Fire Pump Theory

Sugar Land Fire Department

Driver/Operator—Pumper Academy
Spring 2003
Positive Displacement Pumps
Have largely been replaced by centrifugal pumps for
use as the main fire pump on modern apparatus.
Can pump air
Operate on the hydraulic law that when pressure is
applied to a confined liquid, the same outward
pressure is transmitted outward and equally in all
directions within the liquid
Come in two basic types; piston & rotary
Multicylinder, High Pressure
Are still in use today to provide pressures up to
1,000 psi for high pressure fog lines.
Are commonly used in wildland fire fighting
Require a dependable relief valve; if discharge flow
is interrupted, pressures quickly build to dangerous
levels
Rotary Gear Pumps
Total amount of water than can be pumped
dependent on gear pocket size and rotation speed
Require a pressure relief valve
Are very susceptible to damage from normal wear
and tear
Are very susceptible to damage from pumping
contaminated water
Rotary Vane Pumps
Not as susceptible to damage from normal wear and
tear as are rotary gear and piston types
Automatically adjust: when surface of a vane in
contact with casing becomes worn, centrifugal force
causes it to extend further, thus automatically
maintaining a tight fit.
Changeover
– Changeover is the process of switching the transfer valve
on the pump between pressure and volume.
– Fire service changeover rule of thumb—leave transfer
valve in the pressure position until it is necessary to
supply more than ½ the rated volume capacity of the
pump.
– Manufacturer’s changeover recommendation—leave
transfer valve in pressure position until it is necessary to
flow more than 2/3 the rated volume capacity of the pump
Changeover
– Consult operator’s manual for recommended flow rate at
which transfer should occur
– Consult the operator’s manual for the maximum net pup
discharge pressure at which the transfer valve can be
operated
– Because there may be a slight interruption to fireground
operations when changeover occurs, coordinate
changeover with attack crews so that line are not shut
down at critical times.
Changeover
– Try to anticipate the requirements that will be placed on
the pumper as the fire fighting operation progresses, and
have the transfer valve in the proper position from the
start.
– If there is any question as to the proper operation of the
transfer valve, it is better to be in parallel than in series
– Know that there is a built-in safeguard that makes it
impossible to accomplish manual transfer while the pump
is at high pressure on many two-stage pumps, particularly
on older pump models.
Changeover
– Use special care when operating the high-pressure
power-activated transfer valves found on newer pumps.
– Whenever possible equip the power control on power
activated transfer valves with some sort of manual
override to allow the transfer to be operated should the
power equipment fail.
Pump Wear
A very close tolerance must be maintained between
the pump casing and the hub of the impeller to
prevent water from escaping back into the intake
Impurities in the water supply accelerate pump wear
by acting like sandpaper in wearing down metal
surfaces.
As the gap between the pump casing and impeller
hub increase through wear, greater amounts of water
escape to the intake
Pump Wear
To restore pump capacity and maintain the proper
spacing between the pump casing and impeller hub,
the driver/operator should replace the wear rings.
If the impeller hub is also worn down, it is possible to
install smaller wear rings to compensate for the
smaller size and maintain clearance.
Ensure that some water is running through the
pumps at all times to prevent overheating and
possible pump damage.
Pump Wear
Check the pump temperature by placing a hand on
the direct pump intake pipe; if it is warm to the
touch, open a discharge or circulator valve.
It is best for the driver/operator not to run the pump
with the discharges closed for any extended period;
if no water is expected to be discharged for an
extended period of time, disengage the pump until it
is needed.
Pump Mounting & Drive
Arrangements
Pump Mounting & Drive
Arrangements
Pump Piping & Valves
Intake Piping
– Pumpers with a capacity of 500 gpm should be able to
flow at least 250 gpm from the booster tank.
– Pumpers with capacities greater than 500 gpm should be
able to flow at least 500 gpm
– Many pumpers today are equipped with tank-to-pump
lines as large as 4” in diameter
– Mobile water supply units may have multiple small-
diameter tank-to-pump lines.
Pump Piping & Valves
– The lines to all modern pumps are equipped with check
valves that make it impossible to fill the tank through the
pump by opening the tank-to-pump valve
– To prevent air from being trapped in the pump during
priming operations, all intake lines to centrifugal pumps
are normally located below the impeller eye, and no part
of the piping is above this point.
– The primary intake is large-diameter piping and
connections.
Pump Piping & Valves
– Large diameter intake piping is round where the hose
connects to it but tapers, as it nears the pump, to a
square shape to eliminate the vortex that occurs in round
piping.
– Additional large-diameter intake may be piped to the front
or rear of the apparatus.
– Front and rear intakes should be considered auxiliary
intakes.
– Pumps with a capacity of 1,500 gpm or greater may
require more than one large intake connection
Pump Piping & Valves
– Additional intake lines, usually gated, are provided for use
in relay operations or anytime water is being received
through small-diameter supply lines.
– Most small-diameter intake openings are threaded for 2 ½
hose couplings
– If 2 ½ pipe contains 90 degrees bends or T-fittings, friction
loss may limit flow to 250 gpm
– 3” pipe is capable of flowing as much as 450 gpm if care
is given to the fittings.
Pump Piping & Valves
– Must be enough 2 ½ or larger discharge outlets to flow
rated capacity of pump
– Apparatus with a rated pump capacity of 750 gpm or
greater must be equipped with at least two 2 ½”
discharges
– Apparatus with a rated pump capacity less than 750 gpm
are required to have only one 2 ½” discharge
– Discharges larger than 2 ½” may not be located directly
on the pump operator’s panel.
Pump Piping & Valves
– Apparatus may be equipped with 1 ½, 1 ¾, and 2”
discharges
– Discharges 2” and smaller must be supplied by at least a
2” piping
– To prevent movement, the discharge locking ball valve
should be kept locked when the discharge is open.
– All valves are designed to be easily operated at pressures
up to 250 psi.
Pump Piping & Valves
Tank Fill Lines
– Should be located on discharge side of pump
– Allows tank to be filled without making any additional
connections
– Provides a means of replenishing the water carried in the
tank
– Requires a tank fill line with a diameter of at least 1” on
apparatus with water tanks less than 1,000gals per NFPA
1901
Pump Piping & Valves
– Requires a tank fill line with a diameter of at least 2” on
apparatus with water tanks 1000gals or larger Per NFPA
1901
– Can be used to circulate water through pump to prevent
overheating when no lines are flowing
Pump Cooling
Tank Fill Line
Circulator Valve
Booster line cooling valve
Waster/dump line
Valves
 Push/pull Handle (T-handle)
Allows easy operation of valve under pressure
Allows driver/operator to set precise pressure values when
adjusting individual lines
Can be mounted in a position remote from pump panel.
Can usually be locked in any position with a 90 degree twist
of the handle
Must be pulled straight out to prevent binding the shaft
Used to actuate ball valves
Valves
 Quarter-Turn Handle
Has simple mechanical linkage mounted directly on
valve stem
Opens and closes valve with 90 degree movement
of handle
May be locked by raising or lowering the handle, but
newer versions lock automatically when handle is
released or when handle is rotated clockwise
Used to actuate ball valves and butterfly valves
Valves
 Toggle Switch
Found on newer apparatus
Visually display a readout of how far the valve is
opened
Indicated through panel markings which direction to
operate the switch to open and close the valve
Used to actuate ball valves
Valves
 Handwheel—most commonly used to actuate
gate valves
Pump Drain and Bleeder Valves
Drain Valves
– Provides a way for driver/operator to relieve pressure from hoseline
after discharge valve and nozzle have been closed
– Useful when hose has not been bled off and is a great distance from
apparatus
– Allows for draining and disconnecting unused lines even when the
pump is still in service
– Allows for all water to be removed from the system in freezing
climates
– When connected to master drain valve, pump and piping can be
drained in one operation.
Pump Drain and Bleeder Valves
Bleeder valve on gated intake
– Allows air to be removed from system before it enters fire
pump
– Makes it possible to change over to the supply line
without interrupting fire streams:
 1. Wait until all air is evacuated form line and bleeder valve is
discharging a steady stream of water
 2. Close the drain valve
 3. Open the intake valve
 4. Close the tank-to-pump valve
Automatic Pressure Control
Devices
Discharge pressure relief valve—relieves excess
pressure within the pump discharge
Automatic Pressure Control
Devices
Intake pressure relief valve—prevents damage to
pump and discharge hoselines when valves/nozzles
are closed too quickly
– Integral pressure relief valve—part of pump intake
manifold; relieves pressure on intake side of pump
– Screw-on pressure relief valve—add-on device screwed
onto pump intake connection; relieves pressure on intake
side of pump
Pump Panel Instrumentation
NFPA 1901 requires:
– Master pump intake pressure indicating device
– Master pump discharge pressure indicating device
– Weatherproof tachometer
– Pumping engine coolant temperature indicator
– Pumping engine oil pressure indicator
– Pump overheat indicator
– Voltmeter
– Pump pressure controls
Pump Panel Instrumentation
– Pumping engine throttle
– Primer control
– Water tank to pump valve
– Tank fill valve
– Water tank level indicator
Pumping Engine Throttle
 Text book page 238
Figure 10.78
Figure 10.79
Primer Control
 Textbook page 239
Figure 10.80