🔧 Pump Selection and Sizing for Mechanical Systems

Pump Types in Mechanical Systems

Pumps transfer fluid by adding energy to increase pressure, flow, or both. In HVAC and mechanical systems, the most common types are centrifugal pumps, which are used for water circulation in hydronic heating, chilled water, condenser water, and domestic water systems. Centrifugal pumps operate on the principle of a rotating impeller imparting kinetic energy to the fluid, which is then converted to pressure in the volute casing. They are reliable, low-maintenance, available in a wide range of sizes, and well suited for variable flow applications with variable speed drives. Positive displacement pumps (gear pumps, piston pumps, peristaltic pumps) are used for viscous fluids, metering applications, and scenarios requiring constant flow regardless of pressure. Most mechanical engineering pump work involves centrifugal pumps.