pump

Abstract: A pump and pumping method are described. The pump (1) includes a pump body (10) in which a heating element (11) is located. Heating of gas in the pump body (10) by the heating element (11) and subsequent cooling of gas in the pump body (10) draws liquid into the pump body (10) through an inlet (12) and out of the pump body (10) through an outlet (14). To improve efficiency of the operation of the pump (1) the pump body (10) is shaped so that the heating of the gas by the heating element (11) promotes substantially non-divergent body movement of the volume of gas. In this way the effectiveness of the heating of the gas is improved and therefore the overall pumping efficiency is raised. A cooling element (13) is optionally provided, preferably in an arrangement in which heating and cooling of the volume of gas does not change the pattern of movement of the gas within the pump body (10). (end of abstract)