How does a water pump work?
Water pumps draw existing water in to the pump by suction through an inlet point. The inlet point has a lower rate of pressure than the outlet point. A water pump is designed to increase the rate that the water is flowing to create a vacuum. At this point, the outlet point has a high-pressure level which forces out the water.
Water pumps come in various forms, selecting the best one for the application depends on several factors. Things to consider are;
• Water quality - Is the water clean, dirty or foul? Does the water contain any semi-solid or solid matter?
• Amount of water – What is the amount of water to be moved or drained? This is essential as pumps have a maximum flow rate usually in litres per minute.
• Inlet and outlet points - Does the pump selected require solid pipework or hose for the inlet and outlet points. What is the size of the pipework or hose? Are they threaded connections or are do they accept a tube with an O/D in mm?
• Mechanical seals - Are the seals within the pump suitable for the job?
Types of water pump
• Centrifugal water pumps are ideal for pumping higher flow rates
• Dirty water pumps are ideal for pumping dirty or foul water
• Submersible water pumps are ideal for pumping flooded areas, submersible pumps usually have the option of a float switch
• Petrol water pumps are ideal for draining out ditches and trenches
Applications
Water pumps are used in various applications across a wide range of industries. Some of the most common are;
• Waste water processing plants, irrigation and drainage
• Food and beverage production
• Oil and energy, power plants and refineries
• Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
• Water feature and ponds
• Aquarium and fish tanks
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