what is priming in pump

Priming in a pump is the process of removing air from the pump and suction line by filling the pump with the liquid being pumped, forcing all the air, gas, or vapor contained in the passage ways of the pump to escape out. Priming is necessary for centrifugal pumps to work properly, as they are incapable of pumping vapors or gases, and continuously doing so will damage the pump impeller. Priming reduces the risk of pump damage during start-up as it prevents the pump impeller from becoming gas-bound and thus incapable of pumping the desired liquid. Priming may be done manually or automatically, and not all pumps require priming, but mostly do. Self-priming pumps are designed to evacuate air from the suction line and pump casing automatically, without the need for manual priming. Priming in centrifugal pumps utilizes a priming chamber, which is a separate section of the pump that allows for the removal of air and the creation of a vacuum. Priming is essential for centrifugal pumps to work properly, and it ensures that the pump is filled with the fluid to be pumped, which is necessary for proper lubrication and cooling of the pump’s internal components.