Tag: NPSH

Suction operation with normal priming centrifugal pumps

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This means that the local air pressure p<sub>b</sub> is higher than the product of the holding pressure head HH and the vapour pressure and makes a supply pressure at these temperatures unnecessary. This correlation is causally related to the drastic decrease in vapour pressure at cold water. In practice this means: Pumps with negative minimum head H<sub>req</sub> are able to operate in suction mode (not self-priming). The size of the suction capacity corresponds approximately to the value of the negative minimum suction head minus 1m safety range. Since the pumps normally used in building services engineering do not normally self-priming, the following conditions must be met to ensure suction operation:
  • Filling and venting of the suction-side pipeline including the pump before commissioning.
  • Prevention of air intake during pump operation (in case of air pockets, collapse of the suction function).
  • Prevention of the suction line running empty when the pump is at a standstill by using a foot valve (danger of leakage in case of contamination).
Non-return valves in the discharge line are not sufficient, as air can be sucked in via the shaft seal (mechanical seal or stuffing box) when the pump is at a standstill. In general, the suction capacity of normally priming pumps is limited to a range of max. 2 to 4 m due to their design. For higher suction heights max. 8 to 9 m and for self-priming special pumps must be used.

System NPSHavailable

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NPSHavailable = NPSH of system pe = Pressure available system inlet liquid level pb = Barometric pressure pD = Vapour pressure of pumped fluid at the pump suction inlet ρ = Density of the pumped fluid at the pump suction inlet g = Local gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s2) ze = Static level difference between system inlet liquid level and a reference level, the negative sign becoming applicable if the reference level is above the system inlet liquid. The reference point is the centre of the impeller. Hv = Friction loss in suction-side system. The reference point for the NPSH value is the centre of the impeller, i.e. the intersection of the pump shaft axis with the plane perpendicular to it through the outer points of the blade leading edge. The duty point of a centrifugal pump can only be a permanent duty point if complying with: NPSHavailable > NPSHrequired + safety margin.

NPSH required

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The NPSHrequired is the lowest NPSH value at which definite cavitation criteria (i.e. wear due to cavitation, vapour formation, vibration, noise, head loss) can be contained. As a function of the volume flow Q, NPSHreq is a characteristic of the centrifugal pump and is specified for many types as pump characteristic curve NPSH(Q). At low volume flow rates, the NPSH value is almost constant, whereas it rises steeply at high volume flows. The NPSH value of the pump changes with the speed as well as the impeller diameter. For some pump types, the NPSH value can optionally be reduced by an additional construction. A typical example of this is the inducer, in which an axial impeller with a small number of blades is arranged directly in front of the actual impeller of the centrifugal pump.

NPSH

Posted on by bs
It is calculated from the absolute energy level minus the evaporation pressure level. The evaporating head shall be calculated with the evaporating pressure corresponding to the temperature prevailing in the inlet cross-section of the pump. The NPSHavailable value is the system-specific NPSH relating to the given flow rate and the fluid characteristics. The NPSHrequired is the lowest NPSH value at which definite cavitation criteria (i.e. wear due to cavitation, vapour formation, vibration, noise, head loss) can be contained.  

Cavitation

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This occurs if the static pressure in the fluid falls below the temperature-related vapour pressure. A forceful implosion of the bubbles occurs when the fluid stream reaches a region of higher pressure. Cavitation can lead to premature material wear and noise emission. Cavitation should therefore be avoided as far as possible.

Net positive suction head (NPSHr)

Posted on by bs
Generally recognizable is the strong dependence on the pump speed. If the construction is unchanged: High speed -> High holding pressure head Low speed -> Low holding pressure head In order to take account of any uncertainties in the design of the duty point, these values must be increased by a safety margin of 0.5 m when selecting the pump. By definition a minimum cavitation is permissible at NPSH, whereby the following conditions are allowed:
  • The head of the pump at the nominal point is reduced by 3%.
  • No material damage impairing the function and service life occurs.
Due to the permissible cavitation, cavitation noises can still occur, some of which are perceived as disturbing. In order to eliminate the residual cavitation, it is necessary to provide the calculated minimum inlet head with a surcharge of approx. + 1 to + 5 m. The minimum inlet head must be calculated with a surcharge of approx. This surcharge depends on the speed and the operating point of the pump.

Minimum Inlet Pressure

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Pumps require, in order to ensure trouble-free operation, a minimum static inlet pressure at the pump suction port, which is generally termed the minimum available net positive suction head (NPSH). This available inlet pressure decreases with the flow through the pump on account of the velocity change of the liquid in the suction section and the impeller. The critical location is the entry into the impeller suction neck. If the pressure then falls below the operating vapour pressure of the fluid, the fluid flashes into a vapour and forms bubbles. The ensuing flow through the impeller leads to an hydraulic pressure build-up. Within this region the bubbles collapse or implode with a tremendous shock on the adjacent surfaces causing vibration and even destruction in the form of pitting or erosion. This process, termed Cavitation, is accompanied by low rumbling or sharp rattling noise with rising intensity as cavitation increases. The pumping performance is also impaired as the pump is now handling a water/gas mixture. A minimum static inlet pressure must thus be maintained at the pump suction port in order to avoid cavitation. The level of this required pressure depends on:

– the temperature of pumped liquid – required net positive suction head HH (termed: NPSHrequired) corresponding to the pump duty point.

The required net positive suction head (HH or NPSHrequired) relates specifically to the pump and is normally depicted by pump manufacturers as an NPSH curve in the pump duty chart. Generally there is a strong relationship with the pump speed. For constant pump types the following is true:

– High speed -> High NPSHrequired – Low speed -> Low NPSHrequired

It is recommended practice to raise these levels by a safety margin of 0,5 m (1,6 ft) to compensate for possible variations on duty point calculations when selecting the pump. General standards allow a minimum level of cavitation at the determined NPSHrequired which:

– reduces the Pumping Head at the duty point by 3% or less – does not cause any material deterioration, performance reduction or reduce service life.

Such acceptable levels of cavitation may however cause unacceptable noise. To ensure best performance, it is common practice to load the NPSHavailable calculation with a safety margin of approx. +1 to +5 m (+3 to +15 ft), depending on speed and Duty Point of the pump.