Comparison of pumps

This article lists different types of pump and provides a comparison of certain key design features. Different types of pumps are suitable for different applications, for example: a pump's maximum lift height also determines the applications it can be used for. Low-lift pumps are only suitable for the pumping of surface water (e.g., irrigation, drainage of lands, ...), while high-lift pumps allow deep water pumping (e.g., potable water pumping from wells).[http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ah810e/AH810E05.htm Table of pumps; classification and characteristics]

Direct lift devices

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Pump type ! Cyclic/continuous ? ! Maximum lift height ! Production cost ! Efficiency ! Output ! Size of device ! Fabrication requirements ! Difficulty of production ! Durability ! Difficulty of repair ! Suction lift ?
Continuous bucket pump \| continuous \| 5m-50m \| low-medium \| medium \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Counterpoise lift or Shadoof \| cyclic \| 1m-4m \| low-medium \| low-medium \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Mohte \| cyclic \| 3m-8m \| low-medium \| low \| medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Persian wheel "Tablia" \| continuous \| 3m-10m \| low-medium \| medium \| medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Persian wheel "Zawaffa" \| continuous \| 3m-15m \| medium \| medium-high \| medium-high \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Pivoting gutters and "dhones" \| cyclic \| 1m-1,5m \| low-medium \| low-medium \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Reciprocating bucket hoist \| cyclic \| 100m-500m \| medium-high \| medium \| medium-high \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Rope & bucket and windlass \| cyclic \| 5m-50m \| very low \| very low \| very low \| ? \| ? \| basic \| ? \| ? \| no
Scoops and bailers \| cyclic \| >1m \| very low \| very low \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| basic \| ? \| ? \| no
Scoop wheel "Sakia" \| continuous \| >2m \| medium-high \| medium-high \| medium-high \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Swing basket \| cyclic \| >1m \| very low \| very low \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| basic \| ? \| ? \| no
Waterwheels or noria \| continuous \| >5m \| low-medium \| low-medium \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Watering car \| cyclic \| >3m \| very low \| very low \| very low \| ? \| ? \| basic \| ? \| ? \| no

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Pump type

! Cyclic/continuous ?

! Maximum lift height

! Production cost

! Efficiency

! Output

! Size of device

! Fabrication requirements

! Difficulty of production

! Durability

! Difficulty of repair

! Suction lift ?

Continuous bucket pump

| continuous

| 5m-50m

| low-medium

| medium

| low-medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Counterpoise lift or Shadoof

| cyclic

| 1m-4m

| low-medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Mohte

| cyclic

| 3m-8m

| low-medium

| low

| medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Persian wheel "Tablia"

| continuous

| 3m-10m

| low-medium

| medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Persian wheel "Zawaffa"

| continuous

| 3m-15m

| medium

| medium-high

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Pivoting gutters and "dhones"

| cyclic

| 1m-1,5m

| low-medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Reciprocating bucket hoist

| cyclic

| 100m-500m

| medium-high

| medium

| medium-high

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Rope & bucket and windlass

| cyclic

| 5m-50m

| very low

| ?

| basic

| ?

| no

Scoops and bailers

| cyclic

| >1m

| very low

| low-medium

| ?

| basic

| ?

| no

Scoop wheel "Sakia"

| continuous

| >2m

| medium-high

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Swing basket

| cyclic

| >1m

| very low

| low-medium

| ?

| basic

| ?

| no

Waterwheels or noria

| continuous

| >5m

| low-medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Watering car

| cyclic

| >3m

| very low

| ?

| basic

| ?

| no

Displacement pumps

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Pump type ! Cyclic/continuous ? ! Maximum lift height ! Production cost ! Efficiency ! Output ! Size of device ! Fabrication requirements ! Difficulty of production ! Durability ! Difficulty of repair ! Suction lift ?
Archimedean screw \| continuous \| >2m \| medium \| medium \| medium-high \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Chain (or rope) and washer pump \| continuous \| 3m-20m \| medium-high \| medium-high \| medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Coil pump and spiral pump \| continuous \| >6m \| medium \| medium \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Diaphragm pump \| cyclic \| 5m-10m \| medium \| medium-high \| medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Flash wheel and treadmill \| >2m \| low-medium \| low-medium \| medium-high \| ? \| ? \| ? \| traditional/industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Flexible vane pump \| continuous \| 10m-20m \| medium-high \| medium \| medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Gas or vapour displacement pump \| cyclic \| 5m-50m \| medium \| medium \| medium-high \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no/yes
Gear and lobe pump \| continuous \| 10m-20m \| medium \| low-medium \| very low \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Open screw pump \| continuous \| >6m \| high \| medium-high \| medium-high \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Peristaltic pump \| continuous \| >3m \| medium \| medium \| very low \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Petropump \| continuous \| 10m-100m \| medium-high \| high \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| ?
Porous rope \| continuous \| 3m-10m \| ? \| ? \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Progressive cavity pump (Moyno) \| continuous \| 10m-100m \| medium-high \| medium-high \| medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Piston pump, bucket pump \| cyclic \| 2m-200m \| medium-high \| high \| medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional/industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Plunger pump \| cyclic \| 100m-500m \| high \| medium-high \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| yes
Pulser Pump \| cyclic \| 1-300m \| low-medium \| low \| low-medium \| small-huge \| ? \| traditional \| very high \| easy \| no
Semi-rotary pump \| cyclic \| 5m-10m \| low-medium \| low-medium \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Water ladder \| cyclic \| >2m \| medium \| medium \| medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no

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Pump type

! Cyclic/continuous ?

! Maximum lift height

! Production cost

! Efficiency

! Output

! Size of device

! Fabrication requirements

! Difficulty of production

! Durability

! Difficulty of repair

! Suction lift ?

Archimedean screw

| continuous

| >2m

| medium

| medium-high

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Chain (or rope) and washer pump

| continuous

| 3m-20m

| medium-high

| medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Coil pump and spiral pump

| continuous

| >6m

| medium

| low-medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Diaphragm pump

| cyclic

| 5m-10m

| medium

| medium-high

| medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Flash wheel and treadmill

| >2m

| low-medium

| medium-high

| ?

| traditional/industrial

| ?

| no

Flexible vane pump

| continuous

| 10m-20m

| medium-high

| medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Gas or vapour displacement pump

| cyclic

| 5m-50m

| medium

| medium-high

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no/yes

Gear and lobe pump

| continuous

| 10m-20m

| medium

| low-medium

| very low

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Open screw pump

| continuous

| >6m

| high

| medium-high

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Peristaltic pump

| continuous

| >3m

| medium

| very low

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Petropump

| continuous

| 10m-100m

| medium-high

| high

| low-medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

Porous rope

| continuous

| 3m-10m

| ?

| low-medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Progressive cavity pump (Moyno)

| continuous

| 10m-100m

| medium-high

| medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Piston pump, bucket pump

| cyclic

| 2m-200m

| medium-high

| high

| medium

| ?

| traditional/industrial

| ?

| yes

Plunger pump

| cyclic

| 100m-500m

| high

| medium-high

| low-medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| yes

Pulser Pump

| cyclic

| 1-300m

| low-medium

| low

| low-medium

| small-huge

| ?

| traditional

| very high

| easy

| no

Semi-rotary pump

| cyclic

| 5m-10m

| low-medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Water ladder

| cyclic

| >2m

| medium

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Velocity pumps

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Pump type ! Cyclic/continuous ? ! Maximum lift height ! Production cost ! Efficiency ! Output ! Size of device ! Fabrication requirements ! Difficulty of production ! Durability ! Difficulty of repair ! Suction lift ?
Centrifugal (regenerative) pump \| continuous \| 10m-30m \| medium-high \| medium \| medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Centrifugal (turbine) pump \| continuous \| 3m-200m \| medium-high \| medium-high \| high \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Centrifugal (volute) pump \| continuous \| 3m-20m \| medium \| medium-high \| high \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Flap valve pump \| ? \| 2m-4m \| very low \| low-medium \| very low \| ? \| ? \| basic/traditional \| ? \| ? \| no
Inertia pump, joggle pump \| cyclic \| 2m-4m \| low-medium \| medium-high \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| traditional, industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Jet pump (water, air or stream) \| continuous \| 2m-20m \| medium \| low-medium \| low-medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Mixed flow pump \| continuous \| 2m-10m \| medium-high \| medium-high \| high \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Propeller (axial flow) pump \| continuous \| 5m-30m \| medium-high \| medium-high \| high \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no
Rebound inertia \| cyclic \| 2m-60m \| medium \| medium-high \| very low \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| yes
Resonating joggle pump \| cyclic \| 2m-10m \| medium \| medium-high \| medium-high \| ? \| ? \| traditional \| ? \| ? \| no

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Pump type

! Cyclic/continuous ?

! Maximum lift height

! Production cost

! Efficiency

! Output

! Size of device

! Fabrication requirements

! Difficulty of production

! Durability

! Difficulty of repair

! Suction lift ?

Centrifugal (regenerative) pump

| continuous

| 10m-30m

| medium-high

| medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Centrifugal (turbine) pump

| continuous

| 3m-200m

| medium-high

| high

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Centrifugal (volute) pump

| continuous

| 3m-20m

| medium

| medium-high

| high

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Flap valve pump

| ?

| 2m-4m

| very low

| low-medium

| very low

| ?

| basic/traditional

| ?

| no

Inertia pump, joggle pump

| cyclic

| 2m-4m

| low-medium

| medium-high

| low-medium

| ?

| traditional, industrial

| ?

| no

Jet pump (water, air or stream)

| continuous

| 2m-20m

| medium

| low-medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Mixed flow pump

| continuous

| 2m-10m

| medium-high

| high

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Propeller (axial flow) pump

| continuous

| 5m-30m

| medium-high

| high

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Rebound inertia

| cyclic

| 2m-60m

| medium

| medium-high

| very low

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| yes

Resonating joggle pump

| cyclic

| 2m-10m

| medium

| medium-high

| ?

| traditional

| ?

| no

Buoyancy pumps

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Pump type ! Cyclic/continuous ! Maximum lift height ! Production cost ! Efficiency ! Output ! Size of device ! Fabrication requirements ! Difficulty of production ! Durability ! Difficulty of repair ! Suction lift ?
Airlift pump \| Continuous (with collector) \| 5m-50m \| medium-high \| low-medium \| medium \| ? \| ? \| industrial \| ? \| ? \| no

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Pump type

! Cyclic/continuous

! Maximum lift height

! Production cost

! Efficiency

! Output

! Size of device

! Fabrication requirements

! Difficulty of production

! Durability

! Difficulty of repair

! Suction lift ?

Airlift pump

| Continuous

(with collector)

| 5m-50m

| medium-high

| low-medium

| medium

| ?

| industrial

| ?

| no

Impulse Pumps

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Pump type ! Cyclic/continuous ? ! Maximum lift height ! Production cost ! Efficiency ! Output ! Size of device ! Fabrication requirements ! Difficulty of production ! Durability ! Difficulty of repair ! Suction lift ?
Hydraulic ram \| cyclic \| 10m-100m \| medium \| low-medium \| low \| ? \| requires flowing water as power source (e.g. river) \| industrial \| high \| ? \| no

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Pump type

! Cyclic/continuous ?

! Maximum lift height

! Production cost

! Efficiency

! Output

! Size of device

! Fabrication requirements

! Difficulty of production

! Durability

! Difficulty of repair

! Suction lift ?

Hydraulic ram

| cyclic

| 10m-100m

| medium

| low-medium

| low

| ?

| requires flowing water as power source (e.g. river)

| industrial

| high

| ?

| no

Note: reciprocating pumps are cyclic, rotary pumps are typically continuous.

References

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Category:Technological comparisons