0.2.3.
1(d) CHAPTER 10 —WATER PUMPING FOR BUILDINGS
handling liquids of high viscosities, such
as heavy fuel oil, paint, etc.
1 0.2.4 Reciprocating Pumps. A reciprocating pump is a posi-
tive displacement unit wherein the pumping action is
accomplished by the forward and backward move -
ment of a piston or plunger inside a cylinder usually
provided with valves. Piston types are used for low
pressure light duty or intermittent service. Less ex-
pensive than the plunger design, but cannot handle
gritty liquids. Plunger types are used for high pressure
heavy duty or continuous service. Suitable for gritty
and foreign material service, and more expensive than
the piston design.
10.2.4.1 Types:
(a) Direct Acting Steam Pumps. This
type has a steam cylinder with no lap
on valves, a water cylinder and a com-
mon piston rod. As there is no lap,
the steam is admitted throughout the
le ng th of th e s tr ok e , he nc e the
pressure volume diagram of the steam
end is a rectangle. Consequently, the
water end flow diagram will also be a
rectangle with the discharge flow
constant throughout the length of
the stroke and going down to zero
value at the instant of reversal of the
piston at the end of each stroke.
(b) Crank and Flywheel Reciprocating
Pump. This type is driven by com-
pound, cross-compound, or triple-ex-
pansion steam engines. In large sizes
such units are known as pumping
engines.
(c) Power Driven Pumps. This type re-
ceives its forward a nd bac kward
motion of the piston and plunger
from the rotary motion of a revolving
crankshaft by means of a crank and
connecting rod.
Reciprocating pumps can be single
a c ting or d oub le a c ting . T h e y c a n
b e s imp le x , d up le x , tr ip le x , e tc . ,
depending on the number of water
cylinders on the machine. Due to the
manner of operation of direct-acting
steam pumps, practically almost all
direct-acting steam pumps are built
double acting.
10.2.4.2 Accessories of Reciprocating Pumps. The
reciprocating pump needs some acces -
sories for better and safe operation be -
sides the piston and cylinder and various
forms of valves used.
( a ) A i r C h a m be r . I ts f unc t io n is t o
smoothen the flow due to the nature
174
of flow of the liquid from such type
of pump. The size of air chamber
requ i red depends on the type of
pump, and generally on the pressure
and length of pipe line. Air chambers
can be placed either on the suction
side or discharge side of the piping
installation.
(b) Pressure Relief Valve. This should be
installed on the discharge side bet-
ween pump and any other valve.
(c) Foot Valve and Strainer. These
should also be installed at the end of
the suc tion p ipe. T he foot -valve
should be of a size at least equal to
the size of the suction pipe. The clear
area of the strainer should be at least
three times the area of the suction
pipe in order to minimize head loss
at this point.
10.2.4.3 Head, Capacity, Efficiencies. The total
head as defined for centrifugal pumps
also applies to reciprocating pumps. It is
the general practice of manufacturers of
reciprocating pumps to state capacities in
terms of piston or plunger displacement
without deduction for the piston rod area
or s lip p a g e , V ol umetr ic ef fic ienc y is
defined as:
Q
e—
Q Q
L
where:
Q= actual volume of liquid dis -
charged
Q + QL = true piston or plunger displace-
ment
QL includes all losses of capacity due to
leakage past piston packing, stuffing
boxes, and valves and also that loss due to
delayed closing of valves. All losses of
capacity given in percentage of the dis-
placement are referred to as slip (1 ev ).
—
In new pumps the slip is of the order of
2%.
10.2.5 Deep Well Pumps:
10.2.5.1 Dee p well pumps may be divided into
plunger or reciprocating, turbine, ejector-
centrifugal types and air lifts.
(a) P l u n g e r P u m p s. Modern plunger
pumps are a refinement of the old
hand pumps that have played such ar
important role in country-home and
small town water supply from wells.
A ball valve, plunger, and check