22/10/2019 Understanding and avoiding pump cavitation | Flow Control Network

HOME | PUMPS, MOTORS & DRIVES

Understanding and avoiding pump cavitation

Proper planning and operation are essential.

Author — Mike Klimes

May 2nd, 2017

Damage from prolonged cavitation as seen on the impeller of a centrifugal pump. Image courtesy of
Tsurumi America

Pump cavitation is a destructive issue that can befall even the highest-quality
pumping equipment. The symptoms range from excess noise and energy usage to
serious damage to the pump itself. Thankfully, with the right planning and
troubleshooting protocols in place, pump cavitation can be easily avoided.

What is pump cavitation?

https://www.flowcontrolnetwork.com/pumps-motors-drives/article/15563623/understanding-and-avoiding-pump-cavitation 1/10
22/10/2019 Understanding and avoiding pump cavitation | Flow Control Network

Cavitation occurs when air bubbles are generated inside a pump because of the
partial pressure drop of the owing liquid, resulting in a cavity at the relevant part.
Changes in pressure inside the pump turn the liquid into vapor and, as the pump’s
impellers spin, back to liquid again. The air bubbles move, pressure is increased and
the air bubbles instantaneously implode. The collapse of vapor bubbles erodes the
impeller surface, and if strong cavitation occurs at the impeller inlet, pump
performance decreases, which can lead to pumping failure.

Cavitation usually happens while using centrifugal pumps — these types of pumps
depend on changing pressure inside the unit to create a vacuum, pushing the liquid
into the unit as opposed to pulling it in. Submersible pumps can also experience
cavitation, but the instance is less frequent.

This phenomenon is especially destructive to metal surfaces, which have little

elasticity and will eventually become pitted by the high-pressure jets formed by the
collapsing vapor bubbles. Acrylic pumps are more pliable than metal surfaces and
are therefore more resilient against damage from cavitation, but steps should still be
taken with these pumps to avoid cavitation at all costs.

Double trouble

Two types of cavitation are possible: suction and discharge.

In the case of suction cavitation, low-pressure or high-vacuum conditions “starve”

the pump of incoming liquid, resulting in low ow. Bubbles form near the eye of the
impeller, and as they move toward the discharge side of the pump, the bubbles
compress into liquid and implode against the impeller’s edge.

Suction cavitation can be caused by several factors, including an obstructed strainer,

excessively high suction lift or uid that is overly heated to the point of vaporization.
If the pump is running too fast, vortexing — or sucking air into the line — can occur.
After excessive exposure to suction cavitation, an impeller begins to wear away and
look a lot like Swiss cheese.

Discharge cavitation happens when a pump’s discharge pressure is inordinately high

— In other words, the pump is running at less than 10 percent of its best ef ciency
point (BEP). High discharge pressure prevents uid from easily owing out, which
leads to recirculation of uid within the pump. The liquid gets stuck in a pattern of

https://www.flowcontrolnetwork.com/pumps-motors-drives/article/15563623/understanding-and-avoiding-pump-cavitation 2/10
22/10/2019 Understanding and avoiding pump cavitation | Flow Control Network

high-speed ow between the impeller and the housing, creating a vacuum effect
that forms bubbles near the housing wall. The vapor bubbles collapse, causing
impact damage that can wear away at the impeller until the shaft breaks.

Warning signs

The sound of pump cavitation in a centrifugal pump is unmistakable. Many industry

professionals describe it as the sound of pumping rocks, marbles or gravel. The
sound and action is pronounced and distinct, leading most end users to swiftly
correct the issue.

In the case of a submersible pump — whether hydraulic or electric — pump

cavitation instances are much harder to detect, but thankfully are also rare. If it is
evident that performance has drifted too far to the right or left of the BEP curve,
steps should be taken to increase pressure on the suction side of the pump to
eliminate the vacuum. The end user must remove the pump from the application to
check for cavitation damage. Taking a good, hard look at the impeller will show the
telltale signs of wear immediately.

What can be done?

One of the simplest ways to prevent pump cavitation is to properly operate a pump
best suited for the application. In the rental industry, for example, it is common for
the end user to lack a working knowledge of pump technology. Instead of running a
pump at the ideal rpm for the job at hand, some well-meaning rental customers
push pumps too hard to move uid at faster rates. If a pump works well at 1,800
rpm, the belief is that it will work even better at 2,300 rpm. This is not the case
because forcing a pump’s performance too far to the right or left of its BEP will
result in cavitation over time. If a pump is correctly sized and not starved, the pump
will run at the intended speed while maintaining the BEP.

Altitude also has a major effect on pump cavitation. When pumps operate at higher
altitudes, special attention must be given to make sure that cavitation does not
occur since liquids boil at a much lower temperature. The boiling point of a liquid
depends on the vapor pressure of that liquid matching the pressure of the gas above
it. The lower the pressure of a gas above a liquid — as happens at higher altitudes —
the lower the temperature at which the liquid will boil. This effect increases the
https://www.flowcontrolnetwork.com/pumps-motors-drives/article/15563623/understanding-and-avoiding-pump-cavitation 3/10
22/10/2019 Understanding and avoiding pump cavitation | Flow Control Network

likelihood of water turning to a gas inside a pump, potentially leading to damage

from cavitation.

High-lift applications must be carefully handled as well. It is necessary that the

height of the pump reference plane be set in the safety range relative to the suction
water level. Net positive suction head (NPSH) hsv is a characteristic value that
expresses a pump’s suction condition. It represents the total head provided by water
at a certain temperature relative to the vapor pressure. The required NPSH hsv for
pressure decreases at the pump impeller inlet to the minimum pressure, which
should be lower than hsv.

Keeping an eye on uid temperature will also keep cavitation at bay because the
conditions for vaporization become more favorable as liquids heat up. Closely
monitoring uid levels will also help since neglecting a pump as it continues to
create suction in muddy conditions will only hasten cavitation.

Avoidable outcome

Pump cavitation is only as likely as the end user’s know-how allows it to be. With
careful planning — and the knowledge of job site parameters that most industry
professionals possess — a cavitation crisis can be easily avoided, ensuring
functioning pumps and proper ow for the life cycle of the job.

Mike Klimes is an application engineer for Tsurumi America, a division of Tsurumi

Manufacturing, and has more than 20 years of engineering and manufacturing
experience. He is responsible for solving customer issues by offering in-depth
performance analysis through the complete lifecycle of pumping applications. Tsurumi
America Inc., a division of Tsurumi Manufacturing, was founded in 1979. Tsurumi
America has provided more than 35 years of pumping technology in construction, civil
engineering, mining, industrial wastewater, domestic wastewater, sewage treatment,
ood control and scenery creation elds. For more information, call 630-793-0127 or
visit tsurumipump.com.

https://www.flowcontrolnetwork.com/pumps-motors-drives/article/15563623/understanding-and-avoiding-pump-cavitation 4/10