BASICS

Thomas Zenke and Meno Trk, Potsdam, as well as Burkhard Verhlsdonk, Essen

Cavitation Behaviour of Rotary Lobe Pumps

The cavitation behaviour of rotary
lobe pumps is of considerable im- T wo-Shaft Rotary Pumps can be used for
a very broad spectrum by pump-media -
from low viscous pure liquids up to high-vis-
dible noises. That is a practical and simple
method how the customer can determine ca-
vitation effects without using sophisticated
portance in pump design. Cavita- cous coarse-dispersive suspensions. Also a measurement equipment. The influences of
tion leads to unstable pumping stable suction behaviour is important in this most important parameters on the cavitation
case. An essential cause for troubles at behaviour of helical geared rotary lobe
conditions and causes typical noi- pumps is cavitation, which is in most cases a pumps are examined by audible observations
ses. It is always found at zones with result of unfavourable flow and pressure and are evaluated.
conditions. In case of cavitation low pressure
maximum flow velocity. Important zones form themselves at the suction side or Test methods
influential variables on cavitation inside of the pump where the static pressure
locally drops under the vapour pressure of Following influencing variables are exami-
behaviour, such as rotational the fluid, and vapour bubbles [1] arise. If the ned:
speed, lobe wear, fluid viscosity pressure increases again, these bubbles im- Pump speed in a range of 200 to 600 rpm
plode suddenly, and considerable noise with pumping of water at 20 C
and the discharge pressure are emissions are created. In the long run, abra- Lobes wear by mounting differently worn-
analysed and evaluated. sion as well as material fatigue and a reduc- out lobes with tip gaps of 0.5 mm, 1.5 mm
tion and/or the complete breakdown of the and 2.5 mm [2]
flow are the result. Fluid viscosity by tests with water ( = 1
To avoid pump cavitation a specific suc- mPa s at 20 C) and glycerine ( = 1,450
tion-side pressure height is necessary. mPa s at 20 C)
NPSHr (required Net-Positive-Suction- Discharge pressure in a range of 2 to 6 bar
Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Thomas Zenke and Dr.-Ing. habil.
Meno Trk are working in the department Technik
Head) is the term for this purpose. NPSHr The pump test bed consists basically of two
in der Tierhaltung of the Institut fr Agrartechnik describes the minimum absolute fluid pres- equal models of in series arranged rotary
Bornim e. V. (ATB) (Director: Prof. Dr.-Ing. J. sure required on the suction side of the pump lobe pumps with helical toothed rubber lined
Zaske), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, D-14469 Potsdam; to avoid cavitation. So the NPSHr-value is an lobes (model VX 136-140Q built by Hugo
e-mail: [email protected] essential parameter for a pumping plant [1]. Vogelsang Maschinenbau GmbH, D-49632
Dipl.-Ing. Burkhard Verhlsdonk is working for The pump user has to observe certain safe- Essen/Oldbg.) [2]. One pump is the test
Hugo Vogelsang Maschinenbau GmbH, Holthge,
ty limits, which are marked e.g. by a reduc- pump, the other one is serving as a brake
49632 Essen (Oldb.); e-mail: verhuelsdonk@vogel-
sang-gmbh.com tion of pressure or flow rate (3 or 5 %). Re- pump for adjusting the discharge pressure of
This survey was conducted in co-operation with the garding lobe pumps with stabile suction cha- the test pump. The rotational speeds of both
Bundesministerium fr Wirtschaft und Arbeit racteristics, mainly flow rate reductions are pumps are adjusted by frequency controlled
BMWi together with Hugo Vogelsang Maschinen- found [1]. This procedure requires sophisti- electric motors. A throttle valve is arranged
bau GmbH. cated measurement equipment because a on the suction side of the test pump. Besides
permanent checking of the volume flow in the absolute suction pressure and discharge
Keywords real time is necessary. pressure, the rotational speed, the torque, the
Cavitation, suction behaviour, rotary lobe pump, During flow measurements at the pump volume flow and the temperature are mea-
wear test bed in the ATB two different cavitation sured continuously and saved in a measure-
states were defined by means of typical au- ment computer.
Literature
Books are identified by
[1] Zimmermann, G.: Kavitation und NPSH-Bestim-
mung bei rotierenden Verdrngerpumpen am
Beispiel der Kreiskolbenpumpe. Diss., Univ.
Erlangen-Nrnberg, 1992
[2] Trk, M., T. Zenke, B. Verhlsdonk und R. Brckner: Fig. 1: Effect on
Verschleieinfluss auf das Frderverhalten von
rotational speed
Drehkolbenpumpen. Agrartechnische Forschung
on tcavitation ;
9 (2003), H. 3, S. 31-35; Landtechnik 58 (2003), H.
3, S. 210 - 211
(water 20C,
[3] Vogelsang, H., B. Verhlsdonk, M.Trk und G. Hrnig: pD = 2 bar,
Entwicklung und praktischer Einsatz von sK = 0,5 mm); ps1
pulsationsarmen Drehkolbenpumpen fr organi- - beginning of
sche Suspensionen. Agrartechnische Forschung cavitation, ps2 -
5 (1999), H. 1, S. 37-45; Landtechnik 54 (1999), H.1, full cavitation
S. 34 - 35 and stall of flow

22 59 LANDTECHNIK 1/2004
 and a better suction capability than two-wing
oval lobes particularly if the speed exceeds
400 rpm.
Fig. 2: Effect of lobe
wear on cavitation;
( = 1,450 mPas, Summary
pD = 2 bar), ps1 -
beginning of Flow tests have shown that different actuat-
cavitation, ps2 - full ing variables (pump speed, discharge pres-
cavitation and stall sure, fluid viscosity, lobe wear) as well as
of flow construction shape influence the cavitation
behaviour of rotary pumps. With the aid of
The suction characteristics are checked that the cavitation behaviour is improved at audible cavitation observations the suction
until distinct cavitation and flow cut-off (Q = high viscous media according to increasing behaviour was examined. Two cavitation
0). The cavitation noises are characterised wear and cavitation is found not until very states: pS1 as the beginning and pS2 as the
with the suction pressure at which they occur low absolute pressures (< 0.05 bar). This ef- distinct cavitation could be detected unambi-
for the first time. Two cavitation points are fect is mainly caused by displacement cham- guously. Probably, these two cavitation states
distinguished. ber cavitation. The increasing wear causes a result from two different cavitation forms
1. Cavitation pressure pS1 corresponds to the faster filling of the pump chamber since (gap cavitation and displacement chamber
suction pressure at which hissing and bub- higher wear creates a raised back flow due to cavitation) that show different reasons and
ble noises occur in the pump. The cause of the bigger gap cross section. However, the overlay partly. Gap cavitation (pS1) can be
these hissing noises is the beginning of cavitation behaviour improved by wear is recognised by hissing noises in the pump,
gap cavitation [1]. combined with a smaller volumetric effi- displacement chamber cavitation (pS2) can
2. Cavitation pressure pS2 corresponds to the ciency [2]. be recognised by vehement strokes in the
suction pressure at which a vibrating and In water tests the cavitation pressure pS1 is pump and flow cut-off (Q = 0). The cavita-
periodic knocks and continuous rattling- rising a little with increasing wear. The dis- tion point pS2 must be avoided whenever de-
noises can be recognised. This is the regi- tinct cavitation condition at pressure pS2 is signing a pump because the strong strokes
on of full cavitation and the flow rate almost independent of the wear. Only at can destroy the pump. The cavitation point
breaks suddenly down in this case (the higher speeds (n > 500 rpm) pS2 decreases pS1 with typical hissing noises is a suffi-
stall of flow). This phenomenon it is cau- with increasing wear. ciently precise limit to avoid cavitation in ro-
sed by displacement chamber cavitation The viscosity has a strong influence on the tary lobe pumps. The pressure pS1 is appro-
[1], which is caused by insufficient filling flow rate, on the energetic efficiency [2] and ximately equal to the NPSHr -value.
of pump chambers. In case of displace- on the suction behaviour. Compared to water In practice the cavitation limit is often de-
ment chamber cavitation this kind of cavi- the suction behaviour of glycerine is consi- fined with the drop of the flow rate by e.g.
tation superimposes the gap cavitation. derable poor. Pumping high viscous media a 3%. Regarding rotary pumps already vehe-
lobe pump appears almost sealed so that the ment cavitation can occur under this criteri-
Test results back flow is minimised. If cavitation occurs on. Therefore continuous monitoring of suc-
it is pump chamber cavitation caused by lack tion behaviour is necessary in practice ope-
A rotation speed influence on the cavitation of filling. ration.
could be found (Fig. 1). The cavitation pres- In further experiments the influence on ca-
sure pS1 (beginning of the gap cavitation) vitation of the discharge pressure was ex-
shows an almost linear characteristic curve amined. The cavitation pressures pS1 and pS2
with the volume flow and the speed. At are strongly dependent on the discharge
higher rotational speed a higher relative flow pressure. With increasing discharge pressure
velocity results in the tip gap. The NPSHr va- the cavitation pressures pS1 and pS2 increase Formula symbols
lue can be set as cavitation point pS1 and considerably, that means with increasing dis-
must be followed absolutely. charge pressure the cavitation behaviour of Q m3/h flow rate
In the speed range n < 400 rpm the cavita- the pumps deteriorates. The pressure influ- n min-1 rotational pump speed
tion pressure pS2 remains almost constant ence on both pS1 and pS2 decrease at high p bar absolute pressure
and is independent of the speed. Only at speeds (n > 400 rpm). Probably this effect is pD bar absolute discharge pres-
higher speeds (n > 400 rpm) pS2 occurs at based on the fact that - regarding increasing sure
higher absolute suction pressures (> 0.1 bar), speed - the tip speed inducted cavitation is pS 1 bar absolute cavitation
followed by strong strokes in the pump and drowning out the pressure induced cavita- pressure (gap flow
the volume flow cuts off. Operating a pump tion. cavitation) at beginning
under these unstable conditions, the pump is Probably the pressure influence on the ca- pS 2 bar absolute cavitation
stressed enormously and the strong cavita- vitation is also increased by the shaft deflec- pressure (displacement
tion strokes can cause destruction. tion of the one-side mounted pump bearings. chamber cavitation) at
The wear influence on the cavitation pres- The pressure forces press the shafts apart stall of flow
sures pS1 and pS2 was examined with high- and create change of tip gaps. Pumps with sK mm tip gap clearance
viscous glycerine and is shown in Figure 2. both-side bearings show a much better suc- NPSHr m required Net-Positive-
The cavitation pressure pS1 is almost inde- tion behaviour [2]. Suction-Head, (minimum
pendent from wear and increases with in- The lobe shape too has a significant influ- required inlet pressure to
creasing speed. The suction behaviour de- ence on the suction behaviour [3]. Multi- avoid cavitation)
teriorates. The cavitation pressure pS2 wing helical toothed lobes create significant mPas viscosity of fluid
decreases with increasing wear. That means less pressure pulses; they show quiet running

59 LANDTECHNIK 1/2004 23