Facts About Pump Jacks and Reciprocating Pumps

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Lifting Solutions
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Facts About Pump Jacks and Reciprocating Pumps
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• Pump jack and reciprocating pumps are devices
  used in the oil and construction industries. Both
  pumps are effective for pumping oil and other
  liquids, but they operate and perform
  differently. The major difference is that pump
  jacks are used in applications where there isnt
  enough high pressure and reciprocating pumps are
  used in low flow, high pressure applications.
  Below are the specifics of both, which further
  show the difference between the two.

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The Pump Jack

• Commonly used in the petroleum industry, pump
  jacks extrude oil from wells where there isnt
  enough pressure to force oil to the surface. They
  do this by creating an artificial lift. This
  increases the pressure within the oil well, thus
  pulling the oil up to the surface. Artificial
  lifts from a pump jack can be used on their own
  or to increase production when other pumps
  experience drops in pressure.

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• The oil pump jack is the most common type of
  this lift system with equipment placed below and
  above ground to push the crude oil to the
  surface.
• Theyre composed of a long beam connected to an
  external power source. The power source allows
  the beam to move up and down. A series of sucker
  rods at the end of the beam dip in and out of the
  well during the pump action. These rods are
  connected to a sucker rod pump installed in the
  well.

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• The pump works like a piston increasing
  pressure inside the well and lifting the oil to
  the surface. The end of the pump thats above
  ground is connected to a pulley system that
  causes the jack to move continuously.

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The Reciprocating Pump

• Reciprocating pumps are positive displacement
  pumps that utilize a piston or plunger to
  increase pressure and the volume of a cavity. The
  pump operates by using the reciprocating motion
  of the pistons. Pumps can be designed with
  single, dual or multiple pistons or plungers.
  Theyre designed to be used in high pressure, low
  flow situations.

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• For example, when theres high pressure in a
  well but still only a few gallons of oil passes
  through the pump each minute. Reciprocating pumps
  are often used in situations like this because
  they are some of the oldest, most effective
  pumps. They also have a large range of power
  options from 1hpto 3,000 hp. In fact,
  reciprocating pumps are so effective, durable and
  strong that theyre used in the most corrosive
  and abrasive applications. Even in the most
  corrosive environments, reciprocating pumps can
  operate at as high as 90 capacity at any set
  point.

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• The pumps come in a variety of shapes, sizes
  and styles. Different pumps are used for
  different applications, and the pump used depends
  on the required flow rate, the rate of pressure,
  pipe material, corrosivity, fluid viscosity,
  measurement and control systems and pipe
  material. Keep in mind using the wrong pump can
  be dangerous and result in damage to piping,
  equipment and systems.