(/Category%3A4.4_Measurement_and_control)

(https://www.onepetro.org/search?q=Positivedisplacementpumps) (http://scholar.google.ca/scholar?q=Positivedisplacementpumps)
 (http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Positivedisplacementpumps) (http://wiki.seg.org/index.php?

title=Special%3ASearch&redirs=1&fulltext=Search&ns0=1&ns4=1&ns500=1&redirs=1&title=Special%3ASearch&advanced=1&fulltext=Advanced+search&search=Positive

displacementpumps) (http://wiki.aapg.org/index.php?

title=Special%3ASearch&profile=advanced&fulltext=Search&ns0=1&ns4=1&ns102=1&ns104=1&ns106=1&ns108=1&ns420=1&ns828=1&redirs=1&profile=advanced&search=Positive
displacementpumps)