32-differences between centrifugal pumps and reciprocating pumps

COMPARISON BETWEEN CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS & RECIPROCATING PUMPS
Sl No.	Centrifugal pump	Reciprocating pump
1	It is dynamic type pump	It is a positive displacement pump
2	It produces more flow	It produces lesser flow
3	It produces less head (pressure) for same size of pump	It produces more head (pressure) for the same size of pump
4	Work is done by rotating the impeller	Work is done by back & forth movement of piston or plunger or diaphragm
5	Simple construction	Complex construction
6	Simple operation	Complicated operation
7	Smoother operation no vibrations	Due to reciprocating movement vibrations are always there
8	Continuous supply of fluid	No continuous supply of fluid
9	Pressure increases by decreasing the flow	Flow is independent on pressure
10	High viscosity fluid cannot be pumped easily	High viscosity fluids can be p[umped very easily
11	Low viscosity fluids can be pumped very easily	Cannot be pumped very easily
12	Centrifugal pumps are low costlier	More costlier than centrifugal pumps
13	Maintenance is easy	Maintenance is difficult
14	Less maintenance cost	More maintenance cost as there are more rotating & moving parts in pump
15	Grease & oil lubricated	Most of the pumps are oil lubricated only
16	Cab ne installed easily	Complicated installation
17	Require less space for same size pump	Require more space for same size pump
18	Less accurate in flow measurement	More accurate for flow measurement
19	Not suitable for small quantity dosing system like chemical plants or water treatment plants	Best for small & accurate quantity dosage like in water treatment plants to maintain desired water parameters
20	Priming is required for centrifugal pumps	Priming is not required
21	Pumps can be started with discharge valve closed condition	Pumps cannot be started with discharge valve closed condition
22	In consists of impeller to create head & flow	In consists of plunger, pistons & diaphragms to create head & flow
23	Centrifugal pumps might be of positive as well as negative suction	Most of the reciprocating pumps are of positive suction
24	PRV is not required	PRV is required to protect the pump during discharge line blockage
25	Minimum recirculation system is there to protect pump at lower discharge flow	Recirculation line is not required as head is independent of flow
26	Pump major internal parts are impeller, wear ring, shaft sleeve, stuffing box, lantern ring, balance & counter balance disc  etc	Pump major internal parts are, connecting rod, crank, piston, plunger, diaphragm, gears etc
27	Reverse rotation of the pump affects pump performance & capacity	Reverse rotation of the pump does not affect much
28	Pipe lines have fittings like eccentric & concentric reducer	Eccentric & concentric reducers are not used
29	Generally air vessels are not used in reciprocating pumps	Air vessels are used in reciprocating pumps
30	Thrust balancing is required in high pressure centrifugal pumps	Thrust balancing is not required
31	Cavitation can damage pump internals & related piping system	Cavitation does not affect much
32	For same flow foundation required  is not much robust & strong	Strong & robust foundation is required

Reference books for power plant O&M

Reciprocating pumps

Reciprocating pumps parts

For related articles read

Read QnA on air compressors

How do you calculate the efficiency of pumps

 Power plant and calculations