If you ever wonder how our faucets deliver clean and fresh water, the answer is in the pumping system. The pumps are devices that transfer water from point A to point B. The pressure is employed to overcome resistance along the water’s path. The pumping station is where the transport and distribution of freshwater take place, making it available for human, industrial, and agricultural use.
There are various types of pumping systems, each with different properties and features. In Australia, several brands of pumps are available, including high-quality Onga pumps.
So, what are the different types of pumping systems?
Centrifugal Pump
Centrifugal pumps are the most common type used for industrial applications. Its assembly composes of the pump shaft mounted on bearings, a sealing mechanism to prevent leakage, structural components that are designed to withstand stresses and loads, and wear surfaces for repairing and restoration purposes. Generally speaking, this the most economical type of pump.
Rotation is the method used in a centrifugal pump to impart velocity to the water. The hydraulic component that rotates the pumped liquid is called an impeller, and every centrifugal pump has this. To understand how this works, picture a boat with a propeller that rotates rapidly to set the boat in motion. The same principle is applied to a centrifugal pump. As the impeller turns, the centrifugal force causes the water to move rapidly along the vanes until it exits the perimeters of the impeller at a high velocity.
Positive Displacement Pump
In this pump, the water is taken from one end and positively dispensed at the other end. Positive displacement pumps are also used for other viscous fluids besides water.
In every revolution, a fixed quantity of water is pumped out. The process of fluid displacement occurs in some parts namely the plunger, piston, and diaphragm, to mention a few. To have a better understanding, this time, picture a syringe with a piston inside. As the piston is pulled, the cavity expands, allowing fluid to enter into the syringe’s cylinder. When you push the piston, the cavity will decrease, and the fluid will be shot out from the pressure of the piston being pushed up.
There are three classifications of this pump. One is the reciprocating pump, which is used for viscous liquids and oil wells. Another is the rotary pump, which is used in areas with particular conditions, like industrial sites. AThe linear pump is used in the sewage for wastewater treatment.
Submersible Pump
This type is used to pump liquid that they’re submerged in. It operates by pushing the liquid up onto the surface. Like centrifugal pumps, submersible pumps also have an impeller. The force of the impeller drives the water around the pump and out through the pipes or hoses on the surface. They are most commonly used in basements, but they can also be found in water treatment and petroleum applications, as well as in construction sites.
Vertical Turbine Pump
These are also centrifugal pumps used to transport water from an underground well or reservoir. Other names for this pump are deep-well pump and line shaft turbine pump. This pump has nothing to do with turbines, despite the name.
When water enters the vertical turbine pump through a suction bell, which is a bell-shaped part found at the bottom, the water would move into the first stage impeller to increase its velocity. The high velocity is converted into high pressure as the water enters a diffuser bowl above the impeller, then the water would be directed into another impeller.
The water would pass through a vertical column pipe after exiting the last diffuser bowl, and then it would rise up to the surface. A vertical turbine pump is used in places where employing a submersible pump is impossible.
The water we consume daily undergoes a tough process before being safe and available for us. Every pump is carefully designed and crafted not only to deliver clean water, but to be used in other liquids for industrial purposes, and for wastewater treatment facilities as well.
