What is one characteristic of positive displacement pumps?

One key characteristic of positive displacement pumps is that they operate by moving a fixed volume of fluid with each cycle of the pump. This operation is based on the principle of drawing in a specific amount of liquid into a chamber and then expelling that volume, making them quite different from centrifugal pumps, which rely on fluid velocity and pressure. As the pump cycles, it delivers a consistent volume, which makes positive displacement pumps suitable for applications where accurate flow rates are crucial.

This fixed volume delivery contributes significantly to their efficiency in various applications, ensuring that the exact amount of fluid is delivered regardless of changes in pressure conditions downstream. This characteristic can be particularly beneficial in scenarios where maintaining a certain rate of fluid delivery is essential, such as in dosing or metering applications.