Function and Uses of Pumps

Uses of Pumps:

• A pump is used to raise pressure of liquids.
• It can handle any kind of liquid, even contaminated with solid particulates to some extent.
• In power plants, pumps are used to handle ash slurry made with water, which is highly erosive in nature.
• In chemical industries, it is used to handle corrosive fluids.

Performance of the pump is affected by the increase in the viscosity of the liquid and the presence of contamination in it.

Function of pumps:

• Function of the pump is to raise pressure of fluid and impart desirable velocity. So that fluid may be transported from one place to another. More is the velocity the more is the flow rate and hence less time required for transportation. However we know that head loss is directly proportional to the square of flow velocity. It therefore requires pressure of the fluid at the outlet of the pump to be more to overcome these losses.
• The main purpose of the pump is to raise the pressure, not the velocity of the fluid.