Diesel Engine Driven Pumps

Abstract

The Diesel engine as a prime mover, due to its exceptionally high fuel economy, naturally suggests itself for in water works installations. In the operation of oil pipe lines advantage was taken of the Diesel engine for driving reciprocating power pumps as early as 1913. This type of prime mover is now practically the standard for new installations in this most extensive industry. . The water works field therefore has the great advantage of the long and wide experience of the pipe line companies in the use of Diesel engine driven pumping units of all the standard makes, pumping against line pressures averaging 700 pounds per square inch, a most severe twenty-four-hour service, 365 days a year. The simplicity, reliability and flexibility of Diesel engine drive for pumping units is now established. In the field of steam driven pumping units it has been found that approximately 600 water horsepower represents the maximum water works requirements in horizontal flywheel pumping machinery. This is equivalent to a pump capacity of approximately 15 million U. S. gallons of water in twenty-four hours pumped against a total water pressure of 100 pounds per square inch, with proportionately larger capacities, if pumped against lower water pressures. In the vertical triple expansion flywheel type of steam driven pumping machinery, the maximum power output in useful work for which standard patterns are available, is approximately 2000 water horsepower, equivalent to an approximate unit capacity of 50 million U. S. gallons of water per twenty-four hours pumped against a total water pressure of 100 pounds per square inch. The present standard sizes of Diesel engines as built by the Worthington Company, start at 30 H.P. single cylinder units, and are at present contemplated to extend up to 9000 H.P. 6 cylinder units.