Boiler feed Pumps are a special type of pump used to pump water into a steam boiler. Water can be a newly supplied or returned condensate produced by the condensation of steam produced by the boiler. These pumps are usually high-pressure units that draw from the condensate return system and can be centrifugal or positive displacement. Feedwater pumps range in size up to many kilowatts and the motor is typically separated from the pump body by some style of mechanical coupling. Large industrial condensate pumps may also serve as feedwater pumps.
In order to force the water into the boiler, the pump must definitely generate enough pressure to overcome the steam pressure developed by the boiler. This is typically achieved through the employment of a pump. Another common form of feed pump runs constantly and is given a minimum flow device to prevent over-pressuring the pump on low flows