Fire Truck Pumps and Operations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Fire Truck Pumps and Operations - Essay Example Unlike a Positive Displacement Pump, a centrifugal pump may be described as a rotodynamic pump which facilitates a rotating impeller to increase the pressure of the fluids. The fluid would enter the pump impeller close to the rotating axis and is accelerated by the impeller, flowing radially outward into a diffuser or casing. The main purpose or aim of the centrifugal pump is to provide the required pressure to move liquid at the desired pace. Centrifugal Pumps can further be subcategorized to include; end-suction pumps, in-line pumps, double-suction pumps, vertical multi-stage pumps, horizontal multi-stage pumps, submersible pumps, self-priming pumps, axial-flow pumps and regenerative pumps. Despite the differences between these types of pumps, both of them complement each other in order to get the job done. Characteristics of the Positive Displacement Pump include; the ability to pump air, they have a small amount of slippage and also have a fixed displacement of water. The advanta ges of the Positive Displacement Pumps are the disadvantages of the Centrifugal Pumps which cannot pump air and are capable of 100% slippage. Fire trucks may be defined as specifically designed vehicles responsible for fire extinguishing and performing rescue attempts. This vehicle is equipped with all the required resources/materials needed to aid in fire extinguishing. There are a variety of uniquely engineered fire trucks which come in all shapes, colors and sizes. The Emergency-One (E-One) pumper/tanker was engineered with its own uniqueness. Kevin Bonsor, author of ‘How fire engines work’ (n.d.) declared that the main function of the... The researcher aims to discuss the structure and mechanism of fire engines, that can carry their own water supply or be able to pump their own water. This essay describes a positive displacement pump and a centrifugal pump which complement each other. The positive displacement pump is one that primes and has high pressure. Positive displacement pumps fall into three main categories; reciprocating, metering and rotary pumps. These pumps are operated by forcing a fixed volume of fluid from the inlet pressure section of the pump into the discharged zone of the pump. Frequent in hydraulic systems-these pumps can reach maximum pressure of 5000 psi and positive displacement pumps recon to be larger than equal capacity dynamic pumps. Usage of the pumps on the pumper/tanker engine is very straight forward. Upon the scene of the fire, the first and most thing the pump operator will perform is to make sure that the valve between the tank and pump is open. This is done by flipping a switch whic h is located on the right side of the pump. Then, the operator will check to ensure which lines have been pulled off the fire engine by the firefighters, and the operator will discharge those lines. To make it easier the lines are color coded so the operator knows which lines to discharge and the color of the line corresponds to a plate below each lever on the pump panel. The process of discharging is controlled by a built-in electronic device, called a mastermind. As such, it automatically controls the pump, and runs the pressure up or down.