What type of pump did Leonardo da Vinci study for moving water?

Leonardo da Vinci studied a centrifugal pump for moving water.

A centrifugal pump moves liquid by spinning an impeller. The rotating device gives the water velocity, and the surrounding casing converts part of that motion into pressure. Leonardo’s hydraulic studies included pump mechanisms and water-raising machines based on rotating components.

These designs formed part of his wider investigations into canals, fountains, irrigation, and the behavior of flowing water. Leonardo carefully observed eddies, currents, and the effects of channels and obstacles, linking practical engineering with natural philosophy.

Leonardo should not be credited with inventing every modern pump category. Ancient and medieval engineers had already developed many water-raising devices, including Archimedes’ screw and various piston mechanisms. The important distinction is that a centrifugal pump relies on continuous rotary motion, unlike a piston pump, which moves fluid through repeated back-and-forth strokes.