Positive Displacement Pumps

Introduction
There are two main categories of pumps – kinetic or turbo and positive displacement
1. Rotodynamic pumps which move the fluid by dynamic action of imparting momentum to the
fluid using mechanical energy. They are called energy converters.
2. Positive displacement pump which move a fixed volume of trapped fluid within the pump
casing by applying a force to moveable boundaries containing this trapped volume. They are called
mass converters.
Positive displacement pump are classified into two types
2.1. Reciprocating pumps: which first trap the liquid in a cylinder by suction and then push the
liquid against pressure.
2.2. Rotary positive displacement pumps which also trap the liquid in a volume and push the
same out against pressure.
• Reciprocating positive displacement pumps are limited by the low speed of
operation required and small volumes it can handle.
• Rotary positive displacement pumps are limited by lower pressures of operation
and small volumes
A comparison is held between types of pumps according to flow and head in the following
table
Parameter Centrifugal Pumps Reciprocating Pumps Rotary Pumps
Optimum Flow and Medium/High Capacity, Low Capacity, Low/Medium Capacity,

Pressure
Low/Medium Pressure High Pressure Low/Medium Pressure
Applications
1. Reciprocating pumps
Theory
A power pump is a positive displacement machine consisting of one or more cylinders, each
containing a piston or plunger. The pistons or plungers are driven through slider-crank mechanisms
and a crankshaft from an external source. The capacity of a given pump is governed by the
rotational speed of the crankshaft.
Applications
• Used for pumping highly viscous fluids including concrete and heavy oils
Advantages
• Very high pressure
• Moderate flow rate
Disadvantages
• Maintenance of inlet and outlet ports
• Low speed
• Large size
• Intermittent or pulsating flow
Types
• Single cylinder (simplex) single acting figure 1
• Single cylinder (simplex) double acting figure 2
• Double cylinder (duplex)
• Triple cylinder (triplex)
Figure 3 shows discharge rate of single cylinder single acting reciprocating pump
Figure 4 shows discharge rate of single cylinder double acting reciprocating pump which is same as
double acting cylinder
Figure 5 shows discharge rate of triple cylinder reciprocating pump
Figure 1 single cyl single acting
Figure 2 single cyl double acting

Q
0 180 360 θ
Figure 4 discharge of simplex single acting Figure 3 discharge of simplex double acting
and doublex single acting
Figure 5 discharge of triplex single acting

2. Rotary pumps
Advantages of rotary over reciprocating pumps
Uniform flow
High speed
No inlet or outlet valves
2.1. Lobe pumps figures 6, 7
Theory
As the rotor rotates, oil is trapped in the space between the lobe and the casing and is carried to the
pressure side; the maximum pressure of operation is controlled by the back leakage through the
clearance.
Applications
• Food processing
•
Pharmaceuticals
• Paper
coatings
•
Rubber and adhesives
Advantages
• Pass
medium solids
• No
metal-to-metal contact
• Long term dry run (with lubrication to seals)
• Non-pulsating discharge
Disadvantages
• Requires timing gears
•
Figure 6 lobe pump
Requires two seals
• Reduced lift with thin liquids
Figure 7 lobe pump operation

2.2. Gear pump figures 8, 9
Theory
Oil is trapped in the space between the gear teeth and the casing. The oil is then carried from the
lower pressure or atmospheric pressure and is delivered at the pressure side. The two sides are
sealed by the meshing teeth in the middle The maximum pressure that can be developed depends on
the clearance and viscosity of the oil.
Applications
• Various fuel oils and lubricating oils
• Chemical additive and polymer metering
• Acids and caustic (stainless steel or composite construction)
Advantages
• High speed
• High pressure
• Relatively quiet
operation
Disadvantages
• No solids allowed
• Leakage more than
lobe pump
Figure 8 gear pump

Figure 9 gear pump operation
2.3. Vane pump
Theory
Rotor is eccentrically placed in the casing as shown in figure 10. The rotor carries sliding vanes in
slots along the length. Springs control the movement of the vanes and keep them pressed on the
casing.
Oil is trapped between the vanes and the casing. As the rotor rotates the trapped oil is carried to the
pressure side. The maximum operating pressure is controlled by the back leakage.
Applications
• Aerosol and Propellants
• Aviation Service - Fuel Transfer
• Liquid Petroleum Gas
Cylinder Filling
Advantages
• Handles thin liquids at
relatively higher pressures
• Compensates for wear
through vane extension
• Can have one seal or
stuffing box
Disadvantages
• Complex housing and many
parts
• Not suitable for high
viscosity
• Not good with abrasives
Figure 10 vane pump

Figure 11 vane pump operation
2.4. Screw pump figure 12
Theory
The flow through the pumping elements is truly axial. The liquid is carried between the screw
threads on one or more rotors. The liquid is then displaced axially as the screws rotate and mesh.
Applications
• Industrial oil burners; lubricating oil services; chemical processes; petroleum and
crude oil industries
• Land Drainage: used for flood control.
Advantages
• Good meshing and sealing
• Wide range of flows and pressures
• Wide range of liquids and viscosities
• High speed capability allowing freedom of driver selection
• Low mechanical vibration, pulsation-free flow, and quiet operation
Disadvantages
• Relatively high cost because of close tolerances and running clearances
• Performance characteristics sensitive to viscosity change
Figure 12 screw pump

2.5. Radial piston pump figure 13
Figure 13 Radial piston pump
Applications
• high pressure units (HPU) (e. g. for overload protection of presses)
• test rigs
• automotive sector (e. g. automatic transmission, hydraulic suspension control in
upper-class cars)
• plastic- and powder injection moulding
• wind energy
Advantages
• high efficiency
• high pressure (up to 1000bar)
• low noise level
• no axial internal forces at the drive shaft bearing
2.6. Axial piston or swash plate pumps figure 14
Theory
An axial piston pump has a number of pistons (usually an odd number) arranged in a circular array
within a housing which is commonly referred to as a cylinder block, or swash plate. This cylinder
block is driven to rotate about its axis of symmetry by an integral shaft that is, more or less, aligned
with the pumping pistons.
Applications
• Tunnel boring machines
Advantages
• Flow rate can be controlled by changing angle of the swash plate
Figure 14 axial piston pump 3D and 2D

Positive Displacement Pumps

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Introduction

Parameter Centrifugal Pumps Reciprocating Pumps Rotary Pumps

Optimum Flow and Medium/High Capacity, Low Capacity, Low/Medium Capacity,

Figure 2 single cyl double acting

Figure 5 discharge of triplex single acting

Figure 7 lobe pump operation

Figure 8 gear pump

Figure 10 vane pump

Figure 12 screw pump

Figure 13 Radial piston pump

Figure 14 axial piston pump 3D and 2D

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