a pump that feeds water to a steam boiler. Feed pumps are of the piston and centrifugal types and are powered by steam or electricity. Steam-jet injectors are also used as feed pumps. The pressure created by the feed pumps of circulation boilers is 0.2–0.3 meganewtons per sq m (2–3 kilograms-force per sq cm) greater than the pressure in the boiler drum. The head of the feed pumps of single-pass boilers must exceed the hydraulic resistance of the entire water-steam circuit.

The feed pump is an important element of a boiler unit, since even a brief interruption in the supply of feedwater to the boiler can result in a breakdown. Rates of discharge of feed pumps and the types of feed pumps and pump drives authorized for industrial heating systems and power plant boilers are specified in the USSR by the boiler inspection regulations and the regulations for maintenance of electric power plants.