Steam Pumps Key Terms

Understand steam pump key terms to make smarter business choices

By Howard Robertson

Today, steam pumps (also known as direct acting steam pumps) are useful in various applications such as steam cleaning, garment care, lab work, bakery ovens and sterilization in various industries ranging from pharmaceutical, food processing to petrochemical.

While interacting with steam pump suppliers and manufacturers, you will come across various technical terms that denote types and properties of steam pumps. This guide intends to familiarize you with the key terms of steam pumps, including NPSH, viscosity, pump curve, fluid rate and steam valves.

NPSH (Net Positive Suction Head)

NPSH is defined as the absolute pressure of a fluid at the pump inlet minus the vapor pressure of the liquid. As the piston speed and capacity increases, the required NPSH of a steam pump also increases.
Try: The Engineering ToolBox, an informative Web site, provides detailed information about NPSH.

Viscosity

Viscosity of fluid is an important parameter for the design and performance of a steam pump. Viscosity indicates the resistance of the fluid to flow.
Try: To understand the meaning of viscosity, read through information at STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers). Additionally, Eaton Corporation offers a hydraulics glossary that explains various terms, including viscosity.

Pump curve

Pump curve evaluates the efficiency of all pumps, including steam pumps. In a pump curve, the fluid flow is plotted on the X-axis and the pump head on the Y-axis.
Try: You can read through detailed information on various aspects of a pump curve at Cole-Parmer, a leading supplier of pumps.

Steam valves

Steam pumps use steam valves to control the flow and pressure level of steam.
Try: GlobalSpec, a knowledge resource, provides detailed information about steam valves and their different types.

Flow rate (fluid flow rate)

Before selecting a steam pump you must define the flow rate for your application. Flow rate is the amount of system fluid that passes through a pump per unit of time.
Try: To understand the definition of flow rate, read through the glossary of hydraulic terms at Nova Hydraulics, a reputable company in the field of hydraulic product repairs.

HHP (Hydraulic Horsepower)

Hydraulic horse power is the power of a hydraulic system. It depends upon the flow of system fluid and its pressure.
Try: Toolingu.com, a reputable resource, provides detailed information about hydraulic horsepower. Additionally, you can read through information at the Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI).

Duplex steam pumps

Duplex steam pumps are steam pumps with two steam and two liquid cylinders side-by-side.
Try: SteamPumps.net provides information about duplex steam pumps and the construction of duplex steam pumps.