NPSH

1- NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD

REQUIRED
YOU CAN GET FROM PUMP MANUAL

2- NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAD

AVAILABLE
YOU CAN CALCULATE FROM PUMP SITE

TO AVOID SUCTION CAVITATION

AND FOR SAFE OPERATION

NPSHA > NPSHR

 CAVITATION CAN OCCUR
FOR

CENTRIFUGAL
PUMPS

AND

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT
PUMPS
 HOW TO IMPROVE
NPSHA

SHORTEN THE SUCTION PIPE LENGTH

INCREASE SUCTION PIPE SIZE

DECREASE SUCTION LIQUID TEMP.

DECREASE SUCTION NEGATIVE ALTITUDE

INCREASE SUCTION POSITIVE ALTITUDE

STOP THE PIPING SUCTION LEAKS

RENEW THE SUCTION PIPE

NET POSITIVE (+) PVS
SUCTION HEAD

PS v Z

Z liquid surface height ft

PSV Vessel pressure psig
PS Pump suction pressure psig
V liquid velocity ft/sec
Pf Friction Pressure drop psi
Pa Atm. Pressure psi
Vp Vapor pressure psia
Sp.gr liquid specific gravity
hL Suction head loss ft
g 32.2 ft/sec.sec
EQUATION & DIMENTIONS

2
V { ( P vs + Pa) – ( Pf + Vp )} 2.31
NPSHA = Z + 2g + Sp.gr
( ft )

2 2
ft
2
ft
V sec sec 2
=
= = ( ft )
2g ft ft
2
sec 2 sec

Lb 3
2 ft
P ft ( ft )
= = =
Sp.g Lb ft
2

3
ft
General Equation

NPSHA = ( ft )

2{ ( P sv + Pa) – ( Pf + Vp ) } 2.31
Z + V
2g
+
Sp.gr

OR

2{ ( P sv + Pa) – Vp} 2.31

Z + V hL
2g
+ -
Sp.gr

OR

V2 { ( Ps + Pa) – Vp} 2.31

2g
+
Sp.gr
 1 PVS

Z
V

NPSHA =
2 { ( P sv + Pa) – Vp} 2.31
Z + V hL
2g
+ -
Sp.gr

OR

2
{ ( P sv + Pa) – ( Pf + Vp ) } 2.31
Z + V
2g
+
Sp.gr
 2

PS
v

NPSHA =

V2 { ( Ps + Pa) – Vp} 2.31

2g
+ ( ft )
Sp.gr
 VAPOR PRESSURE

1
1
T P
T P

FIG-1 FIG-2

1- Heat up a little of water

in a pot up to boiling point
100 C ( valve 1 is opened)

2- Take off the heating source,

simultaneously close valve 1.
Cool Down Closed

T P Gauge

3- During cooling down start to

record the P Gauge relevant to Temp.

4- Apply Absolute pressure Equation .

P Absolute P Gauge + 1
(bar)
 Vapor Pressure P Gauge + 1
( bar )

5- Record the Absolute Liquid vapor

pressure.

Temp C 100 95 90 80 70 15

P Gauge 0 - 0.1 - 0.3 - 0.5 - 0.7 - 0.98

Vapor Pressure 1 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.02

Examples

If the liquid level Z = - 12 ft

, Friction loss is 1 ft of liquid
, Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 Psia. at 150 F
, water sp gr. is 0. 982
,Vp = 3.7 psia
Solution

( Pa – Vp ) 2.31 ( ft )
NPSH Available = Z + hL
Sp. gr

( 14.7 – 3.7 ) 2.31

= - 12 + 1
0.982
.

= + 12.8 ( ft )

Compare with NPSHR

Examples
If crude pump suction pressure is – 5 psig
Liquid velocity is 12 ft /sec
Vp. is 4 psia
Sp gr. is 0.8
Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psia.

Solution

2
V + { ( Pa + Ps ) – Vp 2.31
NPSHA = 2g S p gr
( ft )

2 { ( 14.7 - 5 ) – 4 ) 2.31
12
= 2 * 32.2
+
0.8
( ft )

= 2 . 24 + 16 . 46

= + 18.7 ( ft )

Compare with NPSHR