The History of Pumps: Through the Years

The History of Pumps: Through the Years

The history of pumps is a fascinating journey that spans thousands of years. Pumps have been vital in the advancement of human civilization, from the ancient shadoof used by Egyptians around 2000 BC to the modern, technologically advanced equipment we see today. The journey through the evolution of pumps provides insight into the ingenuity and determination that have driven these developments.

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The Early Innovations

Ancient Times to the Renaissance

2000 BC: In ancient Egypt, the shadoof was invented. It was used to lift water from the Nile River for irrigation purposes. This simple, yet effective mechanism consisted of a long, pivoted pole with a bucket on one end and a counterweight on the other.

200 BC: The Greek mathematician Ctesibius created the water organ, an early form of the reciprocating pump, which used air pressure and water to create sound.

200 BC: The Archimedean screw, attributed to Archimedes, became one of the most influential inventions of the time. It is still used today to move water for irrigation and various other applications.

The Renaissance Period

1475: Italian engineer Francesco di Giorgio Martini described a mud lifting machine, which is considered one of the earliest forms of a centrifugal pump.

1588: Agostino Ramelli, an Italian engineer, illustrated a sliding vane water pump in his book "The Diverse and Artifactitious Machines."

1593: The gear pump was conceptualized by Frenchman Nicolas Grollier de Servière.

Developments in the Industrial Revolution

17th to 19th Century

1636: German engineer Pappenheim developed the double deep-toothed rotary gear pump, a breakthrough in engine lubrication technology.

1650: Otto van Guericke invented the piston vacuum pump, which significantly advanced scientific experimentation.

1675: Sir Samuel Moreland patented the packed plunger pump, enhancing the ability to lift water efficiently.

1687: Denis Papin designed the first real centrifugal pump with straight vanes, crucial for local drainage.

Scientific Advances

1738: Daniel Bernoulli introduced Bernoulli's principle in his book "Hydrodynamica," laying the foundation for fluid dynamics and impacting pump designs.

Peerless large split case design from the 1940s being installed in the field. Peerless Pump photo courtesy of Grundfos.

1782: James Watt designed an oscillating piston machine, improving the efficiency of steam engines.

Modern Pump Evolution

19th Century to Early 20th Century

1790: Thomas Simpson introduced steam power to municipal water pumps, laying the groundwork for the London company Simpson and Thompson Co.

1830: The modern screw pump, created by Revillion, aided diverse liquid handling applications.

1845: Henry R. Worthington developed the direct-acting steam pumping engine, leading to the establishment of Worthington Pump.

1849: Goulds cast and assembled the world's first all-metal pump.

1851: British inventor John Appold introduced the curved vane centrifugal pump, increasing efficiency.

Seabury S. Gould, 1848. Photo courtesy of Goulds Pumps.

1857: Worthington's horizontal, duplex, direct-acting steam pumps revolutionized boiler feed processes.

1859: Jacob Edson invented the diaphragm pump and founded the Edson Corporation.

The Technological Boom

20th Century Innovations

1911: Jens Nielsen founded Viking Pump Company, popularizing the internal gear pump design.

1916: Russian inventor Armais Sergeevich Arutunoff developed the submersible pump.

1933: Gorman and Rupp introduced a “non-clogging” feature in pumps, revolutionizing the market.

1955: Jim Wilden invented the air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump technology.

1960: Europump was established, bringing together pump manufacturers across Europe.

1984: The first Texas A&M Pump Users Symposium was held.

Modern Day Contributions

2001: Flowserve introduced its MSP (medium speed pump) equipped with variable frequency drive.

2011: ITT Corporation spun off into Xylem, Inc., focusing on water technology solutions.

Continued Evolution and Future Prospects

Pumps continue to evolve with advancements in technology, materials, and design. The industry's future includes smart pumps, increased energy efficiency, and further integration of digital solutions.

Conclusion

The history of pumps is a testament to human innovation and adaptability. From ancient irrigation techniques to modern engineering marvels, pumps have played a crucial role in various industries and continue to do so, adapting to meet ever-evolving challenges.

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Slurry Pump

A slurry pump is a type of pump designed for pumping liquid containing solid particles. Slurry pumps change in design and construction to adjust to multiple types of slurry, which vary in the concentration of solids, size, shape, and composition of particles. Slurry pumps are more robust than liquid pumps; they have added sacrificial material and replaceable wear parts to withstand wear due to abrasion.

Centrifugal, positive displacement, and vortex pumps can be used for slurry. Centrifugal slurry pumps can have between bearing-supported shafts with split casing or rubber- or metal-lined casing. Configurations include horizontal, vertical suspended, and submersible.

Slurry is usually classified according to the concentration of solids. An engineering classification of slurry is more complex and involves concentration, particle size, shape, and weight to determine abrasion severity. For engineering selection of slurry pumps, slurry is classified as class 1, class 2, class 3, and class 4.

Selection of slurry pumps is more difficult than selecting pumps for water and liquids. Many factors and corrections to the duty point affect brake horsepower and wear. Root-dynamic Centrifugal Slurry Pumps (ANSI/HI 12.1-12.6-2016) provides methods for calculation of slurry pumps. The peripheral speed of the impeller is one of the main features and classifications of slurry pumps. Speed must be in accordance with the slurry type classification (abrasion classification) to maintain a reasonable life in service due to high abrasion of solids.

Before selecting an appropriate slurry pump, engineers consider capacity, head, solids handling capacity, efficiency and power, speed, and NPSH.

Slurry pumps are widely used in the transport of abrasive solids in industries such as mining, dredging, and steel. They are often designed to be suitable for heavy-wearing and heavy-duty uses. Depending on the mining process, some slurries are corrosive, which presents a challenge since corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel are softer than high-iron steel. The most common metal alloy used to build slurry pumps is known as "high chrome," which is basically white iron with 25% chromium added to make it less brittle. Rubber line casings are also used for certain applications where the solid particles are small.

Components

Impeller

The impeller, either elastomer, stainless steel, or high-chrome material, is the main rotating component that normally has vanes to impart the centrifugal force to the liquid.

Casing

Split outer casing halves of cast contain the wear liners and provide high operation pressure capabilities. The casing shape is generally of semi-volute or concentric efficiencies, which are less than that of the volute type.

Shaft and Bearing Assembly

A large diameter shaft with a short overhang minimizes deflection and vibration. Heavy-duty roller bearings are housed in a removable bearing cartridge.

Shaft Sleeve

A hardened, heavy-duty corrosion-resistant sleeve with O-ring seals at both ends protects the shaft. A split fit allows the sleeve to be removed or installed quickly.

Shaft Seal

Expeller drive seal, Packing seal, Mechanical seal.

Types

Submersible

Submersible slurry pumps are placed at the bottom of a tank, lagoon, pond, or another water-filled environment, and suction solids and liquids right at the pump itself. The materials are taken in at the intake and passed through a hose connected to the discharge valve.

Self-Priming

A self-priming slurry pump is operated from land, and a hose is connected to the pump's intake valve. The self-priming pump draws the slurry to the pump and then discharges the material from there.

Flooded Suction

The flooded suction slurry pump is connected to a tank or hopper and uses gravity to move slurry and liquid from the enclosure. Located at the bottom or below the water, the pump uses the force of gravity to continuously fill the pump and then passes the material out through the discharge valve.

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