If the discharge pressure of a reciprocating pump drops drastically, what is likely to happen?

When assessing the situation of a reciprocating pump with a drastic drop in discharge pressure, it's important to understand how these pumps operate. A reciprocating pump functions by creating a vacuum to draw in liquid and then using a piston or diaphragm to generate pressure that pushes the liquid out.

When there is a significant drop in discharge pressure, the back pressure that the pump is working against decreases. This drop can lead to an increase in the flow rate if the pump is allowed to continue operating under these new conditions. Reciprocating pumps are typically designed to work at a specific operational range, and a decrease in discharge pressure may not inherently cause the pump to cease operation or to change its speed through any automatic mechanisms. Instead, the reduction in resistance allows the pump to potentially take in more fluid, which can result in it effectively increasing its speed, driven by how fast the pump can cycle and the characteristics of the prime mover or motor driving it.

It is also crucial to note that while the pump could theoretically speed up, this is often not a desired state since it could lead to cavitation or damage if the pump is not rated for such conditions. Nonetheless, under normal circumstances, a drop in discharge pressure often correlates with an increase in the operational aspect