Cavitation 20002

CAVITATION AND NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD
Cavitation is a phenomenon which occurs in a centrifugal pump in which the reduction

of pressure below the liquid's vapor pressure leads to the formation of bubbles. These
bubbles are carried away by the flowing liquid and collapsed with a tremendous shock
when region of higher pressure is reached. The repeated shock waves produced by this
process can be a significant cause of wear and metal fatigue on impellers and pump
casing.
Causes of Cavitation:
1. Low suction pressure
2. High fluid velocity
3. High liquid temperature
4. Roughness and bends
Effects of Cavitation:
1. Drops in Capacity
2. Noise and Vibration
3. Corrosion and Pitting
TO AVOID CAVITATION
NPSH available must at least equal or greater than the NPSH required
NPSHAVAILABLE ≥ NPSHREQUIRED
It is therefore necessary to ensure that NPSH available is greater than NPSH required,
and for that, a margin must be built in to the equation.
NPSHAVAILABLE ≥ NPSHREQUIRED + margin
NPSH stands for Net Positive Suction Head
NPSH is defined as the total head of fluid at the center line of the impeller less the fluid’s
vapor pressure. The purpose of NPSH is to identify and avoid the operating conditions
which lead to vaporisation of the fluid as it enters the pump – a condition known
as flashing. In a centrifugal pump, the fluid’s pressure is at a minimum at the eye of the
impeller. If the pressure here is below the vapor pressure of the fluid, bubbles are formed
which pass on through the impeller vanes towards the discharge port. As the bubbles of
vapor are transported into this region of high pressure, they can spontaneously collapse
in a damaging process called cavitation.
Required NPSH or NPSHREQUIRED

The NPSHREQUIRED, called as the Net Suction Head as required by the pump in order to
prevent cavitation for safe and reliable operation of the pump.
The required NPSHREQUIRED for a particular pump is in general determined experimentally

by the pump manufacturer and a part of the documentation of the pump.
Available NPSH or NPSHAVAILABLE
The Net Positive Suction Head available from the application to the suction side of a pump
is often named NPSHAVAILABLE. The NPSHAVAILABLE can be estimated during the design
and the construction of the system.
NPSHAVAILABLE = Zs + [Ps – Pv]/ γ - hfs
Where:
Zs = static suction head or elevation head at suction
Ps = absolute pressure at suction
Pv = vapor pressure or saturation pressure of liquid at a given temperature
hfs = head loss due to friction at suction
Example 1
A plant is located at an altitude of 1000m above sea level has an open feed-water
heater located 3m above the pump centerline. The water in the heater has a temperature
of 80oC. If the head loss in the suction line is 0.3m, what is the available NPSH of the
pump in meters?
Given: Zs = 3m hfs = 0.3m twater@heater = 80oC

Ps = Patm at 1000m above sea level
Required: Find NPSHAVAILABLE
Solution:
Example 2
Determine the available NPSH for a cooling tower pump if the maximum cooling
water temperature is 95oF and the pump centerline is 5ft below the cooling tower sump.
The installation is at an altitude of 1000ft. The head loss due to friction at suction is 6ft.
Given: Zs = 5ft hfs = 6ft twater@heater = 95oF

Ps = Patm at 1000ft above sea level
Required: Find NPSHAVAILABLE
Solution:
SUPPLEMETARY PROBLEMS
1. Water is to be pump from a reservoir with a temperature of 32oC at sea level. Friction loss
at suction is 0.3 m and the suction elevation is 2.45 m below pump centerline. Determine
the available NPSH for this pump installation if at 32oC, Psat = 4.798 kPa & specific volume
is 0.001006 m3/kg. Answer: 7.15 m
2. Gasoline at 38oC is being drawn from a closed tank having a pressure of 70 kPag. The
level of gasoline in the tank is 2.5m above the pump centerline. The suction line friction
loss is 0.6m. The vapor pressure of the gasoline is 48 kPa absolute and its specific gravity
is 0.72. Determine the NPSH available. Answer: 19.35m
3. A centrifugal pump has NPSH required of 21 ft. The water temperature is 90oF and the
friction loss at suction is 1.2 ft. The pump takes water from an open tank below the pump
centerline. Determine the maximum static elevation at suction. (Note: @90oF: Psat = 0.69
psia and  = 0.01608 ft3/lb). Answer: 10.26ft

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CAVITATION AND NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD

Cavitation is a phenomenon which occurs in a centrifugal pump in which the reduction

Required NPSH or NPSHREQUIRED

The required NPSHREQUIRED for a particular pump is in general determined experimentally

NPSHAVAILABLE = Zs + [Ps – Pv]/ γ - hfs

Given: Zs = 3m hfs = 0.3m twater@heater = 80oC

Given: Zs = 5ft hfs = 6ft twater@heater = 95oF

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