In this article we will try to draw a Comparison Between Centrifugal Pump and Reciprocating Pump.
Images of Centrifugal Pump and Reciprocating Pump
Centrifugal Pump
Reciprocating Pump
Now let’s understand differences between Centrifugal Pump and Reciprocating Pump with the help of table given below.
| Sr. No. | Centrifugal Pump | Reciprocating Pump |
| 01 | Centrifugal pump has smooth and continuous discharge | Due to reciprocating mechanism a Reciprocating pump has fluctuating and pulsating discharge |
| 02 | Centrifugal pumps can handle large quantities of liquids | Due to valves and reciprocating mechanism a reciprocating pump can handle less quantity of liquids |
| 03 | Centrifugal pumps can lift highly viscous liquids | Due to complex working mechanism of reciprocating pump it can lift only less viscous liquids. It can only lift water and similar liquids. |
| 04 | Due to simple construction and absence of extra parts, centrifugal pumps require less floor area. | Due to the presence of air vessels and belt drive, reciprocating pump occupies more floor area. |
| 05 | Efficiency of centrifugal pump is high | Efficiency of reciprocating pump is comparatively low |
| 06 | Centrifugal pump has silent operation | Reciprocating pump produces noise during operation because of reciprocating parts |
| 07 | Centrifugal pumps have low maintenance cost | Reciprocating pumps have comparatively high maintenance cost |
| 08 | Centrifugal pumps can operate at high speeds | Reciprocating pumps work at comparatively low speed |
| 09 | Due to simple working mechanism and few parts a centrifugal pump has low cost | Due to complex mechanism and more parts a reciprocating pump is expensive |
| 10 | Centrifugal pumps have high discharge and low head | Reciprocating pumps have low discharge and high head |
| 11 | Centrifugal pump is rotodynamic pump | Reciprocating pump is positive displacement pump |
| 12 | Priming is required in centrifugal pumps | Priming is not required in reciprocating pump. They have self priming. |
| 13 | Centrifugal pump uses impeller to impart energy to liquid | Reciprocating pump requires piston to impart energy to liquid |
| 14 | Centrifugal pumps are comparatively lighter due to less number of parts | Reciprocating pumps are comparatively heavier due to more number of parts |
| 15 | Centrifugal pumps are easy to install | Reciprocating pumps are relatively difficult to install |
| 16 | Centrifugal pumps are generally used for lifting liquids to a tank | Reciprocating pumps are generally used for industrial purposes like Car wash etc. |
Also read:
What is draft tube of a turbine?
Dimensionless numbers in fluid mechanics
Image attributions:
Centrifugal Pump: By Kaze0010 (talk) – I (Kaze0010 (talk)) created this work by modifying an image uploaded by user MokeryJ and labeled Junaid 22nd May 2007, online at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CetriFugal_Pump.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27821557
Reciprocating Pump: By Shantinath naganur – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42483157
Likely to fall from here. Very well understood. I can come and get better from here.
Thank you; Dilwor Laskar, your words mean a lot for us