For pumping against a very high head, which type of pump is the best choice?

A reciprocating pump is particularly well-suited for pumping against a very high head due to its positive displacement mechanism. This type of pump works by trapping a fixed amount of fluid and then forcing it into the discharge line, providing a consistent flow rate regardless of the pressure in the system. This capability allows reciprocating pumps to effectively handle high-pressure situations, making them ideal for applications involving high heads.

In contrast, centrifugal pumps, while efficient and commonly used in various applications, rely on rotational energy to move fluid and may struggle with high heads due to their design which is not optimized for overcoming significant pressure differences. Mixed flow and propeller pumps, too, are typically more suited for lower head applications or for handling larger flow volumes rather than high-head scenarios. Thus, the positive displacement nature of the reciprocating pump enables it to excel in high-head pumping situations.