CLASSIFICATIONS OF PUMPS

engineers September 03, 2021

Pumps may be classified on the basis of

¾ The applications they serve ¾ The material from which they are constructed ¾ The liquids they handled ¾ Orientation in space

All these classifications however are limited in scope and tend to substantially overlap each other.

A more basic system of classification first defines the principles by which energy is added to the fluid, goes on to identify the means by which this principle is implemented and finally defines specific geometries commonly employed. Under this system, all pumps may be divided into two major categories:

1. Dynamic – in which energy is added continuously to increase the fluid velocities

2. Displacement - in which energy is periodically added by application of force.