SOUTHERN AREA WILDLAND ENGINE ACADEMY

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SOUTHERN AREA WILDLAND ENGINE ACADEMY
Types of Pumps and Components
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Objectives
Unit 1B
1. Discuss the operation of centrifugal pumps. 2.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of
positive and non-positive displacement pumps. 3.
Discuss ejectors and the principles that cause
them to work. 4. Discuss exhaust primers. 5.
Discuss multi-pump operations- Series/volume. 6.
Discuss valve types and applications. 7. Discuss
principles, causes, effects, detection, and cures
of cavitation.
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Portable 4-Stage High Pressure Fire Pump
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Portable Pump- Major Components

• Power Head or Motor (Three Basic Types)
• Pump and Pump Drive

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Portable 4-Stage High Pressure Fire Pump
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Power Head/Motor Types

• Gasoline- 4 Stroke
• Gasoline- 2 Stroke (Mixed Fuel)
• Diesel
• Others ? Any Volunteers?

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Pump Head Types

• Centrifugal
• Positive Displacement
• Piston Pumps
• Rotary (gear/vane)
• Diaphragm

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Centrifugal Pumps

• Are the most commonly used type in wildland fire
  management.
• Use centrifugal force created by a spinning
  impeller.

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Centrifugal Force
An apparent force tending to pull a thing outward
when it is rotating around a center.
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Centrifugal Pumps (Non Positive Displacement)
?
Centrifugal pumps operate on the law of physics
that a body rapidly revolving about its axis
creates a force directed outward form its axis of
rotation, and proportional to the speed with
which it revolves.
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Centrifugal Fire Pump
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Water flow- Centrifugal Pump
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Drafting Water
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Centrifugal Pumps

• Advantages
• Water does not need to be clean.
• Less maintenance costs (less prone to damage).
• Nozzle can be shut off while pump is running (for
  a short period).
• Pump can be started with head pressure.
• A pressure relief valve in not required.

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Centrifugal Pump

• Disadvantages
• Requires priming (to remove air from the system).
• Cannot Draft as high as a PD pump.
• Requires a foot valve (Why?).

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Positive Displacement
Positive displacement pumps move a definite
quantity of liquid or gas for each complete cycle
of its stroke, travel, rotation, or turn.
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Piston Pumps
The higher pressure inside the pump causes the
discharge valve to open, allowing air to escape
through the discharge lines.
The partial vacuum created as the piston begins
the return stroke causes the intake valve to
open. This allows air from the suction hose to
enter the pump.
Once all the air has been evacuated, only water
is pushed through the pump.
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Piston Pump
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Rotary Pumps
The basic design of a rotary gear pump.
A typical rotary vane pump design.
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Rotary Pump
Gear
Vane
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Positive Displacement Pumps

• Advantages
• Does not require priming (pumps air).
• Will draft water higher than a CP (Approx. 20).
• Does not require a foot valve on the draft line

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Positive Displacement Pumps

• Disadvantages
• Water must be very clean (free from sand, grit
  and organic debris).
• Pump must be shut down befor nozzle is turned of
  (unless a pressure release system is installed).
• Pump cannot be started with head pressure.
• Easy to break - hard and expensive to
  repair. (do unit test 1,A here)

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Parallel-Series 2 Stage Centrifugal Pump
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Series Pumping
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Parallel Pumping
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Wildfire B-2 Pump End
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High Pressure 4-Stage Pump End
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Centrifugal Pump Ends
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Parallel-Series Centrifugal Pumping
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Bernoullis Principle
?
?
(Venturi Effect)
An increase in the speed of a fluid produces a
decrease in pressure. A decrease in speed
produces an increase in pressure.
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Venturi Effect
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Water Ejector
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Induction
Foam is inducted into a fire stream using the
pressure differential created in a venturi
metering device.
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Fire Hose Connections
Gated Wye
Siamese
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Objectives
Unit 1B
1. Discuss the operation of centrifugal pumps. 2.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of
positive and non-positive displacement pumps. 3.
Discuss ejectors and the principles that cause
them to work. 4. Discuss exhaust primers. 5.
Discuss multi-pump operations- Series/volume. 6.
Discuss valve types and applications. 7. Discuss
principles, causes, effects, detection, and cures
of cavitation.