It is difficult to follow in the footsteps of Igor J. Karassik, whose vision and leadership played a major role in the concept of a handbook on pumps that is broad enough to encompass all aspects of the subject—from the theory of operation through design and application to the multitude of tasks for which pumps of all types and sizes are employed. That vision was realized in the first edition of the Pump Handbook, which appeared a quartercentury ago, with the capable and dedicated co-authorship of William C. Krutzsch,Warren H. Fraser, and Joseph P. Messina. Acceptance of this work globally soon led these distinguished pump engineers to assemble a second edition that not only contained updated material but also presented all numerical quantities in terms of the SI system of units in addition to the commonly used United States customary system of units.

Worldwide developments in pump theory, design and applications have continued to emerge, and these have begun to affect the outlook of pump engineers and users to such an extent that a third edition has become overdue. Pumps have continued to grow in size, speed, and energy level, revealing new problems that are being addressed by innovative materials and mechanical and hydraulic design approaches. Environmental pressures have increased, and these can and are being responded to by the creative attention of pump engineers and users. After all, the engineer is trained to solve problems, employing techniques that reflect knowledge of physical phenomena in the world around us. All of this has led the current authors to respond by adding new sections and by revising most of the others as would be appropriate in addressing these developments. Specifically the following changes should be noted.