Pump Handbook

The Pump Handbook is widely regarded as the authoritative reference work in the field of pump design, selection, installation, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting. This 4th edition represents a major update, bringing together over 100 internationally recognized pump specialists, and is extensively illustrated (with roughly 1,150 detailed figures) to support practical use across industries. The book adopts SI units throughout, underscoring its global applicability. It introduces new or fully revised content on emerging and advanced topics such as centrifugal pump mechanical performance, flow analysis, bearings, adjustable‑speed drives, and applications to cryogenic LNG services; classic areas like pump theory, mechanical seals, intakes and suction piping, gears, and water hammer are also comprehensively updated. In essence, the Pump Handbook serves both as an in‑depth educational text for engineers and technicians and as a ready‑reference manual for the field. It provides the background theory, calculation methods, design guidelines, equipment data and application examples required to handle all stages of a pump’s lifecycle—from specification and purchase, through installation and startup, to optimization and troubleshooting across multiple industries and fluids.

Key aspects:

• State‑of‑the‑art guidance on every aspect of pump theory, design, application and technology.
• Contributions by over 100 internationally‑renowned pump experts. 
• Uses SI units throughout the book, supporting global applicability.
  Includes new and revised sections
• A comprehensive table of contents covering a wide range of topics: classification/selection of pumps; centrifugal pumps; displacement pumps; solids pumping; pump sealing; pump bearings; jet pumps; materials of construction; pump drivers/power transmission; pump noise; pump systems; pump services; intakes & suction piping; selecting & purchasing pumps; installation, operation & maintenance; pump testing; technical data.
• Packed with over 1,150 detailed illustrations, which aid visual understanding of complex pump systems.
• Serves as both an educational text for engineers and a reference manual for practitioners—covering selection, purchase, installation, operation, maintenance, troubleshooting of all types of pumps

Highlights:

• State-of-the-art guidance on every aspect of pump theory, design, application, and technology
• Over 100 internationally renowned contributors
• SI units used throughout the book
• New sections on centrifugal pump mechanical performance, flow analysis, bearings, adjustable-speed drives, and application to cryogenic LNG services; completely revised sections on pump theory, mechanical seals, intakes and suction piping, gears, and water hammer; application to pulp and paper mills.

About Igor J. Karassik

Igor J. Karassik earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. During his long career, Karassik held senior engineering and marketing positions at the Worthington Pump & Machinery Company (which eventually became part of Flowserve Corporation). He authored or co‑authored six books on pumps and published more than 600 articles beginning in 1936, which appeared in over 1,500 publications worldwide. He is known as a “world‑renowned” and “outstanding authority” in the field of pump engineering. In 1980 he was awarded the first ASME Henry R. Worthington Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for his achievements in pump engineering.

Other Works:

• Facility Piping Systems Handbook