5-Cavitation in Pumps

Cavitation
Ifthepressureoftheliquidstreamislowereduptovapor
pressure evaporation will start forming small vapor bubbles in
pressureevaporationwillstartformingsmallvaporbubblesin
theliquidstream.
The
Thebubblesconstitutecavitiesasfartheliquidstreamis
bubbles constitute cavities as far the liquid stream is
concernedthusthenamecavitation

A. formation of vapor bubbles;

B. collapse the vapor bubble;
C. material destruction

 If
Ifdownstreampressureagainrisesabovethevaporpressure,
downstream pressure again rises above the vapor pressure
thevaporphasebecomesunstableanditdisappears.
If
Ifthebubblewaslocatedonthewall,thematerialofthewall
the bubble was located on the wall the material of the wall
maybedestroyedduetoimpactoftheliquidparticlesrushing
towardsthewall.
Thedestructionproceedsrapidlyifthesurfaceofthewallhas
alreadydistractionmarksorchamfers.
Ifthebubbleisentirelysurroundedbytheliquid,no
destructionofwallmaterialiscausedbutahardnoisecanbe
h d d th
heardandthemachinemayvibrate
hi
ib t

Pumps
Thepressureactingon
thesuctionwaterlevel
maybePA (Atmospheric
pressure).

Ifthesuctionwaterlevel
istakenasreference,the
energycontentofthe
water at this level is given
wateratthislevelisgiven
by(PA/).

 Thetotalenergycontentofthewateratthesuctionendof
the impeller is less. The energy difference is given by:
theimpellerisless.Theenergydifferenceisgivenby:
A. Thegeodeticenergydifference(ges [Nm/kg])
Wherees:heightdifferencebetweensuctionwaterlevel
andthehighestpointofthesuctionedgeofthevanes.

B. Theenergylossoftheflowinthesuctionpipeuptothe
suction end (pump suction flange ) Zs [Nm/kg]
suctionend(pumpsuctionflange)Z

 Consideringa.andb.,thefollowingtotalenergyexistsatthe
height es atthepumpsuctionend
heighte
at the pump suction end
PA
Es [N
Nm kg
k ] = ( ges + Z s )

Thedynamicenergyandthelossforgeneratingcofromthe
velocityzeroatthesuctionwaterlevelmaybecounted
togetherandexpressedas:
h
d
d
C02
2 .
2

where 2 > 1

Because the generating

loss is included

 Duetotheinfluenceofthethicknessofthevaneandofthe
pressuredistributionaroundthesuctionendofthevanethe
di t ib ti
d th
ti
d f th
th
actuallyprevailingvelocityatthesuctionendisgreaterthan
co.
Theadditionaldynamicenergyincluded.(theadditional
lossesforgeneratingthishighestvelocityfromco)isbest
expressed related to relative velocity Wo.
expressedrelatedtorelativevelocityW
W02
1.
2

where 1 < 1

Consequently,
Consequently

As the additional dynamic energy

is only a fraction of the dyn.
energy of the relative velocity

W02
C02
(Es Estat .min ) = y = 1 + 2
2
2

Experimentalvalues:
E
i
t l l
10.25to0.35;
0 25 t 0 35 21.1to1.3
11t 13

and

E stat . min

W 02
PA
C 02

( g
= E s y =
ge s + Z s ) 1
+ 2
144 2 4 4 3 1 4 242 4 423
given by design of
suction pipe and
location of pump

given by design of pump

Ifevaporationoftheflowmediumhastobeavoided,itmust
be
E stat . min = E s y

PT

Where PT[N/m2] vapor pressure

at Prevailing temperature

Thelastconditioncanbeexpressedalsointhefollowingway:
Es

PT

PA PT

( ge s + Z s ) = (E s )avail y

Evaporationwilltakesplaceif(Es)avail<y

Avoiding of Cavitation in Pumps

Thelocallyloweststaticpressurefoundatthesuctionendofthe
impeller is
impelleris:
E stat
t t . min
i

W 02
PA
C 02

( ge s + Z s ) 1
=
+ 2
2
2

Where:
PA/ isdeterminedbythepressureconditiononthesurfaceof
thesuctiontank
(ges +Zs)isdeterminedbytheheightpositionabovethesurface
ofthesuctiontankandthelayoutofthesuctionpipesystem
(1W20 +2C20 )=yisdeterminedbythepumpdesign

 The outer point a of the vane

suction edge is exposed to the
cavitation most as here u and
therefore Wo has the highest
value along the vane suction
edge.
By this consideration, the
velocity Co may be assumed
nearlyy the same for all p
point of
the vane suction edge.
The ratio between Coa and Woa is given by the angle oa. To avoid
cavitations--the minimum of y- is given by the following
cavitations
equation :

Case: 0a=900

tan ( oa )opt =

( oa )opt

1 1
2 1 + 2

= 17 0 32 '

if 1 = 0 . 3 and 2 = 1 . 2

 Case:
Case:
0a900

(oa)opt valuesaregivenbythefollowing
diagram
g

Pre--rotation factor
Pre
C ou
W ou
r = 1
=
u1a
u1a

tan ( oa )opt =

1 + 2
1
1
r

2
1 + 2

Thevalueofymaybedeterminedbyassuming1 and2 ifCo

andWo areknownorbyassumingthesuctionnumber

Suction Number Sq
Itisadimensionlessnumberinregardtoprevailingloweststatic
pressure
Thedesignofthepump,thelocallyloweststaticpressureis
influencedby:

a. The value of y: i.e.bythefrictioncoefficients1 and2

actuallyexistingandtherelationofco towo asgivenbytheangle

oa

b. The value of the speed n: (ifforthesamepumpthe

speednisincreased,thelocallyloweststaticpressureis
decreased)

c. The volume v: (ifforthesamevaluesofnandoa the

volumeVisincreased,theabsolutevalueofCoandWo
volume
V is increased, the absolute value of Co and Wo increase;
increase;
hencethelocallyloweststaticpressureintheeyedecrease).

Suction number

n V
Sq =
y 3 4
AsforsamenandV,,
ahigherSq value
referstoalowery.

The diagram indicates the a pre

prerotation r=0.8 (slight
prerotation in direction of impeller rotation) avoids
pre
cavitation..
cavitation

 Ifthehubisextendedthroughtheeyeoftheimpellera
decrease in free cross section of the eye withanincreaseof
decreaseinfreecrosssectionoftheeyewithanincreaseof
with an increase of
themeridianvelocityforsameVisnoted.
In
Inordertotakeaccountofthisincreaseinvelocitydueto
order to take account of this increase in velocity due to
existenceofahub,thesuctionnumberisdefinedas

n V k
Sq =
y 3 4
dn
Where : k = 1
ds

Suction Specific Speed nqs; Net Positive

S
Suction
i
Head
H d NPSH
SuctionSpecificSpeed
p
p
Where: h= y/g,
nismeasuredinrpm
i
di
Accordingtopreviousdiagram

n V
=
3 4
h

n qs
(E s )avail
g

= ( NPSH

y
= ( NPSH
g

)available

)required

Asthepumprequiresoutoftheavailable(NPSH)available the
amount(NPSH)required thedemandforavoidingcavitation is
givenby

(NPSH )available

( NPSH

)required

Measures to Avoid Cavitation

1. Measures at the pump design
W02
C02
y = 1
+ 2
2
2

Demand:yassmallaspossible,is
y
p
,
obtainedusing

a.

LowShapeNumber: (Largepump,lowspeed,multisuction,thus
Co andWo keptsmall)

b.

Favorableoa (assumesfavorableratioofCo toWo)

c.

Lowvaneloadingbymeansofincreasingthevanelength,vanes
drawnintotheimpellereye(influences1).

d. Good Streamlining of impeller

approach i.e. especially avoiding or
rapid changes of the flow direction.

e.SmoothSurfacesofwallsofpumpeyeandvanes.
f.

Useofentranceguidevanesinordertogenerateapre
rotationindirectionoftheimpellerrotation(r =0.8).

2 Measures outside the pump

2.
Demands:ges,Zs andPT/ assmallaspossible,highPA/
a
a.

small ges: pumpistobelocatedasclosetothesuctionwater

i t b l t d
l
t th
ti
t
levelaspossible

Small Zs:lossofthesuctionpipeistobekeptsmall:lowflow
pp
p
b. S
velocity(Cs =1to2m/snormally);

shortsuctionline.

Avoidingofunnecessarybends;

Smoothinsidesurfaceofpipe

Leak proof suction line to avoid air intake;

Leakproofsuctionlinetoavoidairintake;

Avoidingofprerotationinsuctionpipe;

AvoidingAirPockets

C. Small PT/: Pumpistobelocatedwheretheliquidhasits

p
q

lowesttemperature. Circulatingpumpsofheating
installationsshouldbeinstalledintherunback.

d Rise
d.
Ri iin PA/: Useofafeedingpump
U
f f di
whichislocated
hi h i l
d

deepertanthemainpumpandrunswithlowspeed.Often,
alsoejectorpumps withnorotatingpartsareusedifheight
es ortemperatureofliquidareveryhigh.

3. Other Measures

Cavitation can also be avoided by using proper pump

materials with high fatigue resistance and high ductility and
providing very smooth surfaces
Preferable pump materials are: Chromesteel, stainless steel
Thedestructioneffectofcavitation mayalsobeeliminated
partlyoffullybyinducingairintotheliquidatthesuctionline.
Theairwillfillpartlythecavitieswhichconsequentlydonot
collapseanymoresosuddenly