Reciprocating pumps offer many benefits in low flow, high pressure applications commonly found in the oil and gas sector. However, the technology is not as well understood as centrifugal pumps, which can lead to mis-specification. Every process condition needs a pump. The challenge facing pump specifiers and users is to identify the technology that will best meet the application criteria. Commonly, such criteria will comprise efficiency, reliability and environmental impacts - including energy consumption - and regulatory requirements. The pump also has to comply with time and budget constraints. These are not limited to capital costs and installation time; the total cost of ownership and the frequency and length of essential maintenance outages are also an important consideration. In the majority of standard duty applications, centrifugal pump technology is deployed. This technology is widely understood, proven in the field and generally reliable. However, it is not always easily scalable, and can sometimes become prohibitively expensive. Centrifugal pumps also experience poorer performance above certain viscosities and experience high erosion rates in services with entrained solids, which is where a reciprocating pump can provide a better alternative.
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