The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP

Tech Topics: How Pumps Work - Part 1

By Bob Pelikan
January 1, 2007
Figure 1 – The four most common water systems pumps.


What do we mean by the term “pumped water system”? In this series of articles, we will be referring to systems that move ground water from a well to its intended point of use – the types of systems likely to be encountered by well drillers and other ground water professionals. We’ll start with a look at the heart of any pumped water system, the pump.

Water, and other fluids, can be moved in many ways. If water is above where you want it, gravity can get it to its destination. If you need to get it higher than where it is, you’ll need some sort of pump. There are ram pumps, piston pumps, gear pumps, diaphragm pumps, lift pumps, centrifugal pumps, etc., each having its own place in the sun – or under the ground, as the case might be.

Some are positive displacement pumps capable of moving relatively small amounts of fluids at very high pressures, way more than is needed in most water system applications. Others, like the centrifugal pump, don’t produce much pressure or lift, but can move very large amounts of water. However, if configured properly, as will be pointed out later, centrifugal pumps can produce a respectable amount of pressure.

There are four basic types of pumps commonly used in ground water applications. They are the straight centrifugal, the shallow-well jet pump, the deep-well jet pump and the submersible pump. All four types will be described in detail in the coming months. So that you can have a mental image of each, here are brief descriptions and pictures of typical examples of each. You also should know that all four types are variations of the basic centrifugal pump.

1. The straight end-suction centrifugal consists of a motor to provide the energy, an impeller to spin and accelerate the water, a volute to concentrate the water and build pressure, and a housing or case to contain the pressure and provide a place to attach the pipes to the pump. They are called “end suction” because the suction pipe is connected to the end of the pump opposite the motor. An end-suction centrifugal pump can draw water from as deep as 20 feet.

2. A shallow-well jet pump is an end-suction centrifugal pump with an attachment on the front of the pump housing, which boosts the pressure. The attachment, called a jet assembly, uses a venturi to convert some of the energy from the centrifugal portion of the pump into pressure, both positive pushing pressure and negative vacuum-producing pressure. A shallow-well jet pump can draw water from as deep as 25 feet.

3. A deep-well jet pump is similar to a shallow-well jet, but the jet assembly is located down in the well where it pushes the water to the surface instead of pulling it. As you will learn later, there are natural laws governing the depth from which we can pull water to the surface, so having a pump that pushes the water allows us to pump from much deeper wells. A deep-well jet pump can pump from as deep as 150 feet.

4. A submersible pump has the same parts as a straight centrifugal pump, but the parts all are small enough in diameter, even the motor, to fit into a well. Although there are single-impeller submersible pumps used for special applications, most submersible pumps have more than one impeller/volute assembly. Each impeller/volute assembly is called a stage, and each stage adds to the pressure produced by the one before it. For vary deep wells, it is not uncommon to have more than 50 stages. A multi-stage submersible pump can pump from significantly more than 1,000 feet deep.


Figure 2 – Impeller volute assembly.

As mentioned, most water systems pumps, whether they are multi-stage submersible pumps, shallow- or deep-well jet pumps, or end-suction centrifugal pumps, are based on the principle of the centrifugal pump. In a centrifugal pump, an impeller, rotating at high speed, causes water to accelerate as it moves from the inlet, or eye at the center of the impeller, to the outlet at the outside edge of the impeller, creating pressure at the outlet, and a partial vacuum at the inlet. This acceleration is caused by centrifugal force, thus the name “centrifugal pump” (see Figure 2). The amount of pressure that can be produced by a centrifugal pump increases as the diameter of the impeller increases, and as the speed at which the impeller is spinning increases.

The other major component at the wet end of a centrifugal pump (as distinguished from the motor end) is the pump housing, called a volute in an end-suction centrifugal, and a diffuser in a submersible or jet pump. Its purpose is to contain the water pumped by the impeller and to direct it to the pump discharge or to the inlet of the next impeller in a multi-stage pump.

The closeness of the fit between the inlet of the impeller and the pump housing affects the pump’s performance. If there is too much clearance, some of the water that has been pumped through the impeller simply will leak around the impeller and back to the inlet, reducing the discharge pressure and the amount of water delivered. Not only is this fit an important element in the design and manufacture of a pump, it can deteriorate during normal usage, due to corrosion or erosion of the pump’s impeller and housing, decreasing a pump’s performance.

Next month, we will continue this discussion on pump basics with a look at how centrifugal pumps make pressure. ’Til then ….
ND

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Bob is a regular contributor to The Driller. Contact bobpelikan@comcast.net to request a copy of The Pump Book, a compilation of Bob's columns for reference or training available for only $20.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    Environmental Monitoring
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    Markets
    By: Wayne Nash
  • submersible pumps, water well pumps

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Markets
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

MainPhotoTwoBrothers.jpg

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

Tariffs

Tariffs Shake Up the Drilling Industry

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

Subscribe to The Driller Newscast

Related Articles

  • Tech Topics: How Pumps Work - Part 1

    See More
  • Tech Topics: How Pumps Work - Part 2

    See More
  • Tech Topics: Jet Pumps - Part 1

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\ND\new site\water-well-pumps.gif

    Audel Water Well Pumps and Systems Mini-Ref

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Rock-Tech International

    DTH Hammers (2" - 30"), Hammer Bits (2 3/4"- 42"), Std./Custom Hole Openers, PDC Bits, Drag Bits; Lost Bit head retrieval system; Drill Pipe; Tri-Cone TCI and Mill Tooth Rotary Bits.
×

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP