What Does
Feed Pump Mean?
A feed pump is a type of pump that supplies water to a boiler to produce steam. For industrial purposes, a feed pump supplies a liquid for further processing. These pumps are high-pressure pumps and are generally of two types:
- Positive displacement type feed pumps
- Centrifugal feed pumps
Corrosionpedia Explains Feed Pump
A feed pump is a specific type of pump primarily used to pump feedwater into industrial boilers for steam generation. The steam can be used to rotate a turbine or other machine rotors. Feed pumps raise the pressure so feedwater can enter the boiler.
Auxiliary boilers, requiring only small amounts of feedwater, may use a reciprocating positive displacement pump, which is driven by the steam produced from the boiler itself. Another type of feed pump often used for package boiler installations is an electro-feeder. This is a multi-stage centrifugal pump driven by a constant speed electric motor. The number of stages in these feed pumps is determined by the feed quantity and discharge pressure.
Corrosion occurs when the pumpage reacts with the pump’s internal surface. Therefore, the usable life of a pump is dependent upon the corrosion or erosion resistance of the pump’s materials. Corrosion in feed pumps can be general in nature.