MODULE-4

PUMPS
PUMPS:

Pump is a mechanical device to increase the pressure energy of a liquid. In most of the cases
pump is used for raising fluids from a lower to a higher level. This is achieved by creating a
low pressure at the inlet or suction end and high pressure at the outlet or delivery end of the
pump. Due to the low inlet pressure the fluid rises from a depth where it is available and the
high outlet pressure forces it up to a height where it is required. Of course, work has to be
done by a prime-mover on the pump to enable it to impart energy to the fluid.

A liquid pump is generally placed at a certain height of the liquid surface in the reservoir, the
depth from which liquid has to be sucked by a pump is equivalent to its Suction Head .The
surface from where the water is drawn is usually exposed to the atmosphere and theoretical
suction head is then equal to atmospheric pressure i.e. 10.3 m of water. In practice, however,
it is never more than B m partly because of frictional losses and partly because of the fact that
under a definite minimum absolute pressure, water would evaporate. The delivery head is
equivalent to the vertical height to which the liquid can be raised above the centre line of the
pump.

Fig: 1 components of a pump

CLASSIFICATION OF PUMPS

COMPARISON OF POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS OF WITH NON-

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMPS:

Positive displacement pump Non-Positive displacement pump

(i) Flow is proportional to their Pressure produced is proportional

displacement and rotor speed to the rotor speed.
(ii) Pump outflow is constant and not Pump outflow is not constant and
depend on system pressure depend on system pressure

(iii) Small,Compact, occupies less Occupies 6 to 8 times the space

floor space. required for horizontal centrifugal
pump.

(iv) High volumetric effieciency Low volumetric effieciency

(v) Wider operating range operating range is rare.

(v) Majority of pumps are under these Few pumps are under these catogery
catogery

(vi) initial cost is high and more Low initial cost and minimum
maintenance maintenance

(vii) Operation is not simple Simplicity of operation and high

reliability

(viii) It cannot handle viscous liquids Capable of handling any type of

because valves cause trouble fluid,for example sludge and slurries

(ix) Examples are reciprocating pump, Examples are centrifugal,axial and

rotary pumps radial flow pumps

The advantages of the reciprocating pump over the centrifugal type are as follows:

(1) The reciprocating pump can build up very high pressures, up to 700 kg/cm2 or even
more,

(2) The efficiency of reciprocating pump is more than that of centrifugal pump to handle
small discharge at a high head. It many be as high as 90%.
The centrifugal pump of today is made by 250 years old evolution. It has now attained a high
degree of perfection. It is widely used as can be coupled directly to electric motors, steam
turbines etc.

CENTRIFUGAL PUMP:

The centrifugal pump is a contrivance to raise liquids from a lower to a higher level by
creating the required pressure with the help of centrifugal action. In general it can be defined
as a machine which increases the pressure energy of a fluid, as a pump may not be used to lift
water at all, but just to boost the pressure in a pipe line. Whirling motion is imparted to the
liquid by means of backward curved blades mounted on a wheel known as the impeller.
liquid enters the impeller at its centre technically known as the eye of the pump and
discharges into the casing surrounding the impeller The pressure head developed by
centrifugal action is entirely due to the velocity imparted to the liquid by the rotating impeller
and not due to any displacement of impact.

The pump is usually named after the type or its casing (volute of diffusion).
Diffusion casing is equipped with vanes and its design is adopted from the Francis turbine.
The pump provided with it is therefore called a turbine pump. Vertical turbine pumps which
are particularly suited for pumping water from deep wells are often called deep well pump.

Principle and Operation:

The basic principle on which centrifugal pump functions has been explained earlier the first
step in the operation of a pump is priming that is, the suction pipe and casing are filled with
water so that no air pocket is left. Now the revolution of the pump impeller effects a
reduction of pressure at the centre. This causes the water in the suction pipe to rush into the
eye. The speed of the pump should be high enough to produce centrifugal her sufficient to
initiate discharge against the delivery head.

Mechanical action of the pump is to impart a velocity to the water. A water particle with a
given velocity will rise to the same vertical height through which any particle should fall
freely under gravity in order to attain the same velocity starting from rest. The required
relation therefore is:

2
 = 2gH Or H =
2g

Thus if the outlet velocity of water in a pump is , the pump or theoretically delivery against
TYPE OF CASING:

Pump casing should be so designed as to minimize the loss of kinetic energy through eddy
formation. Efficiency of the pump largely depends on the type of casing

Casing can be classified in to three types:

a) Volute casing.

b) Vortex casing.

c) Volute casing with guide vanes.

a) Volute casing:

In a volute chamber, the impeller is surrounded by a spiral casing as shown in fig:5 such a
casing provides a gradual increase in the area of flow, which decreases the velocity of water,
with a corresponding increase in pressure. A considerable loss will take place due to the
formation of eddies in this type of casing.

b) Vortex casing:

Fig: 6 Vortex casing

It is a improved type of a volute casing, in which the spiral casing is combined with a circular
chamber as shown in fig: 6. In a vortex casing, the eddies are reduced to considerable extent
and an increased efficiency is obtained.

c) Volute casing with guide vanes:

Fig: 7 Volute casing with guide vanes

In this type of casing there are guide blades surrounding the impeller as shown in fig: 7 these
guide vanes are arranged at such an angle, that the water enters without shock and forms a
passage of increasing area, through which the water passes and reaches the delivery pipe. The
ring of the guide blades is called diffuser and is very efficient.

LAYOUT OF A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP:

The main accessories are (refer fig:1):

a) Impeller

b) Casing

c) Suction pipe with a foot valve and strainer

d) Delivery pipe

a) Impeller

The impeller is the main rotating part that provides the centrifugal acceleration to
the fluid. It consists of a series of backward curved vanes. The impeller is
mounted on a shaft which is connected to the shaft of an electric motor. Impellers
 may be open, semi-open or closed. For incompressible fluids(water)backward
curved vanes are used (pumps) for compressible fluids(air) forward curved vanes
are used.

b) Casing

The casing of a centrifugal pump is very similar to the casing of a reaction turbine. It is an air
tight passage surrounding the impeller and is designed in such a way that the kinetic energy
of fluid discharged at the outlet of the impeller is converted into pressure energy before the
fluid leaves the casing and enters the delivery pipe.The following are the three types of casing
that are normally used.

1. Volute casing

2. Vortex casing

3. Casing with guide blade

(c) Suction pipe with a foot valve and strainer

The pipe which connects the centre or eye of the impeller to sump from which fluid is to be
lifted is known as suction pipe. In order to prevent the formation of air pockets the pipe is
laid air tight. To prevent the entry of solid particles, debris etc.into the pump, the suction pipe
is provided with a strainer t its lowest end. The lower end end of the pipe is also fitted with a
non-return foot valve which does not permit the liquid to drain out of the suction pipe when
the pump is not working, this also helps in priming

(d) Delivery pipe

A pipe whose one end is connected to the outlet of the pump and other end delivers fluid at a
required height is known as delivery pipe.A regulating valve is provided on the delivery pipe
to regulate the supply of water.

WORK DONE BY THE CENTRIFUGAL PUMP (OR BY IMPELLER) ON WATER:

A centrifugal pump is the reverse of a radially inward flow reaction turbine. But in case of a
radially inward flow reaction turbine, the work done by the water on the runner per second
per unit weight of the water striking per second is given by the equation (18.19) as

1
=  Vw1 u1 − Vw 2 u 2 
8

 Work done by the impeller on the water per second per unit weight of water
striking per second

= - [Work done in case of turbine]

1
8
( )
 1
=  Vw1 u1 − Vw 2 u 2  =  Vw 2 u 2 − Vw1 u1 
 g

=
1
Vw u 2
g 2
( Vw1 = 0 here ) (1)

Work done by impeller on water per second

W
= .Vw 2 u 2 (2)
g

where W = weight of water =  × g × Q

where Q = Volume of water.

and Q = Area × Velocity of flow = D1B1  Vf1

= D2B2  Vf2 (2A)

Where B1 and B2 are width of impeller at inlet and outlet and Vf1 and Vf2 are velocities of

flow at inlet and outlet.

Equation (19.1) gives the head imparted to the water by the impeller or energy given by
impeller to water per unit weight per second.

EFFICIENCIES OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMP

(a) Overall Efficiency :

The overall efficiency of a pump is:

Fluid or water horsepower output WHP

overatt = =
horsepower input to pump shaft SHP

This is also known as gross efficiency or actual efficiency.

(b)Mechanical Efficiency:

is the ratio of the power delivered by the impeller to the fluid, to the horsepower input to the
pump shaft, ie,
 ( SHP ) − Pmach toss
=
SHP

(c) Volumetric Efficiency:

Q
Q = (25)
Q + Q

Where, Q = discharge delivered by the pump.

Q = amount of leakage.

(d) Manometric Efficiency :

actual measured head or gross lift

mano =
head imparted to fluid by impeller

 Q + Q 
  .H mano
=
H mano
=  75 
u 2 .vu 2 SHP − Pmech toss
g

This is also known as hydraulic efficiency

SPECIFIED SPEED:

It is defined as the speed of a turbine which is identical in shape,

geometrical dimensions, blade angles, gate opening etc., with the actual turbine but of such a
size that it will develop unit power when working under unit head. It is denoted by the
symbol Ns. The specific speed is used in comparing the different types of turbines as every
type of turbine has different specific speed. Mathematically,

Specific speed, Ns =N√Q/H^3/4

Where Ns is the specific speed of the pump

N is the speed of the impeller of a pump measured in RPM

H is the head of the pump measured in M

Q is the discharge of the pump measured in cubic metres per second

Significance of Specific Speed:

As in turbines, the specific speed of pumps is used for the selecting the type of
centrifugal pump. Following table gives the type of centrifugal pump used for the
corresponding specific speed.

SL NO Specific speed Speed Type of pump

1 10 to 30 Slow Radial flow

2 30 to 50 Normal Radial flow

3 50 to 80 High Radial flow

4 80 to 160 High Mixed flow

5 160 to 500 High Axial flow

6 Above 500 Very high Propeller

HEAD OF A PUMP:

The term head of a pump stands for the following heads:

a) Suction head

b) Delivery head

c ) Static head.

d) Manometric head.

e) Total gross or effective head.

a) Suction head

It is the vertical height between the fluid level in the sump and the centre of the pump
impeller. This distance or height is also called as suction lift and is denoted by hs

b) Delivery head

It is the vertical height between the fluid level in the discharge tank and the centre of the
pump impeller. This distance or height is also called as discharge lift and is denoted by hd

c)Static head:

It is the sum of the suction and delivery heads. Suction head is the vertical height
of the centre line of the pump shaft above the surface of a available liquid. The lower surface
from which it is being raised. Delivery head is the vertical height measured from the centre
line of main pump shaft to where the liquid is delivered.

a) Manometric head:

Manometric head is the head measured across the pump inlet and outlet
flanges. It is expresses the increase in pressure energy per unit weight of liquid handed by the
impeller. Thus the manometric head is the difference between the delivery and the suction
pressure heads plus the vertical distance between the pressure tapping for the suction and the
delivery gauge. The manometric head includes all losses against which the pump has to work
except the kinetic head.

b) Total gross or effective head:

This is the actual head against which the pump has to do work. It is
equal to the static head plus all the head losses occurring in flow before, through and after the
impeller. It is equal to the increase in total energy of the liquid between the inlet and out let.

Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH):

NPSH is defined as the net head in metres of liquid required to

force the liquid into the pump through .the suction pipe. It is equal to the barometric head
minus the sum of static suction head, vapour pressure head, friction head loss and kinetic
head. For details of NPSH the reader may refer to the book on "Centrifugal Pump and
Blowars" by Prof. A.H. Church and the author. The value of NPSH can be altered to suit the
conditions by installing the pump near the -pump and changes made in the pipe system. The
factors effecting the NPSH arc diameter of suction pipe ds, inlet and outlet diameters of
impeller d, and d shape and number of' impeller vanes, area of flow between vanes and shaft
diameter.

PRIMING OF PUMP:

Before starting a pump, its impeller and suction pipe have to be filled with water in order to
remove any air, gas or vapour from the waterways of the pump. If a centrifugal pump is not
primed before starting, air pockets inside the impeller may give rise to vortices and-cause
discontinuity of flow. The wearing rings may rub and seize causing serious damage if the
pump is allowed to run dry. It is also essential that packing be lubricated by liquid leaking
past it.
Originally, 'priming is done by pouring water through a funnel, displaced air being allowed to
escape through air vents. When a pump is being primed or stopped, the delivery valve should
be kept closed.

Necessity of priming is the main disadvantage of a centrifugal pump. To overcome this

difficulty, the following methods are employed in practice:

(a) The pump is installed below the suction water level;

(b) The pump is equipped with one of the priming or self-priming devices given in
the next article.

CAVITATION

In any region of fluid flow, there is chance of formation of vapour bubbles. When
the pressure of the flowing fluid is less than its vapour pressure, the fluid starts boiling and
vapour bubbles are formed. When these vapour bubbles moves towards a zone of high
pressure,they condense and finally collapse. Sudden collapsing of these vapour bubbles in a
region of high pressure may create a very high pressure as high as 101 bar,thereby a
tremendous shock (pitting action) on the adjacent wall. This may cause a local mechanical
failure of the solid surface. The growth and decay of vapour bubbles adversely affect the
performance of a hydraulic machine and the ultimate affect may be the breakdown of the
machine itself due to severe pitting and erosion of blade surface in region of cavitation.This
phenomenon is called as cavitation

The harmful effects of cavitation are :

(i) Damage to vane due to pitting and erosion of surface due to continous hammering action
of collapsing bubbles.

(ii) Reduced head, power and effiency of the pump.

(iii) Noise and vibration produced by the pitting action.

The following factors may aid the cavitation to a large extend

(i) High runner speed

(ii) Restricted suction

(iii) Too high specific speed

(iv) Too high temperature of the flowing liquid.

CHARACTERISTIC CURVES OF CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

Characteristic curves of centrifugal pumps are defined those curves which are plotted from-
the results of a member of tests on the centrifugal pump. These curves are necessary to
predict the behavior and performance of the pump when the pump is working under different
flow rate, head and speed. The followings are the important characteristic curves for pumps:

1. Main characteristic curves,

2. Operating characteristic curves, and

3. Constant efficiency or Muschel curves.

Main Characteristic Curves:

The main characteristic curves of a centrifugal pump consists of variation of head

(manometric head, Hm), power and discharge with respect to speed. For plotting curves of
manometric head versus speed, discharge is kept constant. For plotting curves of discharge
versus speed, manometric head (Hm) is kept constant. And for plotting Curves of power
versus speed, the mnnometric head and discharge are kept constant. Fig. 12 shows main
characteristic 'curves of a pump.

Fig: 12Main Characteristic Curves

Operating Characteristic Curves.

If the speed is kept constant, the variation of manometric head, power and efficiency with
respect to discharge given the operating characteristics of the pump. Fig.:13 show the
operating characteristic curves of a pump.
 Fig: 13 Operating Characteristic Curves.

Constant Efficiency Curves.

For obtaining constant efficiency curves for a pump, the head versus discharge
curves and efficiency versus discharge curves for different speeds are used. Fig. 14 (a) shows
the head versus discharge curves for different speeds. The efficiency versus discharge curves
for the different speeds are as shown in Fig. 14 (b). By combining these curves (H-Q curves
and  -Q curves), constant efficiency curves are obtained as shown in Fig. 14(a).

Fig:14
 For plotting the constant efficiency curves horizontal lines representing constant
efficiencies are drawn on the  -Q curves. The points, at which these lines cut the efficiency
curves at various speeds, are transferred to the corresponding H-Q curves. The points having
the same efficiency are then joined by smooth curves. These smooth curves represents the
iso-efficency curves.

MULTISTAGE CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS:

If a centrifugal pump consists of two or more impellers, the pump is called a multistage
centrifugal pump. The impellers may be mounted on the same shaft or on different shafts. A
multistage pump is having the following two important functions:

1. To produce a high head, and

2. To discharge a large quantity of liquid.

If a high head is to be developed, the impellers are connected in series (or on the same shaft)
while for discharging large quantity of liquid, the impellers (or pumps) are connected in
parallel.

Multistage Centrifugal Pumps for High Heads.

For developing a high head, a number of impellers are mounted in series or on the same shaft
as shown in Fig. 17

Fig:17

The water from suction pipe enters the 1st impeller at inlet and is discharged at
outlet with increased pressure. The water with increased pressure from the outlet of the 1st
impeller is taken to the inlet of the 2nd impeller with the help of a connecting pipe as shown
in Fig. 1912. At the outlet of the 2nd impeller, the pressure of water will be more than the
pressure of water at the outlet of the 1st impeller. Thus if more impellers are mounted on the
same shaft, the pressure at the outlet will be increased further.

Let n = Number of identical impellers mounted on the same shaft,

Hm = Head developed by each impeller.

Then total head developed

= n × Hm The discharge passing through each impeller is same.

Multistage Centrifugal Pumps for High Discharge:

Fig:18

For obtaining high discharge, the pumps should be connected in parallel as shown in fig. 18.
Each of the pumps lifts the water from a common pump and discharges water to a common
pump and discharges water to a common pipe to which the delivery pipes of each pump is
connected. Each of the pump is working against the same head.

Let n = Number of identical pumps arranged in parallel.

Q = Discharge from one pump.

 Total discharge = n × Q.
MAIN PARTS OF A RECIPROCATING PUMP:

The followings are the main parts of a reciprocating pump as shown in Fig.1:

Fig: 1

1. A cylinder with a piston, piston rod, connecting rod and a crank,

2. Suction pipe,

3. Delivery pipe,

4. Suction valve, and

5. Delivery valve.

WORKING OF A RECIPROCATING PUMP:

Fig. 1 shows a single acting reciprocating pump, which consists of a piston which moves
forwards and backwards in a close fitting cylinder. The movement of the piston is obtained
by connecting the piston rod to crank by means of a connecting rod, The crank is rotated by
means of an electric motor. Suction and delivery pipes with suction valve and delivery valve
are connected to the cylinder. The suction and delivery valves are one way valves or non-
return valves, which allow the water to flow in one direction only. Suction" valve allows
water from suction pipe to the cylinder which delivery valve allows water from cylinder to
delivery pipe-only.

When crank starts rotating, the piston moves to and fro in the cylinder. When crank is at A,
the piston is at the extreme left position in the cylinder. As the crank is rotating from A to C,
(i.e., from 0 = 0 to 6 = 180°) the piston is moving towards right in the cylinder. The
movement of the piston towards right creates a partial vacuum in the cylinder. But on the
surface of the liquid in the sump atmospheric pressure is acting, which is more than the
pressure inside the cylinder. Thus the liquid is forced in the suction pipe from the sump. This
liquid opens the suction valve and enters the cylinder.

When crank is rotating from C to A (i.e., from 8 = 180° to 9 = 360°), the piston from its
extreme right position starts moving towards left in the cylinder. The movement of the piston
towards left increases the pressure of the liquid inside the cylinder more than atmospheric
pressure. Hence suction valve closes and delivery valve opens. The liquid is forced into the
delivery pipe and is raised to a required height.

CLASSIFICATION OF RECIPROCATING PUMPS:

The reciprocating pumps, may be classified as:

1. According to cycle of operation

a) Single acting pump –Liquid acting only one side of the piston

b) Double acting pump - Liquid acting two sides of the piston

2. According to number of cylinders

(a) Single cylinder pump

(b) Multi cylinder pump

3. According to the position of cylinders

(a) Horizontal pump

(b) Vertical pump

4. According to the pumping element

(a) Plunger pump

(b) Piston pump

(c) Bucket pump

(d) Diaphragm pump

5. According to the arrangement of cylinders.

(a) Single
 (b) Duplex pump

(c) Triplex pump

Comparison between centrifugal pump and Reciprocating pump

Centrifugal pump Reciprocating pump

1.Flow is smooth and even 1. Flow is intermittent

2. Weight of the pump is less for given 2. Weight of the pump is more for given delivery
delivery rate rate

3. It is compact and occupies less floor space 3. Floor space is more than centrifugal pump

4. Initial cost is less 4. Initial cost is more

5. No air vessel is required 5. Air vessel is required

6. It requires priming 6. It does not requires priming

7. It is suitable for large discharge and small 7. It is suitable for low discharge and high head
head

8.It can handle viscous liquids

9. The pump can run at high speed
10. Maintenance cost is less
11. Efficiency of low head pump is high
12. Installation is easy
8. It cannot handle viscous liquids
9. The pump cannot run at high speed
10. Maintenance cost is more
11.Efficiency of low head pump is low
12. Installation is difficult

Discharge ( reciprocating pump)

𝐿𝐴𝑁 ( for a single acting reciprocating pump)

=
60
2𝐿𝐴𝑁 ( f or a doubl e act ing rec Ip rocatin g pu mp)
𝑄=
60
 Slip
Slip of pump is defined as the difference between the theoretical discharge
(Qth) and actual discharge

𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑝 = 𝑄𝑡ℎ𝑒 − 𝑄𝑎𝑐𝑡

𝑄𝑡ℎ𝑒 − 𝑄𝑎𝑐𝑡
%𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑝 = ∗ 100
𝑄𝑡ℎ𝑒

Cd = Actual discharge
Theoretical discharge

Power requirement for reciprocating pump

Power required to drive a single acting reciprocating pump =

Negative Slip:-

In most of the cases, the slip is positive. But in some cases, the actual discharge of the pump
may be more than the theoretical discharge in which case Cd will be more than one and the

slip will be negative, which is known as negative slip. This occurs in pumps having long
suction pipe and low delivery head, especially when these are running at high speed.This is
due to the reason that the inertia pressure in the suction pipe becomes so large that it causes
the delivery valve to open before the suction stroke is completed. Thus, some liquid is pushed
directly into the delivery pipe even before the delivery stroke is commenced. This results in
making the actual discharge more than the theoretical discharge.

AIR VESSELS

Air vessel is a cast iron closed chamber containing compressed air in the upper part and
liquid being pumped in the lower part. It has an opening at its base through which water
flows in and out. One air vessel is fitted on suction pipe just near the suction valve and one is
fitted on the delivery pipe near the delivery valve. The function and uses of air vessel as
follows

(i) To get continuous and smooth supply of liquid at uniform rate.

(ii) To run the pump at higher speed without any danger of separation the air vessels and the
pump

(iii) To save the power to run the pump by reducing the acceleration, retardation and friction
heads and thereby

Consider an air vessel fitted to the delivery pipe as shown in figure. During the first half of
the delivery stroke, piston moves with acceleration, thus forcing the water into the delivery
pipe with a velocity more than the mean velocity. The excess flow of water, flows into the
air vessel thus compressing the air inside the vessel.

During the second half of the delivery stroke, the piston moves with retardation
thus forcing the water into the delivery pipe, with a velocity less than the mean velocity.The
water, stored in the air vessel,then starts flowing into the delivery pipe, thus making up the
deficiency of the flow.Thus the discharge in the delivery pipe, beyond the air vessel, is more
or less uniform.

HYDRAULIC RAM

Hydraulic ram is a pump which can be used to lift small quantity of water to a larger height.
So ,it is suitable where large quantity of water available at low head. It does not require any
prime mover or any external power. It works on the principle of water hammer.

It consists of a valve box or chamber connected to a low level water source through an
inclined supply pipe. At the other end of the supply pipe is fitted with a gate valve. The valve
box is fitted with a waste valve and a delivery valve. Both valves are non-return type which
allows the flow only in one direction. The delivery valve is fitted to an air vessel.

At starting, the gate valve and the delivery valve remains closed and the waste valve
remains open. Now the gate valve is opened and the water from the source starts flowing into
the valve box through the supply pipe and the level of water rises in the chamber and the
waste valve begins to rise upward to close it. It may be noted that some water escape through
the waste valve opening. Due to increase in pressure, at one stage, the waste valve closes
suddenly. But supply from the source is continuing. This produces water hammering due to
the inertia of flowing of flowing water.So,a thrust is produced in the valve box which is
sufficient to open the delivery valve. The water entering the air vessel compresses the air
already present in the air vessel. In this way the pressure in the air vessel rises and ultimately
closes the delivery valve. Now the water in the air vessel is forced by the compressed air to
flow through the delivery pipe. Under this condition both the delivery and waste valves are
closed. When water in the chamber loses its momentum, the waste valve opens and water
from the chamber goes out through the waste valve. Now the flow through the supply pipe
begins again the operation repeats

AIRLIFT PUMP.

An air lift pump is a simple pumping device used to lift water from a deep well or sump by
utilizing the compressed air.

It consists of an air compressor and an air pipe line fitted with nozzle at the one end and an
open vertical delivery pipe or raising main encloses the nozzle. The nozzle is located h meter
below the water level surface as shown in figure. The compressed air is introduced at the
bottom of the rising main and it issues from a set of air nozzles in the form of a fine spray.

The air mixes with the rising main and reduces the density of air-water mixture. As soon as
the pressure of the column of air-water mixture in the rising main of height H becomes less
than the pressure due to the height of water column in the deep well,the water begins to flow
at the outlet of the rising main .The flow rate depends upon the density of mixture in the
rising main/delivery pipe.

An air lift pump does not require a prime mover and it can pump water with solid particles
without any damage to the system. It is suitable for draining water in the mines where
compressor units are already installed. The efficiency of the pump varies from 20 to 40%

JET PUMP

It is a pumping device works under the principle of Bernoulli’s theorem. It is used for feeding
water to boiler against boiler pressure. In this device steam or water under high pressure is
passed through a pipe containing a nozzle at its end. The nozzle is placed in a venture pipe as
shown in figure. While passing through the nozzle, most of the pressure energy of working
medium(ie, water or steam) is converted into kinetic energy. As a result, pressure around the
nozzle drops much below atmospheric pressure. This causes flow water ( to be delivered ) to
flow through the suction pipe. The two flows a meet in the throat of the venture pipe. This
portion is known as mixing nozzle. The mixing of the two flows in the mixing nozzles results
in increase in pressure. There is further increase in pressure in the diffuser due to the decrease
in velocity in the diffuser.

The major advantage of this pump is that it requires no prime mover and the liquid can be
pumped from a great depth. Jet pumps are often, used in mines and for pumping oil. These
are also used to feed steam boilers. Its main advantage is that the suction limit can be raised
by about 6m of water head from the normal value.