No matter whether you are a physicist, engineer or simply a person interested in knowing how the physical world works, it is a good idea to learn the basics of pump technology through the ages. Humans throughout time have developed pumps to better their daily lives as well as promote industry and improve society. From Pompeiian suction pumps to modern Busch vacuum pumps, the history of pumps can be wide-ranging and fascinating.
The Suction Pump
Written records and fragments of remains show that the Romans used suction pumps in the Italian city of Pompeii to move different liquids. This type of pump uses a piston to pull liquid into a chamber through a pipe or network of pipes. It operates by way of atmospheric pressure and partial vacuums. In the 13th century, the engineer Al-Jazari wrote about suction pumps, suction pipes and double action suction pumps in his famous text ‘The …