Cavitation

2
c
H A = h v + h s + (1 − ς s ) + ∆h
s

2g
hv vapour pressure head
HA atmospheric pressure head
hs suction head
cs mean velocity
ςs loss coefficient
∆h resulting pressure head
 4

z4

c22 c32 c32

h2 + z 2 + = h3 + z3 + +ς3 ⋅
2⋅ g 2⋅ g 2⋅ g Losses
⇓
c22 c32 c32 c22
h2 + z 2 + = h4 + z 4 + +ς3 ⋅ = h4 + z 4 + ς s ⋅
2⋅ g 2⋅ g 2⋅ g 2⋅ g
⇓
c22
h2 = h4 + (z 4 − z 2 ) + (ς s − 1) ⋅
2⋅ g

Atmospheric pressure: HA = h4
 4

z4

2
h2 = h4 + ( z 4 − z 2 ) + (ς s − 1) ⋅
c 2
2⋅ g

Let us introduce the vapor pressure, hv :

h2 = hv + ∆h

2
hv + ∆h = h4 + (z4 − z2 ) + (ς s −1) ⋅
c 2
2⋅ g
 NPSH
Net Pressure Suction
Head
4

z4

c22
hv + ∆h = h4 + ( z 4 − z 2 ) + (ς s − 1) ⋅
2⋅ g
⇓
c22
∆h = h4 − hv + ( z 4 − z 2 ) + (ς s − 1) ⋅
2⋅ g
⇓
c22
NPSH = H A − hv + ( z 4 − z 2 ) + (ς s − 1) ⋅
2⋅ g
 Suction Head
4

hs
z4

c22
NPSH = H A − hv + ( z 4 − z 2 ) + (ς s − 1) ⋅
2⋅ g
hs
 Law of Thoma

NPSH
σ=
H
Provided that similar hydraulic cavitating flow
remain unchanged relative to the flow canals, the
relations of hydraulic similar flow, are valid also
for flow including cavitation.