OBJECTIVES:

1.)TO KNOW AND FAMILIARIZE THE TERMS CAVITATION, NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD, NET POSITIVE SUCTION
HEAD AVAILABLE, AND NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD REQUIRED.

2.)TO KNOW THE CAUSES AND BAD EFFECTS OF CAVITATION IN CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS.

3.)TO KNOW THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE CAVITATION.

BACKGROUND:

1.) CAVITATION-is the formation of bubbles or cavities in liquid, developed in areas of relatively low
pressure around an impeller. The imploding or collapsing of these bubbles trigger intense
shockwaves inside the pump, causing significant damage to the impeller and/or
the pump housing.

2.) NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD -Net Positive Suction Head  or  NPSH  for pumps can be  defined  as the
difference between liquid pressure at pump  suction  and liquid vapor pressure, expressed in terms of
height of liquid column.  Suction head  is the term used to describe liquid pressure at pump  suction  in
terms of height of liquid column.

3.) NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD AVAILABLE- The net positive suction head available to a centrifugal
pump combines the effect of atmospheric pressure, water temperature, supply elevation and
the dynamics of the suction piping. The following equation illustrates this relationship. All values
are in feet of water, and the sum of these components represents the total pressure available at
the pump suction.

4.) NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD REQUIRED-NPSHR is the suction pressure necessary to ensure
proper pump operation. It is purely a function of the pump design, and although it can be
calculated, it is more accurately determined by actual testing.
ENUMERATE AND EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING. (WITH PHOTOS)

 CAUSES OF CAVITATION:
1.HIGH SUCTION LIFT
2.HIGH SUCTION TEMPERATURE
3.HIGH SUCTION VELOCITY
4.HIGH SUCTION TURBULENCE(HEAD LOSS)
5.LOW ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.
( THESE ARE THE CAUSES THAT LEADS A PUMP INTO CAVITATION)

The liquid enters hydraulic turbines at high pressure; this pressure is a combination of static and dynamic
components. Dynamic pressure of the liquid is by the virtue of flow velocity and the other component,
static pressure, is the actual fluid pressure which the fluid applies, and which is acted upon it. Static
pressure governs the process of vapor bubble formation or boiling. Thus, Cavitation can occur near the
fast-moving blades of the turbine where local dynamic head increases due to action of blades which
causes static pressure to fall. Cavitation also occurs at the exit of the turbine as the liquid has lost major
part of its pressure heads and any increase in dynamic head will lead to fall in static pressure causing
Cavitation.

 BAD EFFECTS OF CAVITATION:

1.HYDRAULIC LOW EFFICIENCY DUE TO FLOW OF INSTABILIYT
2.MECHANICAL SURFACE DAMAGE
3.MECHANICAL NOISE
4.MECHANICAL VIBRATION
(WHEN THE PUMP IS UNDER CAVITATION THE PUMP WILL EXPERIENCE THIS KIND OF EFFECTS)

The effects of cavitation are hydraulic (low efficiency due to flow instability) and mechanical (surface
damage, noise and vibration). In addition, it may also lead to surface erosion [3]. It is difficult to avoid
cavitation in hydro turbines which cannot be avoided completely but can be reduced. Computing two-
phase cavitating flows is a big challenge since the cavitating bubbles or clouds have very complicated
dynamics [4]. Cavitation has also become a concern in the renewable energy sector as it may occur on
the blade surface of tidal stream turbine [5]. Although the collapse of a small cavity is a relatively low-
energy event, highly localized collapses can erode metals, such as steel, over time
 FACTORS AFFECTING CAVITATION

Increase of the temperature of the pumped liquid - Increase in liquid temperature at the pump suction point
increases the vapor pressure of the liquid. Thus, it becomes more likely for operating pressure to fall below
this vapor pressure limit, hence leading to bubbles and cavitation.
Increase in the fluid velocity at pump suction - Increase in fluid velocity at pump suction can typically be
caused by higher liquid flowrates than the design case. As per Bernoulli’s principle, higher liquid velocity
means higher velocity and lower pressure head. Frictional pressure drop in the pump suction also rises
with rise in the flowrate, making low pressure and cavitation at pump suction more likely to occur.
Reduction of the flow at pump suction - Certain minimum flow is required by the centrifugal pumps to keep
them from running dry, as indicated by the pump performance curves. If liquid flow falls below this limit,
possibility of developing vapor in pumps and cavitation increases.
Undesirable flow conditions caused by obstructions or sharp elbows in the suction piping - Sharp elbows,
valves, other fittings and obstructions cause more frictional pressure loss in the pump suction, thus
increasing possibility of low pump suction pressure leading to cavitation.
The pump is not selected correctly - Every centrifugal pump has a certain requirement of positive suction
head (NPSHr). If the pump is not selected properly NPSHa might fall below this NPSHr limit, causing
cavitation.
 PICTURES OF CAVITATION

ALL OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED CAVITATION THAT LEADS INTO HAVING CORROSION INTO THE IMPELLER
BLADES.
CONCLUSION:

I therefore conclude that unchecked  cavitation  will harm pumps in many ways, among them excessive wear of
internal components, breakdowns, product leakage and compromised operation. Its better to know how to
prevent this cavitation on pumps that will lead the impeller blades or the pump itself in corrosion.Also to
minimize the cost.