NPSHA Calculation with or without dissolved gases

Reference : Adriaan Redelinghuys

Password: 'daan' for unprotecting results

21-Nov-03

Legend:

aaa

= input values

bbb

= calculated values

ccc

= constants

This spreadsheet program calculates the NPSH available for a system by taking gases into account.
Dissolved gases increase the vapour pressure and an effective vapour pressure is calculated. If there are
no dissolved gases the normal vapour pressure is used in the well known formula for NPSH.
Select

NPSH calculation with dissolved gas

For an air-water system, the program has a data-base of Henry's constants at different temperatures. For
other dissolved gases in liquids, one has to enter the Henry's constant at the pumping temperature.
Select

Dissolved gas = Air in Water

Inconsistency: 'NPSH calculation with dissolved gas' was not selected

For water, the program can calculate the vapour pressure at the pumping temperature.
Select
Inconsistency: 'Dissolved gas = Air in Water' was selected, select 'Pumping Water'
Pumping Water or
Pumping any other liquid

INPUT VALUES AND CALCULATED NPSH VALUES:

Height of Liquid level above pump centre line at the suction, h
Operating pressure of pump suction vessel, P o

3.2
85

metre
kPa(abs)

Vapour pressure of pure liquid at process temperature, P v

2.0
27
996

kPa(abs)
C
kg/m3

1.0

kg/m3

Pumping temperature
Liquid density at process conditions in the pump suction drum, l
Gas density at process conditions in the pump suction drum, Go
Saturation factor, a, equillibrium fraction ( =1 for 100% saturated)

1.0

Molar mass of gas, MG

29.0

Molar mass of liquid, ML

18.0
74,000

Henry's constant for dissolved gas in liquid (for air/water the database is used), H A
% Tolerable vapour fraction at the pump eye, f) tolerable
Effective vapour pressure, Pe
Friction loss from suction vessel to pump suction flange

NPSHA

= 5.6 metre and thus NPSHReq must be less than

Use total pressure and not partial pressure for gas density
Dissolved gas at unsaturated condition/dissolved gas at
saturated condition. Use 1 if factor is not known or when 100%
saturated

atm/mole fraction

3.0%

Fraction of gas in solution (= 7.5x104 for water at 27oC)

Normally 2 to 3% or unless specified by pump vendor

36.8
24.5

kPa
kPa

4.7

metre

1 of 3

Negative figure when liquid level is below pump centre line

The Sastech safety factor was taken into account: 20% for
water and 10 % for hydrocarbons with a minimum of 0,5 m

1. Calulation of water vapour pressure:

Pc
Tc

22.1058 MPa
374.11 C

C
D

1.17E-08
2.19E-03

3.24378

347.11

1
for calculation of water vapour pressure
Liquid density, kg/m3

B
0.00587
T
300.16 K
Water vapour P @ temp.
Vapour pressure of pure liquid at process temperature, P v

996.92

3.56

3.56

kPa(abs)

2. Calulation of dissolved gas at suction drum:

Henry's constant for dissolved gas in liquid (use database for air/water), H A

Temperature, C

4.32

10

4.88

10

15

5.49

15

20

6.07

20

25

6.64

25

30

7.20

30

35

7.71

35

40

8.23

40

45

8.70

45

50

9.11

50

60

9.46

60

70

10.1

70

80

10.5

80

74040

atm/mole fraction

27
25
7.20
7.40
0.99

30
7.71
X10^4 atm/mole fr
kg/m3

Input value or interpoltion from table for air/water

Henry's contstant for air/water, X

10^-4 atm/mole fraction

10.7

Pumping temp, C
Temperatures in table
HA in table
HA at Pumping temp
Gas density

Molar mass of gas, MG

29

Molar mass of liquid, ML

18

Mole fraction of gas in solution = Po/HA

Weight fraction of dissolved gas at the suction drum conditions, W o

0.001133%

From simulation results, solubility data or Henry's law

0.001825%

3. Calulation of effective vapour pressure of dissolved gas at suction drum:

Solubility factor S = W o*L/Go
R = Pv/Po
Saturation coefficient b =
N=
Coefficient A =
Coefficient B =
Coefficient C =
y=

a + (1 - R) x a
[f/(1-f)]/S
N(1-R)+1
2NR(1-R)+b
NR2(1-R)
(B+(B2-4AC)^0.5)/2A

0.01842298
0.04193243
1.00
1.67876423
2.60836957
1.13488569
0.00282804
0.43258754
2 of 3

(Based on the article: "Cope with dissolved gases in pump

calculations" by CC Chen in Chemical Engineering,
October 1993, p106-112)

Effective vapour pressure Pe = yPo

36.77

3 of 3

kPa(abs)