A pump is a device designed to move liquids or slurries from lower pressure to a higher pressure. It works by using mechanical forces to push the material, either by physically lifting, or by the force of compression. Pumps generally fall in two major categories: the rotodynamic pumps and positive displacement pumps. The categories are based on the method for moving fluid. Rotodynamics pumps are based on bladed impellors which rotate within the fluid and serves to convert the increase in the energy of the fluid into pressure energy for an associated piping system. A positive displacement pump causes a liquid to move by trapping an amount and displacing it into a discharge pipe.

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