(1) The NPSH test shall be in accordance with the test code of the standards of the Hydraulic Institute. (2) A vacuum tank suppression test method using fresh water shall be employed. (3) NPSH data shall be taken at the following two points. a) Minimum continuous stable flow b) Rated flow (4) The following formula all be used to calculate the NPSH. NPSH = 10 x (Pa-Pv)/7 + hs + Vs* /2g + hg Where ; hs : Suction pressure (m) hg : Suction gauge height (m) 7 + Specific gravity of water (kg /1) Pa : Atmospheric pressure (kot /em? ) Pv : Vapor pressure of test liquid Ckgt / cm? ) Vs : Mean velocity at the pump suction (m/sec) @ : Gravity of acceleration (m/sec? ) ACCEPTANCE The tested NPSH data shall be less than NPSHR specified on pump data sheet at the rated flow point. Also, the drop in head shall be less than 3 percent at the rated flow point.1 TEST PROCEDURES (1) The NPSH test shall be in accordance with the test code of the standards of the Hydraulic Institute. (2) The NPSH test shall be carried out for all applicable pumps (3) A vacuum tank suppression test method using fresh water shall be employed (4) NPSH data shall be taken at the following rated flow. (5) The following formula shall be used to calculate the NPSH. WNOTE © sucnioy weavTUE VALVE — © oISGeARGE FLOW CONTROL VALVEHI Centrifugal Pump Test — 1994 Pressure Gauge ‘Thermometer —\ —_Dampening Vave Dampening Device Control Valve for Pressure Gauge Flow Merit ‘Trrtting Suction Located in 'scharge Flow Meter it Located in Suction Constant Level Pore 7 on “ Test ‘Sacto anes Discharge Contol Vato, vanes ‘Adqstaie Spring Leased Pump maybe instated ‘Back Pressure Valve or 1 aaatonal suction pressure ‘Aqjustable Choko Veo Isrequred Heat exchanger, required H E ay Reumiosune Discharge Nowe: Psion of these devioes may be reversed in some setups. Figure 1.127 — Suppression type NPSH test with constant level sump 1.6.5.8.10 Specific weight variations if the test is run with a liquid of different specitic weight from that of the field installation, there will be a revision in required input power which will be determined as follows: (Pola (Po) x2 ‘There is no change in efficiency. ‘Sealless centrifugal pumps incur significant eddy current losses which are not affected by specific weight variations. Power correction for installa- tion specific weight different from test specific weight is made as follows: pent Eon +0 Where: P1= Power fora specific weight on test in bhp (kW); P2 = Power for a specific weight on installation in bhp (kW); EC1 = Eddy current losses on test in bhp (KW). 1.6.5.8.11 Viscosity variations Viscosity has a very detinite effect on the operat- ing conditions of the pump with respect to head, capacity, efficiency and input power. Pumps for viscous service, which are tested with water, will Fequire corrections to approximate the perfor- mance with the viscous liquid. (See HI 1.1-1.5 Centnituga! Pump Standards). 1.6.5.9 Solids in suspension Solids in suspension affect the operating pertor- mance of the pump in varying degrees, depending on the percentage and nature of the solids. No definite corrections can be recommended. 1.6.5.10 Reportof test All parties to the test shall be furnished a copy of the performance curve at constant speed.1.6.6 Net positive suction head test 1.6.6.1 Objective - To determine the NPSH required (NPSHR) by the pump. 1.6.6.2 Test equipment Three typical arrangements are shown for deter- mining the NPSHR characteristics of pumps. In the first arrangement, Figure 1.127, the pump is supplied from a constant level supply through Pring connection Romance ot aan Eines tgoa SS one p ieeieceerces se Riterecnl a ato an -shown's required. Figure 1.128 — Level control NPSH test with deep sump supply Gas Pressure L vee Pomp jure 1.129 — Vacuum and/or heat control NPSH test with closed loop HI Centrifugal Pump Test — 1994 a throttle valve which is followed by a section of pipe containing straightening vanes or a minimum of seven diameters of straight pipe to straighten flow. This arrangement dissipates the turbulence produced by the throttle valve and makes pos- sible an accurate reading of suction pressure at the pump inlet. This simple arrangement usually is satisfactory for NPSHR greater than 10 feet (3 meters), al- though the turbulence at the throttle vaive tends. 10 accelerate the release of dissolved air or gas. from the liquid which takes place as the pressure fon the liquid is reduced. A test made with this arrangement usually indicates higher NPSHR than that which can be expected with deaerated liquid. In the second arrangement, Figure 1.128, the ‘pump Is supplied from a sump in which the liquid level can be varied to establish the desired NPSH. This arrangement provides an actual suction lift and hence more nearly duplicates operating con- ditions of pumps on water service. Care should be taken to prevent vortexing as liquid level is varied. The priming connection should be in- stalled above the eye of the impelier either in the ‘suction pipe or on the pump. In the third arrangement, Figure 1.129, the pump is supplied from a closed tank in which the level is held constant and the NPSHA is adjusted by varying the air or gas pressure over the liquid, by varying the temperature ofthe iquid, orby varying both. This third arrangement tends to strip the liquid of dissolved air or gas. It gives a more accurate ‘measurement of the pump performance uninflu- enced by the release of air or gas. This arrange- ment more nearly duplicates service conditions, where a pump takes its supply from a closed vessel at or near its vapor pressure. It is also acceptable to test with a closed loop without the closed tank on the suction side. In each of these arrangements, water shall be used as the test liquid. Aeration shall be mini- mized by taking the following precautions: — submerged retum lines; —_ reservoir sized for long retention time to allow air to escape; inlet line property located to prevent vortexing;HI Centifugal Pump Test — 1994 — reservoir battles to isolate inlet from return line; —_ tight pipe joints and stuffing boxes to guard against air leakage into the system. 1.6.6.3 Test procedure ‘The cavitation characteristics of a pump can be determined by one of the following procedures: Using one of the test arrangements shown, the pump is run at constant capacity and speed with the suction condition varied to produce cavitation. Plots of head shall be made for various NPSH values. NESHR vaios Q, om 2 100% cap 3 3 3 9, NPSHA Figure 1.130 — NPSH test with ‘capacity held constant ‘As NPSHA is reduced, a point is reached where the curves break away from a straight-line trend, indicating @ condition under which the perfor- mance of the pump may be impaired. The degree of impairment will depend upon the specific speed, size and service of the pump. Figure 1.130 shows results typical of a test for NPSH at capaci- ties both greater and less than normal. The 3% ‘drop in head is the standard to determine NPSHR. Another technique for determining the NPSH characteristics is to hold the speed and suction hhead (hs) constant and to vary the capacity, For any given suction head, the pump head may be plotted against capacity. Aseries of such tests will resutt in a family of curves, as shown in Figure 1.131. Where the curve for any suction head (he) breaks away from the envelope by 3%, NPSHR is established. When it is impractical to conduct a test to the ‘above criteria on farge pumps due to size, capac ty or facility NPSHA, a model test may be used to determine NPSHR characteristics. The relation- NPSHR values 3% reduction 3 —_ intotal head i las logo Capacity Figure 1.131 — NPSH test with suction head held constant ship between model results and predicted ful- size characteristics is described in Paragraph 16.13. Accurate determination of the cavitation point re- Quires careful control of allfactors which influence the operation ofthe pump. A minimum of five test Points bracketing the point of change shall be taken, and the data plotted to determine when the performance breaks away from that with excess NPSHA. Any change in performance, either @ deficiency at a given capacity, or change in sound or vibration, may be an indication of cavitation. But because of the difficuty in determining just when the change starts, a drop in head of 3%, which is the standard value in datermining NPSHR, is accepted as evidence that cavitation is present. The percent head drop is based on the first stage head for multi-stage pumps. ‘The NPSHA value required to property establish the non-cavitating performance of a pump should be determined {rom prior full-scale or model tests ‘of the specific pump in question. if no such prior test results are available, a recommended NNPSHA value of twice the predicted NPSHR, for rated capacities greater than 85 percent of the best efficiency point, or an NPSHA value of at least two and a half times the NPSHR, for rated capacities below 85 percent of the best efficiency point, is recommended for maximum assurance. |i should be noted that the average pump will give non-cavitating performance at NPSHA values only 1.3 times the NPSHR value at capacities above 85 percent of the best efficiency point and 1,7 times the NPSHR value at capacities below ‘85 percent of the best efficiency point. Accord- ingly, the test performed at constant capacity, asNPSHR values: 2, 100% cap. Total head & NPSHA Figure 1.130 — NPSH test with capacity held constant ‘As NPSHA is reduced, a point is reached where the curves break away from a straight-line trend, indicating @ condition under which the perfor- ‘mance of the pump may be impaired. The degree of impairment will depend upon the specific speed, size and service of the pump. Figure 1.190 shows results typical ofa test for NPSH al capaci- ties both greater and less than normal. The 3% drop in head is the standard to determine NPSHR. Another technique for determining the NPSH characteristics is to hold the speed and suction head (hs) constant and to vary the capacity. For any given suction head, the pump head may be plotted against capacity. Aseries of such tests will resutt in a family of curves, as shown in Figure 1.131. Where the curve for any suction head {he) breaks away from the envelope by 3%, NPSHR is, established. When it is impractical to conduct a test to the above criteria on large pumps due to size, capaci- ty or facility NPSHA, a model test may be used fo determine NPSHR characteristics. The relation- ship between model results and predicted full size characteristics is described in Paragraph 16.13. Accurate determination of the cavitation point re- Quires careful control of allfactore which influence the operation of the pump. Aminimum of five test points bracketing the point of change shall be taken, and the data plotted to determine when the performance breaks away from that with excess NPSHA. Any change in performance, either a deficiency ata given capacity, or change in sound ‘vibration, may be an indication of cavitation, But because of the diffcutly in determining just when the change starts, a drop in head of 3%, which Is the standard value in determining NPSHR, is accepted as evidence that cavitation is present. The 3 percent head drop is based on the first stage head for mult-stage pumps. ‘The NPSHA value required to propery establish the non-cavitating performance of a pump should be determined from prior full-scale or model tests of the specific pump in question if no such prior test results are available, a recommended NNPSHA value of twice the predicted NPSHR, for rated capacities greater than 85 percent of the best efficiency point, or an NPSHA value of at least two and a half times the NPSHR, for rated capacities below 85 percent ofthe best efficiency point, is recommended for maximum assurance. should be noted that the average pump will give nron-cavitating performance at NPSHA values only 1.3 times the NPSHA vaiue at capacities above 85 percent of the best efficiency point and 1.7 times the NPSHR value at capacities below 85 percent of the best efficiency point. Accord- ingly, the test performed at constant capacity, asigure 1.192 — MPH sent with ‘Seoushty neta constane shown in Figue 1392, shud bog th te Reena reas ‘2)_ Cormeton te speotied speed format post ioe Sion nous Gorn noon (S} woo, ‘HI Cenuifugel Pump Test — 1994 a) Specified NPSHR/NPSHA; b) Height of suction gauge, above or below the datum line; ©) Inside diameter of pipe at location of suc- tion pressure tap; ) Observed Data (each run); — water temperature; — suction pressure; = shatt speed; = discharge pressure: - capacity. @) Type of test setup: {) Type of flow meter and calibration; (= Spected speed in ro ‘The atin relationsipe dating we manner Nshie waive may vary einer tn a0 the Imag sores, snout na caged ax Sabra nets ee cena Soe as queen ere Figure 1.133 — Suction line for static lift test9). Type, number and calibration of pressure gauges; hy) Note any abnormal observation (noise, vibration, etc.}; ’) Identification of materials at liquid end of pump; 1) Type and serial number of pump and driver; Ky) Date of test; 1) Identity personnel 1.66. Report of test All parties to the test shall be fumished a copy of the NPSHR curve or curves as described in Para- graph 1.6.6.3. 1.6.7 Priming time test Priming tests should only be conducted on pumps designed for this application. 1.6.7.1. Testing priming time of selt-priming pumps: In addition to the standard performance tests, as ‘outlined in preceding paragraphs, it may be desir- able to test self-priming pumps to determine the priming time. For this test, the suction line shall ‘be substantially the same as that shown in Figure 1.133, Static lift between the eye of the impeller ‘and the liquid level shall not be less than 10 feet (8 meters). No check or foot valve shall be in- stalled in the suction piping. In making this test, proceed as follows: charge. = Start the unit: The priming time then shall be the total elapsed time between starting the unit and the time required to obtain a steady discharge gauge reading, or full low through the discharge nozzle. During this phase of the test, the discharge pipe must be vented if the priming system is the recirculating type. This will prevent a back pressure from being devel- oped as the resuit of the accumulation of gas. {t the unit is equipped with a priming pump of the separate type, it will be necessary for the discharge pipe to be sealed with a column of water that will prevent air being drawn from the discharge side of the unit. 1.6.7.2 Priming time conversion factor a suction pipe is used which is different in size than the pump suction size, it is necessary to ‘compute the performance for the normal size of pipe. Use the following equation: True priming tim Measured priming time x (ines tee actual pipe size 1.6.7.3 Determination of maximum developed vacuum by means of dry vacuum test The test procedure is: With the unit in operation and delivering full flow, close gate valve in the suction line.