INTRODUCTION TO POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP

PREPARED BY: MUHAMMAD RIDHWAN ABDUL RASID, MECHANICAL TRAINEE DATE: 24 FEB 10

1. INTRODUCTION
A positive displacement pump is one in which a definite volume of liquid is delivered for each
cycle of pump operation. This volume is constant regardless of the resistance to flow offered by
the system. The positive displacement pump delivers liquid in separate volumes with no delivery
in between, although a pump having several chambers may have an overlapping delivery among
individual chambers, which minimizes this effect. The positive displacement pump differs from
centrifugal pumps, which deliver a continuous flow for any given pump speed and discharge
resistance.

2. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
All positive displacement pumps operate on the same basic principle that can be most easily
demonstrated by considering a reciprocating positive displacement pump consisting of a single
reciprocating piston in a cylinder with a single suction port and a single discharge port as shown
in Figure 1. Check valves in the suction and discharge ports allow flow in only one direction.

Figure 1: A Reciprocating Pump Operation

During the suction stroke, the piston moves to the left, causing the check valve in the suction
line between the reservoir and the pump cylinder to open and admit water from the reservoir.
During the discharge stroke, the piston moves to the right, seating the check valve in the suction
line and opening the check valve in the discharge line. The volume of liquid moved by the pump
in one cycle (one suction stroke and one discharge stroke) is equal to the change in the liquid
volume of the cylinder as the piston moves from its farthest left position to its farthest right
position.

3. BASIC CATEGORIES OF PD PUMP

Positive displacement pumps can be grouped into three basic categories based on their design
and operation. The three groups are reciprocating pumps, rotary pumps, and diaphragm pumps.
A. Reciprocating Pumps
Reciprocating positive displacement pumps are generally categorized in four ways: direct-
acting or indirect-acting; simplex or duplex; single-acting or double-acting; and power
pumps.

i. Direct or Indirect Acting Pumps

Some reciprocating pumps are powered by prime movers such as a reciprocating pump
powered by a reciprocating steam piston. The piston rod may be directly connected to
the liquid piston of the pump or it may be indirectly connected with a beam or linkage.
Direct-acting pumps have a plunger on the pump end that is directly driven by the pump
rod and carries the piston of the power end. Indirect-acting pumps are driven by means
of a beam or linkage connected to and actuated by the power piston rod of a separate
reciprocating engine.

ii. Simplex, Duplex or Triplex Pumps

A simplex pump, sometimes referred to as a single pump, is a pump having a single
pump cylinder. A duplex pump is the equivalent of two simplex pumps placed side by
side on the same foundation.

The driving of the pistons of a duplex pump is arranged in such a manner that when one
piston is on its upstroke the other piston is on its downstroke, and vice versa. This
arrangement doubles the capacity of the duplex pump compared to a simplex pump of
comparable design.

iii. Single or Double Acting Pumps

A single-acting pump is one that takes a suction, filling the pump cylinder on the stroke
in only one direction (suction stroke) and then forces the liquid out of the cylinder on
the return stroke (discharge stroke). A double-acting pump is one that, as it fills one end
of the liquid cylinder, is discharging liquid from the other end of the cylinder. On the
return stroke, the end of the cylinder just emptied is filled, and the end just filled is
emptied. One possible arrangement for single-acting and double-acting pumps is shown
in Figure 2 below.

Figure 2: Single and Double Acting Pumps Operation

 iv. Power Pumps
Power pumps convert rotary motion to low speed reciprocating motion by reduction
gearing, a crankshaft, connecting rods and crossheads. Plungers or pistons are driven by
the crosshead drives. Rod and piston construction, similar to duplex double-acting
steam pumps, is used by the liquid ends of the low pressure, higher capacity units. The
higher pressure units are normally single-acting plungers, and usually employ three
(triplex) plungers. Three or more plungers substantially reduce flow pulsations relative
to simplex and even duplex pumps.

Power pumps typically have high efficiency and are capable of developing very high
pressures. They can be driven by either electric motors or turbines. They are relatively
expensive pumps and can rarely be justified on the basis of efficiency over centrifugal
pumps. However, they are frequently justified over steam reciprocating pumps where
continuous duty service is needed due to the high steam requirements of direct-acting
steam pumps.

In general, the effective flow rate of reciprocating pumps decreases as the viscosity of
the fluid being pumped increases because the speed of the pump must be reduced. In
contrast to centrifugal pumps, the differential pressure generated by reciprocating
pumps is independent of fluid density. It is dependent entirely on the amount of force
exerted on the piston.

B. Rotary Pumps
A rotary pump operates by trapping the liquid in the suction side of the pump casing and
forces it to the discharge side. These pumps are essentially self-priming due to their
capability of removing air from suction lines and producing a high suction lift. It is because
that all the clearances between rotating parts, and between rotating and stationary parts,
be kept to a minimum in order to reduce slippage. Slippage is leakage of fluid from the
discharge of the pump back to its suction.

Due to the close clearances in rotary pumps, it is necessary to operate these pumps at
relatively low speed in order to secure reliable operation and maintain pump capacity over
an extended period of time. Otherwise, the erosive action due to the high velocities of the
liquid passing through the narrow clearance spaces would soon cause excessive wear and
increased clearances, resulting in slippage.

There are many types of positive displacement rotary pumps, and they are normally
grouped into three basic categories that include gear pumps, screw pumps, and moving
vane pumps.

i. Gear Pump

Simple/Spur Gear Pump

The simple gear pump shown in Figure 3 below consists of two spur gears meshing
together and revolving in opposite directions within a casing. Only a few thousandths of an
inch clearance exists between the case and the gear faces and teeth extremities. Any liquid
that fills the space bounded by two successive gear teeth and the case must follow along
with the teeth as they revolve. When the gear teeth mesh with the teeth of the other gear,
the space between the teeth is reduced, and the entrapped liquid is forced out the pump
discharge pipe. As the gears revolve and the teeth disengage, the space again opens on the
suction side of the pump, trapping new quantities of liquid and carrying it around the pump
case to the discharge. As liquid is carried away from the suction side, a lower pressure is
created, which draws liquid in through the suction line.

Figure 3: Spur Gear Pump Operation

With the large number of teeth usually employed on the gears, the discharge is relatively
smooth and continuous, with small quantities of liquid being delivered to the discharge line
rapidly. If designed with fewer teeth, the space between the teeth is greater and the
capacity increases for a given speed; however, the tendency toward a pulsating discharge
increases. In all simple gear pumps, power is applied to the shaft of one of the gears, which
transmits power to the driven gear through their meshing teeth.

There are no valves in the gear pump to cause friction losses as in the reciprocating pump.
The high impeller velocities, with resultant friction losses, are not required as in the
centrifugal pump. Therefore, the gear pump is well suited for
handling viscous fluids such as fuel and lubricating oils.

Helical Gear Pump

The helical gear pump has advantages over the simple spur gear.
In a spur gear, the entire length of the gear tooth engages at the
same time. In a helical gear, only a point of engagement moves
along the length of the gear tooth as the gear rotates. This makes
the helical gear operate with a steadier discharge pressure, fewer
pulsations and quieter than a spur gear pump.

Herringbone Pump
Figure 4: Gear Type
The herringbone gear pump is also a modification of the simple
gear pump. Its principal difference in operation from the simple spur gear pump is that the
pointed center section of the space between two teeth begins discharging before the
divergent outer ends of the preceding space complete discharging. This overlapping tends
 to provide a steadier discharge pressure. The power transmission from the driving to the
driven gear is also smoother and quieter.

Lobe Type Pump

The lobe type pump shown in Figure 5 is another variation of the simple gear pump. It is
considered as a simple gear pump having only two or three teeth per rotor. Some designs
of lobe pumps are fitted with replaceable gibs, that is, thin plates carried in grooves at the
extremity of each lobe where they make contact with the casing. The gib promotes
tightness and absorbs radial wear.

Figure 5: Lobe Type Pump Operation

ii. Screw Pumps

There are many variations in the design of the screw type positive displacement, rotary
pump. The primary differences consist of the number of intermeshing screws involved, the
pitch of the screws, and the general direction of fluid flow. Two common designs are the
two-screw, low-pitch, double-flow pump and the three-screw, high-pitch, double-flow
pump.

Two-Screw, Low-Pitch, Screw Pump

The two-screw, low-pitch, screw pump consists of two screws that mesh with close
clearances, mounted on two parallel shafts. One screw has a right-handed thread, and the
other screw has a left-handed thread. One shaft is the driving shaft and drives the other
shaft through a set of herringbone timing gears. The gears serve to maintain clearances
between the screws as they turn and to promote quiet operation. The screws rotate in
closely fitting duplex cylinders that have overlapping bores. All clearances are small, but
there is no actual contact between the two screws or between the screws and the cylinder
walls.

The complete assembly and the usual flow path are shown in Figure 6. Liquid is trapped at
the outer end of each pair of screws. As the first space between the screw threads rotates
away from the opposite screw, a one-turn, spiral-shaped quantity of liquid is enclosed
when the end of the screw again meshes with the opposite screw. As the screw continues
to rotate, the entrapped spiral turns of liquid slide along the cylinder toward the center
discharge space while the next slug is being entrapped. Each screw functions similarly, and
 each pair of screws discharges an equal quantity of liquid in opposed streams toward the
center, thus eliminating hydraulic thrust. The removal of liquid from the suction end by the
screws produces a reduction in pressure, which draws liquid through the suction line.

Figure 6: Two-Screw Pump Operation

Figure 7: Three-Screw Pump Operation Three-Screw, High-Pitch, Screw Pump

The three-screw, high-pitch, screw pump, shown in Figure 7, has many of the same
elements as the two-screw, low-pitch, screw pump, and their operations are similar. Three
screws, oppositely threaded on each end, are employed. They rotate in a triple cylinder,
the two outer bores of which overlap the center bore. The pitch of the screws is much
higher than in the low pitch screw pump; therefore, the center screw, or power rotor, is
used to drive the two outer idler rotors directly without external timing gears. Pedestal
bearings at the base support the weight of the rotors and maintain their axial position. The
liquid being pumped enters the suction opening, flows through passages around the rotor
housing, and through the screws from each end, in opposed streams, toward the center
discharge. This eliminates unbalanced hydraulic thrust. The screw pump is used for
pumping viscous fluids, usually lubricating, hydraulic, or fuel oil.

iii. Moving Vane Pumps

 The rotary moving vane pump shown in Figure 8 is another type of positive displacement
pump used. The pump consists of a cylindrically bored housing with a suction inlet on one
side and a discharge outlet on the other. A cylindrically shaped rotor with a diameter
smaller than the cylinder is driven about an axis placed above the centerline of the
cylinder. The clearance between rotor and cylinder is small at the top but increases at the
bottom. The rotor carries vanes that move in and out as it rotates to maintain sealed
spaces between the rotor and the cylinder wall. The vanes trap liquid or gas on the suction
side and carry it to the discharge side, where contraction of the space expels it through the
discharge line. The vanes may swing on pivots, or they may slide in slots in the rotor.

Figure 8: Moving Vane Pump Operation

C. Diaphragm Pumps

Diaphragm pumps are also classified as positive displacement pumps because the
diaphragm acts as a limited displacement piston. The pump will function when a diaphragm
is forced into reciprocating motion by mechanical linkage, compressed air, or hydraulic
fluid from a pulsation. The pump construction eliminates any contact between the liquid
being pumped and the source of energy to eliminate the possibility of leakage, which is
important when handling toxic or very expensive liquids. Disadvantages include limited
head and capacity range, and the necessity of check valves in the suction and discharge
nozzles. An example of a diaphragm pump is shown in Figure 20.
 Figure 9: Diaphragm Pump Operation

4. PD PUMP CHARACTERISTIC CURVES

Positive displacement pumps deliver a definite volume of liquid for each cycle of pump
operation. Therefore, the only factor that affects flow rate in an ideal positive displacement
pump is the speed at which it operates. The flow resistance of the system in which the pump is
operating will not affect the flow rate through the pump.

The dashed line in Figure 10 shows actual positive

displacement pump performance. This line reflects the
fact that as the discharge pressure of the pump
increases, some amount of liquid will leak from the
discharge of the pump back to the pump suction,
reducing the effective flow rate of the pump. The rate at
which liquid leaks from the pump discharge to its
suction is called slippage.

PD PUMP PROTECTION
Figure 10: PD Pump Characteristic Curve

Positive displacement pumps are normally fitted with

relief valves on the upstream side of their discharge valves to protect the pump and its
discharge piping from over pressurization. Positive displacement pumps will discharge at the
pressure required by the system they are supplying. The relief valve prevents system and pump
damage if the pump discharge valve is shut during pump operation or if any other occurrence
such as a clogged strainer blocks system flow.