Pump Parts & Pieces
Flow & Friction
The Highs & Lows
Power and Control
Top Gun
100

This rotating component spins the liquid along its vanes to provide centrifugal acceleration.

What is the impeller?

100

This term describes the quantity of water moved over time and is typically measured in gallons per minute.

What is flow?

100

It is the specific term used to describe the elevation that a pump can overcome. It also describes a part of the body.

What is head?

100

Also known as AdBlue, this fluid is injected ahead of the catalyst in a Final Tier 4 engine aftertreatment system.

What is DEF? (or Diesel Exhaust Fluid)

100

Tom Cruise stars as this hotshot naval aviator who famously declares he has a "need for speed."

Who is Maverick (or Pete Mitchell)?

200

This stationary casing surrounds the impeller and is shaped to decrease velocity and increase pressure.  

What is the volute?

200

This occurs when the speed of a fluid is increased, as part of the conservation of energy.

What is a decrease in pressure?

200

During the priming process, this natural force pushes water up the suction line.

Atmospheric pressure

200

These control sensors, typically installed in pairs, are set at varying depths to automatically start and stop the pump.

What are floats?

200

This character, Maverick's Radar Intercept Officer and best friend, tragically dies during a training exercise.

Who is Goose (or Nick Bradshaw)?

300

When a pump is setup above the liquid, this component removes the air in the suction line for priming.

What is the vacuum pump?

300

This is the general rule of thumb for sizing your pipe when the discharge distance is more than 1,000 lineal feet.

What is use the next larger size pipe?  

300

Even with a perfect vacuum, a priming system is only effective for a maximum of this many feet of vertical suction lift at sea level.

What is 28ft? (28 to 34ft acceptable)

300

If an engine is not run under enough load, the Diesel Particulate Filter fills with soot.  This triggers the engine to enter this mode.

What is regen?

300

This actor plays Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, Maverick's fiercely competitive rival for the Top Gun trophy.

Who is Val Kilmer?

400

As liquid leaves this central opening of the rotating impeller, it creates a low-pressure zone that induces flow and helps the pump maintain prime.

What is the eye (or impeller eye)?

400

To prevent significant friction loss, pipe diameter is sized to reduce this term for displacement over time.  12ft/s is typically the recommended limit.

What is velocity?

400

Water can be brought to a boil in two ways: one is by increasing the temperature, and the other is by causing this specific change to the surrounding atmospheric forces.

What is a decrease in pressure?

400

This control device allows the user the change the speed of an electric motor.

What is a Variable Frequency Drive?

400

Maverick and Goose infamously serenade Charlie in a bar with this classic Righteous Brothers song.

What is "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"?

500

In a vacuum priming setup, this component sits above the pump's suction and is also interchangeably referred to as a Float Box or a Top Hat.

What is the Priming Chamber?

500

Generally, a 6" pipe less than 1000ft long can carry this much flow before it's size needs to be increased.

What is 1000 GPM?

500

On a pump performance curve, this specific resistance sets the exact starting point of the system curve along the vertical axis where flow is equal to zero.

What is static head?

500

This submersible sensor is placed into a wet well to measure continuous fluid depth and send a live level reading back to the pump control panel.

What is a level transducer?

500

Goose and Maverick fly this twin-engine, variable-sweep-wing fighter aircraft throughout the original 1986 film.

What is the F-14 Tomcat?