1 2 3 4 Placing the pump 5 6 7 8 9 38 39

Determine minimum clearance (C)

Minimum clearance (C) is the distance from the pump bell mouth to the floor
C is half the nominal column diameter
1 2 3 4 5 Minimum water level 6 7 8 9 38 39

5. Minimum water level

Minimum Water Level (MWL) and NPSH
1 2 3 4 5 Minimum water level 6 7 8 9 38 39

Why determine the Minimum Water Level (MWL)

Know the lowest point of the pumping station
Avoid free surface vortices

Minimum Water Level (MWL) = Clearance (C) + Submergence (S)

The Clearance (C) = 0.5 x Column Diameter (D)

1 2 3 4 5 Minimum water level 6 7 8 9 38 39

Worst case
Determine minimum submergence
quick calculation
Determined by risk of vortex
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cross-flow velocity 9 31

Additional considerations
with cross-flow velocity

Cross-flow velocity should not

exceed 50% of the pump bay
velocity
If cross-flow velocity exceeds 50%,
a CFD simulation is recommended
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dimensions 50

9. Dimensions
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dimensions 50

Open sump design

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dimensions 50

Open sump design