Pump Cavitation

Mr G Pahla
 NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD (NPSH)

On suction side of a pump, low pressures are commonly

encountered, with the concomitant possibility of cavitation
occurring within the pump

Cavitation occurs when the liquid pressure at a given location is

reduced to the vapour pressure of the liquid. When this occurs,
vapour bubbles form i.e. liquid starts boiling.

This phenomenon can cause a loss in efficiency as well as

structural damage to the pump

Potential for cavitation, characterised by the difference between

the total head on the suction side, near the pump impeller inlet
and the liquid vapour pressure head.
 NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD (NPSH)

There are two values of NPSH of interest. The first is the required
NPSH (NPSHR ). It must be maintained, or exceeded, to prevent
cavitation. Supplied by pump manufacturer

The second value for NPSH of concern is the available NPSH,

denoted (NPSHA ). Represents the head that actually occurs for
the particular flow system. Can be calculated based on piping
system
 NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD (NPSH):
CALCULATION

Apply energy equation

between points 1 and 2

Head available at pump

inlet

For proper pump operation

NPSHA can be increased by decreasing

z1. There is a critical value of z1 where
the pump can not operate without
cavitation.
Cavitation point
 Example

A centrifugal pump is used to pump water at 25°C from a reservoir

whose surface is 1.22m above the centerline of the pump inlet. The
piping system from the reservoir to the pump consists of 3.2m of cast
iron pipe with an ID of 1.22m and an average inner roughness height of
0.0061m. There are several minor losses: a sharp-edged inlet (KL = 0.5),
three flanged smooth 90° regular elbows (KL = 0.3 each), and a fully
open flanged globe valve (KL =6.0). Estimate the maximum volume flow
rate that can be pumped without cavitation.
If the water were warmer, would this maximum flow rate increase or
decrease? Why?
Discuss how you might increase the maximum flow rate while still
avoiding cavitation.
PUMP ARRANGEMENT

Pumps can be arranged in series

or in parallel to provide for
additional head or flow capacity.

When two pumps are placed in

series, the resulting pump
performance curve is obtained
by adding heads at the same
flow rate.

For two identical pumps in

parallel, the combined
performance curve is obtained
by adding flow rates at the same
head
PIPES IN SERIES AND IN PARALLEL
LOOP