The More You Know: Modern Pump Theory and Design

No matter the size of your New York City property, you surely have at least one pump in it. Pumps have been around in various iterations for thousands of years, although today’s pumps are more efficient and specialized than ever. We’re going to dive into modern pump theory and design to give you a better understanding of the pumps in your building.

The Two Basic Types of Pumps

Pumps have one basic function: to move fluid from one area (the inlet, or entrance to the pump, AKA suction side) to another (the outlet, or discharge side of the pump). There are two types of pumps commonly in use today. They are found in automobiles, manufacturing systems, plumbing, and more. Recognizing the difference between the two is essential when it comes to repairs or explaining pump problems to your local expert.

Positive displacement pumps

Positive displacement pumps have been around the longest, as far as historians know. While the technology used in these pumps has evolved from the Industrial Revolution to the Computer Age, the principles behind them remain the same.

A positive displacement pump operates by creating a vacuum, which is a change in pressure. Air is pushed out of the way, drawing fluid into its place, much like drinking from a straw. This process happens repeatedly, allowing large volumes of fluid to be moved very quickly.

Positive displacement pumps use various elements to move fluid. You’ve probably seen pumps that used a screw (this design goes back thousands of years), a flexible diaphragm, or a piston. These elements are powered by a motor, which may in turn receive power from electricity, steam, hydraulics, or internal combustion. You’ll see these pumps used in multiple applications, such as spray painting, power washing, water treatment, and industrial processes.

Centrifugal pumps

As common as positive displacement pumps are, in your property, you are much more likely to have centrifugal pumps operating. As the name implies, this type of pump uses centrifugal force to move fluid. You’ve surely felt a centrifugal force on amusement park rides or on curved highway exit ramps. It’s an outward force experienced in a rotating frame of reference. Other common items that harness centrifugal force include:

Salad spinners
Clothes washers on the spin cycle
Centrifuge machines used in laboratories, such as for separating the components of blood

The key element inside a centrifugal pump is the impeller. This part looks like a vane or fan with blades that turn and move fluid. When the impeller spins very quickly, centrifugal force is responsible for moving the fluid, such as water being distributed in your plumbing system.

A shaft connects the motor driving the pump to the impeller. Axial flow centrifugal pumps move fluid parallel to the shaft, while radial flow pumps move fluid perpendicular to the shaft. The impellers may be open, closed on one side, or completely encased (AKA shrouded). In most pumps you’ll find on your property, the motor is powered by electricity.

Important Pump Parts

Most often in need of repair

Modern pumps rely on a variety of other parts besides shafts, motors, and impellers or elements performing the displacement of fluid, like pistons. These components take just as much wear and tear, and we often see them in need of repair when making service calls. Fortunately, these parts can often be fixed or replaced, extending the life of the pump:

Casing – a protective cover for the pump that keeps liquids contained, protects the pump’s internal components, and makes the pump safer for people working around it
Mounting – an attachment system to affix the pump to a surface so it doesn’t move around
Gaskets and seals – keep parts separate from each other and maintain separation between the interior of the pump and the exterior environment
Strainers – filter particulate matter and debris to keep these things out of the pump mechanism to avoid clogs and breakdowns
Bearings – reduce friction in conjunction with lubrication
Valves – control the flow of fluid in the pump mechanism

Modern Pump Technology

Innovation improving efficiency

Advances in pump technology are ongoing, and you can benefit from these innovations with every new pump system you use. Just a few of the more recent improvements include:

Booster pumps that function as part of a pump system to enhance power (such as those found in New York City skyscrapers)
Fully submersible pumps
Much smaller pumps and motors that take up significantly less space
Pumps designed to handle previously difficult fluids, like emulsions
Material technology resistant to corrosion and other types of wear and tear
Variable speed motors that change based on sensors without manual input
Monitors to identify and eliminate cavitation (fluid vaporization that occurs when vapor pressure exceeds net pressure, damaging the impeller and reducing pump efficiency)
Mounting systems that reduce or eliminate noise and vibration
Gaskets that resist hardening and cracking
Automatic lubrication systems to aid with maintenance
Automated systems to manage pump settings in the absence of human control
Computer hardware and software to diagnose pump problems

New York City’s Pump Experts: Antler Pumps

Hyper-local, blue-chip pump professionals

As New York City’s pump experts for nearly a century, Antler Pumps has seen incredible changes in pump technology and how innovation has benefited property owners and managers. We stay on the cutting edge of this space, always ready to bring our clients the latest in pump models, components, and repair methods.

We have our own repair shop for ultra-fast service and are specialists when it comes to:

Pump controls
Condensate pumps
Submersible and ejector pumps
Circulator pumps
Cooling tower pumps
Fire suppression system pumps
Roof tank fill pumps
Booster pumps

If any pump in your property needs routine maintenance, repair, or replacement, make Antler Pumps the experts you reach out to. Call us at 212-534-2500, or use our easy online form to set up an appointment at your convenience.