The spelling of the word "donkey pump" is relatively straightforward once the IPA phonetic transcription is taken into account. The first syllable, "donkey", is spelled as it is pronounced with the IPA symbols /ˈdɒŋki/. The second syllable, "pump", is similarly spelled with the IPA symbols /pʌmp/. The combination of these two syllables creates the word "donkey pump", which refers to a type of water pump commonly used in rural areas. This spelling is commonly used in English-speaking countries to describe this type of pump.
A donkey pump refers to a type of reciprocating pump commonly used in the oil and gas industry for extracting fluids such as oil, gas, or water from a well. It derives its name from its resemblance to a donkey's head bobbing up and down during operation. This mechanical device is typically driven by a motor or an engine that powers a beam connected to a walking beam in a seesaw motion.
The main components of a donkey pump include the prime mover, gearbox, crankshaft, connecting rod, pitman arm, walking beam, counterweights, and the pump rod. The pump rod is attached to the walking beam and its opposite end is submerged into the well. As the prime mover operates, the reciprocating motion of the walking beam causes the pump rod to lift and lower, drawing the fluid from the well through a suction pipe and then discharging it into a flow line or a storage tank via a discharge pipe.
Donkey pumps are typically utilized in situations where the well lacks sufficient pressure for fluid extraction. They are particularly effective for extracting heavy or viscous fluids. These pumps offer a relatively simple and reliable means of extracting fluid from a well and are widely used in both onshore and offshore drilling operations.
The term donkey pump is a colloquial expression used to refer to a kind of pump known as a reciprocating pump or beam pump, which is commonly used in the oil industry to extract oil from wells. The etymology of the term donkey pump is believed to have originated from the resemblance of the pump's long, reciprocating arm to the back-and-forth motion of a donkey's head while walking or grazing. This similarity in motion might have led to the association of the pump with a donkey, hence the name donkey pump.