Pumps 101

If you’re brand new to the world of centrifugal pumps you have a lot of ground to cover. The quickest way to get up to speeds is to survey the landscape and gain an understanding of the most fundamental topics of centrifugal pump design, application, and selection.

The following articles assume no prior pump knowledge, start from the beginning, and cover the basic fundamentals. With these topics under your belt, you’ll be ready to delve into more challenging pump topics.


1. What is a Centrifugal Pump?

After reading this brief article, you’ll know where centrifugal pumps got their name and the basic forces that make a pump work.


2. The Most Important Parts of a Pump: Casings & Impellers

The two main parts of every centrifugal pump are the casing and the impeller. This article explains what these parts do and how they work together to convert rotational energy into liquid flow.


3. What Are the Main Parts of Every Centrifugal Pump?

All centrifugal pumps have several parts in common. These parts perform the same function in every centrifugal pump regardless of type. Read this article to learn what these parts are and what they each do.


4. Common Centrifugal Pump Designs

While there are tens or maybe hundreds of pump manufacturers, and they all produce a unique line of pumps, most of those pumps fall into just a few broad pump design categories. This article introduces the four most common pump designs.


5. How to Read a Pump Curve

Once you’ve been in the pump industry a while, reading a pump curve will be second nature. However, if you’ve never been taught how to read and understand a pump curve, it’s a skill you must master as quickly as possible. This quick guide will have you reading pump curves in just a few minutes.


6. What is NPSH and How Does it Affect Pump Selection

NPSH is one of the most important yet least understood topics related to pump selection and application. While this article just touches the surface, it will prepare you to take on more challenging articles and resources related to this critical centrifugal pump topic.


7. How to Make a Pump Selection

Making a pump selection isn’t just as easy as picking the pump with the best efficiency. There are a lot of factors that must be taken into account when making a pump selection.


8. How to Size an Electric Motor

Should you size an electric motor for the power demanded at the operating condition, at shutoff, at runout, or the maximum horsepower required at any point along the curve. The answer: it depends. Read this article to understand how to size an electric motor for a centrifugal pump.


9. Variable Speed Operation

Many pumps today are designed to operate at a range of speeds. While this is great news for pump system designers and end-users, it adds a layer of complexity for pump suppliers and manufacturers. This article will help you understand how to apply pumps in a variable speed application.


10. Custom Engineered versus Standard Material Pumps

When should the manufacturer’s standard materials of construction be used and when should upgraded custom materials be used? While the answer to this question will vary from one application to the next, this article will help you understand the factors that guide the decision-making process.


11. Centrifugal Pump System Installation

The last step to a successful pump application is to ensure the pump is properly installed. Poor installation can derail an otherwise well-designed application. This article will help you identify the critical areas where extra attention must be paid to ensure a successful installation.