SUBJECT : Calculating net positive suction head (NPSH) in non-metric units 1112.

The definition of NPSHA is simple: Static head + surface pressure head - the vapor
pressure of your product - the friction losses in the piping, valves and fittings.
But to really understand it, you first have to understand a couple of other concepts:
Cavitation is what net positive suction head (NPSH) is all about, so you need to
know a little about cavitation.
Vapor Pressure is another term we will be using. The product's vapor pressure
varies with the fluid's temperature.
Specific gravity play an important part in all calculations involving liquid. You
have to be familiar with the term.
You have to be able to read a pump curve to learn the N.P.S.H. required for
your pump.
You need to understand how the liquid's velocity affects its pressure or head.
It is important to understand why we use the term Head instead
of Pressure when we make our calculations.
Head loss is an awkward term, but you will need to understand it.
o You will have to be able to calculate the head loss through piping, valves
and fittings.
You must know the difference between gage pressure and absolute pressure.
Vacuum is often a part of the calculations, so you are going to have to be
familiar with the terms we use to describe vacuum.
Lets look at each of these concepts in a little more detail :
Cavitation means cavities or holes in liquid. Another name for a hole in a liquid
is a bubble, so cavitation is all about bubbles forming and collapsing.

o Bubbles take up space so the capacity of our pump drops.

o Collapsing bubbles can damage the impeller and volute. This makes
cavitation a problem for both the pump and the mechanical seal.
Vapor pressure is about liquids boiling. If I asked you, "at what temperature
does water boil ?" You could say 212 F. or 100 C., but that is only true at
atmospheric pressure. Every product will boil (make bubbles) at some
combination of pressure and temperature. If you know the temperature of your
product you need to know its vapor pressure to prevent boiling and the
formation of bubbles. In the charts section of this web site you will find avapor
pressure chart for several common liquids.
Specific gravity is about the weight of the fluid. Using 4C (39 F) as our
temperature standard we assign fresh water a value of one. If the fluid floats on
this fresh water it has a specific gravity is less than one. If the fluid sinks in this
water the specific gravity of the fluid is greater than one.
Look at any pump curve and make sure you can locate the values for head,
capacity, best efficiency point (B.E.P.), efficiency, net positive suction head
(NPSH), and horse power required. If you cannot do this, have someone show
you where they are located.
Liquid velocity is another important concept. As a liquid's velocity increases,
its pressure (90 to the flow) decreases. If the velocity decreases the pressure
increases. The rule is : velocity times pressure must remain a constant.
"Head" is the term we use instead of pressure. The pump will pump any liquid
to a given height or head depending upon the diameter and speed of the
impeller. The amount of pressure you get depends upon the weight (specific
gravity) of the liquid. The pump manufacturer does not know what liquid the
pump will be pumping so he gives you only the head that the pump will
generate. You have to figure out the pressure using a formula described later on
in this paper.
Head (feet) is a convenient term because when combined with capacity (gallons
or pounds per minute) you come up with the conversion for horsepower (foot
pounds per minute).
"Head loss through the piping, valves and fittings" is another term we will be
using. Pressure drop is a more comfortable term for most people, but the term

"pressure" is not used in most pump calculations so you could substitute the
term "head drop" or "loss of head" in the system. To calculate this loss you will
need to be able to read charts like those you will find in the "charts you can
use" section in the home page of this web site. They are labeledFriction loss for
water and Resistance coefficients for valves and fittings.
Gage and absolute pressure. Add atmospheric pressure to the gage pressure and
you get absolute pressure.
Vacuum is a pressure less than atmospheric. At sea level atmospheric pressure
is 14.7 psi. (760 mm of Mercury). Vacuum gages are normally calibrated in
inches or millimeters of mercury.
To calculate the net positive suction head (NPSH) of your pump and determine if you
are going to have a cavitation problem, you will need access to several additional
pieces of information:
The curve for your pump. This pump curve is supplied by the pump
manufacturer. Someone in your plant should have a copy. The curve is going to
show you the Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) required for your pump at a
given capacity. Each pump is different so make sure you have the correct pump
curve and use the numbers for the impeller diameter on your pump. Keep in
mind that this NPSH required was for cold, fresh water.
A chart or some type of publication that will give you the vapor pressure of the
fluid you are pumping. You can find a typical vapor pressure chart in the
"charts you can use" section in the home page of this web site
If you would like to be a little more exact, you can use a chart to show the
possible reduction in NPSH required if you are pumping hot water or light
hydrocarbons. I will cover this subject in great detail in another paper.
You need to know the specific gravity of your fluid. Keep in mind that the
number is temperature sensitive. You can get this number from a published
chart, ask some knowledgeable person at your plant, or or take a reading on the
fluid using a hydrometer.
Charts showing the head loss through the size of piping you are using between
the source and the suction eye of your pump. You will also need charts to
calculate the loss in any fittings, valves, or other hardware that might have been

installed in the suction piping. You can find these charts in the "charts you can
use" section in the home page of this web site
Is the tank you are pumping from at atmospheric pressure or is it pressurized in
some manner? Maybe it is under a vacuum ?
You need to know the atmospheric pressure at the time you are making your
calculation. We all know atmospheric pressure changes through out the day, but
you have to start somewhere.
The formulas for converting pressure to head and head back to pressure in the
imperial system are as follows:

o sg. = specific gravity

o pressure = pounds per square inch
o head = feet

You also need to know the formulas that show you how to convert vacuum
readings to feet of head. Here are a few of them:
To convert surface pressure to feet of liquid; use one of the following formulas:
Inches of mercury x 1.133 / specific gravity = feet of liquid
Pounds per square inch x 2.31 / specific gravity = feet of liquid
Millimeters of mercury / (22.4 x specific gravity) = feet of liquid
There are different ways to think about net positive suction head (NPSH) but
they all have two terms in common.
NPSHA (net positive suction head available)

 NPSHR (net positive suction head required)

NPSHR (net positive suction head required) is defined as the NPSH at which the
pump total head (first stage head in multi stage pumps) has decreased by three percent
(3%) due to low suction head and resultant cavitation within the pump. This number is
shown on your pump curve, but it is going to be too low if you are pumping
hydrocarbon liquids or hot water.
Cavitation begins as small harmless bubbles before you get any indication of loss of
head or capacity. This is called the point of incipient cavitation. Testing has shown
that it takes from two to twenty times the NPSHR (net positive suction head required)
to fully suppress incipient cavitation, depending on the impeller shape (specific speed
number) and operating conditions.
To stop a product from vaporizing or boiling at the low pressure side of the pump the
NPSHA (net positive suction head available) must be equal to or greater than the
NPSHR (net positive suction head required).
As I mentioned at the beginning, NPSHA is defined as static head + surface pressure
head - the vapor pressure of your product - loss in the piping, valves and fittings .
In the following paragraphs you will be using the above formulas to determine if
you have a problem with NPSHA. Here is where you locate the numbers to put
into the formula:
Static head. Measure it from the centerline of the pump suction to the top of the
liquid level. If the level is below the centerline of the pump it will be a negative
or minus number.
Surface pressure head. Convert the gage absolute pressure to feet of liquid
using the formula:
o Pressure = head x specific gravity / 2.31
Vapor pressure of your product . Look at the vapor pressure chart in the "charts
you can use" section in the home page of this web site. You will have to convert
the pressure to head. If you use the absolute pressure shown on the left side of
the chart, you can use the above formula
Specific gravity of your product. You can measure it with a hydrometer if no
one in your facility has the correct chart or knows the number.

 Loss of pressure in the piping, fittings and valves. Use the three charts in the
"charts you can use" section in the home page of this web site
o Find the chart for the proper pipe size, go down to the gpm and read
across to the loss through one hundred feet of pipe directly from the last
column in the chart. As an example: two inch pipe, 65 gpm = 7.69 feet of
loss for each 100 feet of pipe.
o For valves and fittings look up the resistance coefficient numbers (K
numbers) for all the valves and fittings, add them together and multiply
the total by the V2/2g number shown in the fourth column of the friction
loss piping chart. Example: A 2 inch long radius screwed elbow has a K
number of 0.4 and a 2 inch globe valve has a K number of 8. Adding
them together (8 + 0.4) = 8.4 x 0.6 (for 65 gpm) = 5 feet of loss.
In the following examples we will be looking only at the suction side of the pump. If
we were calculating the pump's total head we would look at both the suction and
discharge sides.
Let's go through the first example and see if our pump is going to cavitate:
Given:
Atmospheric pressure = 14.7 psi
Gage pressure =The tank is at sea level and open to atmospheric pressure.
Liquid level above pump centerline = 5 feet
Piping = a total of 10 feet of 2 inch pipe plus one 90 long radius screwed
elbow.
Pumping =100 gpm. 68F. fresh water with a specific gravity of one (1).
Vapor pressure of 68F. Water = 0.27 psia from the vapor chart.
Specific gravity = 1
NPSHR (net positive suction head required, from the pump curve) = 9 feet

Now for the calculations:

NPSHA = Atmospheric pressure(converted to head) + static head + surface pressure
head - vapor pressure of your product - loss in the piping, valves and fittings
Static head = 5 feet
Atmospheric pressure = pressure x 2.31/sg. = 14.7 x 2.31/1 = 34 feet absolute
Gage pressure = 0
Vapor pressure of 68F. water converted to head = pressure x 2.31/sg = 0.27 x
2.31/1 = 0.62 feet
Looking at the friction charts:
o 100 gpm flowing through 2 inch pipe shows a loss of 17.4 feet for each
100 feet of pipe or 17.4/10 = 1.74 feet of head loss in the piping
o The K factor for one 2 inch elbow is 0.4 x 1.42 = 0.6 feet
Adding these numbers together, 1.74 + 0.6 = a total of 2.34 feet friction loss in
the pipe and fitting.
NPSHA (net positive suction head available) = 34 + 5 + 0 - 0.62 - 2.34 = 36.04 feet
The pump required 9 feet of head at 100 gpm. And we have 36.04 feet so we have
plenty to spare.

Example number 2 . This time we are going to be pumping from a tank under
vacuum.

Given:
Gage pressure = - 20 inches of vacuum
Atmospheic pressure = 14.7 psi
Liquid level above pump centerline = 5 feet
Piping = a total of 10 feet of 2 inch pipe plus one 90 long radius screwed
elbow.
Pumping = 100 gpm. 68F fresh water with a specific gravity of one (1).
Vapor pressure of 68F water = 0.27 psia from the vapor chart.
NPSHR (net positive suction head required) = 9 feet
Now for the calculations:
NPSHA = Atmospheric pressure(converted to head) + static head + surface pressure
head - vapor pressure of your product - loss in the piping, valves and fittings

Atmospheric pressure = 14.7 psi x 2.31/sg. =34 feet

Static head = 5 feet

 Gage pessure pressure = 20 inches of vacuum converted to head

o inches of mercury x 1.133 / specific gravity = feet of liquid
o -20 x 1.133 /1 = -22.7 feet of pressure head absolute
Vapor pressure of 68F water = pressure x 2.31/sg. = 0.27 x 2.31/1 = 0.62 feet
Looking at the friction charts:
o 100 gpm flowing through 2.5 inch pipe shows a loss of 17.4 feet or each
100 feet of pipe or 17.4/10 = 1.74 feet loss in the piping
o The K factor for one 2 inch elbow is 0.4 x 1.42 = 0.6 feet
Adding these two numbers together: (1.74 + 0.6) = a total of 2.34 feet friction
loss in the pipe and fitting.
NPSHA (net positive suction head available) = 34 + 5 - 22.7 - 0.62 - 2.34 = 13.34 feet.
This is enough to stop cavitation also.
For the third example we will keep everything the same except that we will be
pumping 180 F. hot condensate from the vacuum tank.
The vapor pressure of 180F condensate is 7 psi according to the chart. We get the
specific gravity from another chart and find that it is 0.97 sg. for 180 F. Fresh water.
Putting this into the pressure conversion formula we get:
pressure x 2.31/sg. = 7 x 2.31 / 0.97 = 16.7 feet absolute
NPSHA = Atmospheric pressure(converted to head) + static head + surface pressure
head - vapor pressure of your product - loss in the piping, valves and fittings
NPSHA (net positive suction head available) = 34 + 5 - 22.7 - 16.7 - 2.34 = -2.74 feet.
We need 9 feet, so the pump is going to cavitate for sure.
A few notes about this last example:
A negative NPSHA is physically impossible because it implies that the friction
losses exceed the available head and that cannot happen. The rule when

pumping a boiling fluid is: The NPSHA equals the Static Suction Head minus
the Suction friction head because the suction surface pressure and the vapor
pressure equalize one another. The absolute pressure in the tank is 34 -22.7 =
11.3 ft. The vapor pressure of the condensate in the tank converts to 16.7 ft of
head (see above) so the condensate is boiling /flashing and reaching a state of
equilibrium.
When pumping a boiling liquid, the Static Head must exceed the Suction
Friction Head (2.34 feet) by the amount of NPSH Required (9 feet) or: (9 ft. +
2.34 feet = 11.34 feet.) We can do this by raising the level in the suction tank an
additional 6.34 feet to get the 11.34 feet required (6.34 feet + 5 feet existing =
11.34 feet)
In some instances you could reduce the Suction Friction Head to get the same
result, but in this example there is not enough friction head available to reduce.
This example also allows you to shortcut NPSHA calculations any time you are
pumping from a tank where the liquid is at its vapor pressure. Oil refineries are
full of these applications.
If you are given the absolute and vapor pressures in psia, and you forgot how to
convet to feet of head; you can use the following formula, providing you know the
specific weight of the liquid you are pumping :

Pp = Absolute pressure expressed in psia. In an open system, Pp equals

atmospheric pressure, Pa, expressed in psia.
Pvpa = Vapor pressure expressed in psia.
W = Specific weight of liquid at the pumping temperature in pounds per cubic
foot.
For information about my CD with over 600 Seal & Pump Subjects
explained, click here
Link to the Mc Nally home page

SUBJECT : Calculating the total system head in USCS units 7-1:

USCS stands for "United States Customary System Units" as opposed to the SI (Le
Syst`eme International d`Units) or metric units that have been adopted by the
International standards Organization (ISO).
It turn out that "head" is a very convenient term in the pumping business. Capacity is
measured in gallons per minute, and each gallon of liquid has weight, so we can easily
calculate the pounds per minute being pumped. Head or height is measured in feet, so
if we multiply these two together we get foot- pounds per minute which converts
directly to work at the rate of 33,000 foot pounds per minute equals one horsepower.
Pressure is not as convenient a term because the amount of pressure that the pump
will deliver depends upon the weight (specific gravity) of the liquid being pumped
and the specific gravity changes with temperature, type of fluid, and fluid
concentration.

If you will refer to FIG 1, you should get a clear picture of what is meant by static
head. Note that we always measure from the center line of the pump to the highest
liquid level
To calculate head accurately we must calculate the total head on both the suction and
discharge sides of the pump. In addition to the static head we will learn that there is a
head caused by resistance in the piping, fittings and valves called friction head, and a
head caused by any pressure that might be acting on the liquid in the tanks including
atmospheric pressure, called " surface pressure head".
Once we know these heads, we will then subtract the suction head from the discharge
head and the amount remaining will be the amount of head that the pump must be able
to generate at the rated flow. Here is how it looks in a formula:
System head = total discharge head - total suction head
H = hd - hs
The total discharge head is made from three separate heads:
hd = hsd + hpd + hfd
hd = total discharge head
hsd = discharge static head
hpd = discharge surface pressure head

 hfd = discharge friction head

The total suction head also consists of three separate heads
hs = hss + hps - hfs
hs = total suction head
hss = suction static head
hps = suction surface pressure head
hfs = suction friction head
As we make these calculations, you must sure that all calculations are made in either
"feet of liquid gauge" or "feet of liquid absolute". In case you have forgotten "absolute
means that you have added atmospheric pressure (head) to the gauge reading.
Now we will make some actual calculations:
Figure #2 demonstrates that the discharge head is still measured to the liquid level, but
you will note that it is below the maximum height of the piping.
Although the pump must deliver enough head to get up to this maximum piping
height, it will not have to continue to deliver this head when the pump is running
because of the "siphon effect". There is of course a maximum siphon effect. It is
derived from: 14.7 psi (atmospheric pressure) x 2.31 feet / psi = 33.4 feet maximum
siphon effect.

We will begin with the total suction head calculation

1. The suction head is negative because the liquid level in the suction tank is below
the centerline of the pump:
hss = - 6 feet
2. The suction tank is open, so the suction surface pressure equals atmospheric
pressure :
hps = 0 feet gauge
3. You will not have to calculate the suction friction head, I will tell you it is:
hfs = 4 feet at rated flow
4. The total suction head is a gauge value because atmosphere was given as 0,
hs = hss + hps - hfs = -6 + 0 - 4 = -10 feet of liquid gauge at rated flow
The total discharge head calculation
1. The static discharge head is:
hsd = 125 feet
2. The discharge tank is also open to atmospheric pressure, thus:

hpd = 0 feet, gauge

3. I will give you the discharge friction head as:
hfd = 25 feet at rated flow
4. The total discharge head is:
hd = hsd + hpd + hfd = 125 + 0 + 25 = 150 feet of liquid gauge at rated flow
The total system head calculation:
H = hd - hs = 150 - (-10)= 160 feet of liquid at rated flow
Note: did you notice that when we subtracted a minus number (-10) from a positive
number (150) we ended up with a positive 160 because whenever you subtract minus
numbers it is the same as adding them? If you have trouble with this concept you can
learn more about it from a mathematics book.
Our next example involves a few more calculations, but you should be able to handle
them. In this example we are going to learn how to handle a vacuum application. Pipe
friction numbers are taken from the Hydraulic Institute Engineering Data Book. You
can get a copy of this publication from your library if you want to see the actual
charts. I have some of this information in thechart section of this web site.

Specifications:
1. Transferring 1000 gpm. weak acid from the vacuum receiver to the storage tank
2. Specific Gravity - 0.98
3. Viscosity - equal to water
4. Piping - All 6" Schedule 40 steel pipe
5. Discharge piping rises 40 feet vertically above the pump centerline and then runs
400 feet horizontally. There is one 90 flanged elbow in this line
6. Suction piping has a square edge inlet, four feet of pipe, one gate valve, and one
90 flanged elbow all of which are 6" in diameter.
7. The minimum level in the vacuum receiver is 5 feet above the pump centerline.
8. The pressure on top of the liquid in the vacuum receiver is 20 inches of mercury,
vacuum.
To calculate suction surface pressure use one of the following formulas:
inches of mercury x 1.133/ specific gravity = feet of liquid
pounds per square inch x 2.31/specific gravity = feet of liquid
Millimeters of mercury / (22.4 x specific gravity) = feet of liquid
Now that you have all of the necessary information we will begin by dividing the
system into two different sections, using the pump as the dividing line.
Total suction head calculation
1. The suction side of the system shows a minimum static head of 5 feet above suction
centerline. Therefore, the static suction head is:
hss = 5 feet
2. Using the first conversion formula, the suction surface pressure is:
hps = -20 Hg x 1.133/ 0.98 = -23.12 feet gauge

3. The suction friction head, hfs, equals the sum of all the friction losses in the suction
line. Friction loss in 6" pipe at 1000 gpm from table 15 of the Hydraulic Institute
Engineering Data Book, is 6.17 feet per 100 feet of pipe.
in 4 feet of pipe friction loss = 4/100 x 6.17 = 0.3 feet
Friction loss coefficients (K factors) for the inlet, elbow and valve can be added
together and multiplied by the velocity head:
FITTING

FROM TABLE

6" Square edge inlet

0.50

32 (a)

6" 90 flanged elbow

0.29

32 (a)

6" Gate valve

0.11

32 (b)

Total coefficient, K = 0.90

Total friction loss on the suction side is:
hfs = 0.3 + 1.7 = 2.0 feet at 1000 gpm.
4. The total suction head then becomes:
hs = hss + hps - hfs = 5 + (-23.12) - 2.0 = -20.12 feet, gauge at 1000 gpm.
Total discharge head calculation
1. Static discharge head = hsd = 40 feet
2. Discharge surface pressure = hpd = 0 feet gauge
3. Discharge friction head = hfd = sum of the following losses :
Friction loss in 6" pipe at 1000 gpm. from table 15, is 6.17 feet per hundred feet of
pipe.
In 440 feet of pipe the friction loss = 440/100 x 6.17 = 27.2 feet

Friction loss in 6" elbow:

from table 32 (a), K = 0,29
from table 15, V2/2g = 1.92 at 1000 gpm.
Friction loss = K V2/2g = 0.29 x 1.92 = 0.6 feet
The friction loss in the sudden enlargement at the end of the discharge line is called
the exit loss. In systems of this type where the area of the discharge tank is very large
in comparison to the area of the discharge pipe, the loss equals V 2/2g, as shown in
table 32 (b).
Friction loss at exit = V2/2g = 1.9 feet
The discharge friction head is the sum of the above losses, that is:
hfd = 27.2 + 0.6 + 1.9 = 29.7 feet at 1000 gpm.
4. The total discharge head then becomes:
hd = hsd + hpd + hfd = 40 + 0 + 29.7 = 69.7 feet, gauge at 1000 gpm.
c. Total system head calculation:
H = hd - hs = 69.7 - (-20.2) = 89.9 feet at 1000 gpm.
Our next example will be the same as the one we just finished except. that there is an
additional 10 feet of pipe and another 90 flanged elbow in the vertical leg. The total
suction head will be the same as in the previous example. Take a look at figure # 4

Nothing has changed on the suction side of the pump so the total suction head will
remain the same:
hs = -20.12 feet, gauge at 100 gpm.
Total discharge head calculation
1. The static discharge head "hsd" will change from 40 feet to 30 feet, since the
highest liquid surface in the discharge is now only 30 feet above the pump centerline.
(This value is based on the assumption that the vertical leg in the discharge tank is full
of liquid and that as this liquid falls it will tend to pull the liquid up and over the loop
in the pipe line. This arrangement is called a siphon leg).
2. The discharge surface pressure is unchanged:
hpd = 0 feet
3. The friction loss in the discharge pipe will be increased by the additional 10 feet of
pipe and the additional elbow.
In 10 feet of pipe the friction loss = 10/100 x 6.17 = 0.6 feet
The friction loss in the additional elbow = 0.6 feet
The friction head will then increase as follows:

hfd = 29.7 + 0.6 + 0.6 = 30.9 feet at 1000 gpm.

The total discharge head becomes:
hd = hsd + hpd + hfd
= 30 + 0 + 30.9
= 60.9 feet, gauge at 1000 gpm.
5. Total system head calculation
H = hd - hs = 60.9 - (-20.12) = 81 feet at 1000 gpm.
For our last example we will look at gauges. Take a look at FIG 5:

Specifications:
Capacity - 300 gpm.
Specific gravity - 1.3
Viscosity - Similar to water
Piping - 3 inch suction, 2 inch discharge
Atmospheric pressure - 14.7 psi.
Divide the heads into two sections again:

The discharge gauge head corrected to the centerline of the pump, in feet of liquid
absolute is found by adding the atmospheric pressure to the gauge reading to get
absolute pressure, and then converting to absolute head:
hgd = (130 + 14.7) x 2.31 / (1.3 Specific Gravity) + 4 = 261.1 feet, absolute
Note the 4 foot head correction to the pump centerline.
The discharge velocity head at 300 gpm. is found in table 9 of the Hydraulic Institute
Engineering Data Book
hvd = 12.8 feet at 300 gpm.
The suction gauge reading is in absolute terms so it needs only to be converted to feet
of liquid, absolute.
hgs = 40 x 2.3 / 1.3 +2 = 73.08 feet absolute
Note the 2 foot head correction to the pump centerline.
The suction velocity head at 300 gpm. is found in table 11 of the Pipe Friction
Manual:
hvs = 2.63 feet at 300 gpm.
The total system head developed by the pump =:
H = (hgd + hvd ) - ( hgs + hvs ) = (261.1 + 12.8) - (73.08 + 2.6)= 198.22 feet absolute
at 300 gpm.