What is a significant feature of Positive Displacement pumps?

Positive Displacement pumps are characterized by their ability to move a fixed amount of fluid with each cycle or rotation, which allows them to handle a variety of fluids, including those that are viscous, contain solids, or have different chemical properties. This versatility makes them suitable for applications in many industries, including fire services, where they may need to pump different types of water, foam, or other fire suppression agents.

The capability to handle various types of fluids is crucial because it allows the pump to be effectively used in diverse situations where specific fluid characteristics may be involved. This includes not only clean water but also contaminated water or specialized firefighting materials, enhancing their utility in emergency response scenarios.

While positive displacement pumps do operate based on hydraulic principles, that alone does not capture their most distinct feature. Being mostly used for high pressure is not exclusive to these pumps; centrifugal pumps can also operate under high pressure in different configurations and applications. Lastly, while there can be manual operation of some pumps, positive displacement pumps are often powered by engines or electric motors, making the notion of them being typically only manual-operated inaccurate.