Pump

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A pump is any device for moving liquid or air. The water pump is one of the oldest and most widespread machines, and exists in an enormous variety of styles. The shaduf or shadoof^WP (bucket on counterweighted lever), a very primitive pump, is known to have existed since about 2000 BC.

Some uses of water pumps include:

• Obtaining water from ground wells for drinking, cooking, and other purposes.
• Moving water in active solar heating systems.

Uses of air pumps include:

• Moving air in forced air heating systems.
• Moving air in heat pump heating and cooling sytems.

Pumps are also important for moving other sorts of fluids, for example in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Pumps may be powered by

• Human muscle power: hand-crank, foot-operated pedal power, reciprocating piston
• Animal power
• Mains electrical power, electric motor
• Battery power
• Solar-electric, photovoltaic collector powering electric motor
• On-site fuel-powered engine: diesel, gasoline; steam engine powered by coal, charcoal, or wood
• Wind power
• Water power: Ram pump, Noria^WP