We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Machinery

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Shell Pump?

By Christy Bieber
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,113
Share

A shell pump is a simple type of pumping apparatus that removes wet sand or mud from an area that is going to be excavated or drilled. A shell pump is essentially a hollow cylinder that has a ball or one-way valve at the bottom of it. The cylinder exists so the shell pump can open wide to suck up large or thick materials, but close completely when shut off so the material does not back flow into the area that has just been pumped.

Shell pumps are often used to pump out wetlands or areas that are soggy prior to construction. They may also be used to remove wet sand or mud from the bottom of the sea floor. This is done in preparation for undersea archaeological digs or oil or natural gas drilling. Shell pumps are not expensive to operate, but since they are generally rather large pieces of capital equipment intended to do large jobs, they are typically rented out or hired out by the job if they are necessary, although they may be owned by those who have a repeat need for the items.

Shell pumps are very simple to maintain, create, and clean, which makes them popular for areas such as hurricane hit regions where basements and other areas may be filled with thick mud and debris. A shell pump provides a good option where tools and electrical power may not be readily available to fix or maintain the pumps if they begin to gunk up or otherwise malfunction. Shell pumps may also be used in pumping out areas like the dikes of the Netherlands, where they reclaim farmland by building a dam and then pumping out the mud and sand and other debris to replace it with fertile soil.

Shell pumps may be mounted on trucks or, in larger cases, on ships or trawlers that have the capacity to carry away the mud and sand. They may also be used in smaller form in order to clean out small jobs. In some cases, shell pumps are used for recovering sunken ships or lost treasure under the ocean, where they are used like gigantic wet dry vacuum cleaners to suck up portions of the sea floor that have shifted over time to reveal the debris from a shipwreck or other maritime disaster.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-is-a-shell-pump.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.