A device that supplies mechanical energy to a fluid to drive a flow. A specified pump installation does not by itself determine the resulting mass flow rate; the connected system's resistance also matters.
A rotating-impeller pump that transfers mechanical energy to a fluid. At a fixed speed its head varies with flow; its characteristic curve and the connected system determine the pump operating point.
The flow and head at which a pump's characteristic curve intersects the hydraulic system's required-head curve. Increasing system resistance at unchanged speed normally reduces flow on a conventional falling pump curve.[ref]
Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, and Fluid Flow, Volume 3 by the United States Department of Energy. Module HT-03, pp.51–53, System Operating Point
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"Pump" can refer to different things depending on the context. Here are a few common interpretations: 1. **Mechanical Device**: A pump is a mechanical device that moves fluids (liquids or gases) by mechanical action, often converted from electrical energy or another form of energy. Pumps are used in various applications, including water supply, heating and cooling systems, industrial processes, and more.