A reciprocating pump has positive displacement, which means, it takes a fixed volume of
liquid under suction conditions, compresses it (pressure increase) and it ejects it through
the discharge nozzle. In this equipment, pumping the fluid is achieved by the alternating
movement of a plunger, piston or diaphragm.
The reciprocating pump is not kinetic as it is the centrifugal one, and it does not require
speed to generate pressure as high pressures can be obtained at low speeds. This is one
of the advantages of the reciprocating pump, particularly to handle wash and abrasive
pulps, and very viscous liquids.
The reason to select a reciprocating pump instead of a centrifugal one or a rotating one
must be the cost; not only the initial total cost, but also energy and maintenance costs.