Pump minimum submergence, limit suction height and suction mouth

nd suction mouth

1. Minimum submergence

2. Limit suction height

3. Suction mouth

References
Minimum submergence [2], [15]

Application
Q= 650 m³/h
dn = 24 in
sch = STD

di = Pipe_Imp_CS_Dint_dn_sch
di = #VALUE! mm
di = #VALUE! m

A= (p/4) * di^2
A= #VALUE! m²

v= Q/A
Q= 0.181 m³/s
A= #VALUE! m²
v= #VALUE! m/s

hv = v^2/(2*g)
v= #VALUE! m/s
hv = #VALUE! m

Minimum submergence [2]

S= D * (1 + 2.3 * ( v / (g * d)^0.5))
v= #VALUE! m/s
d= #VALUE! m
S= #VALUE! m
 Rev. 15.06.2016

Use the 10*D rule, straight

pipe at pump inlet
Limit suction height [1]

Q= 50 m3/h Kinematic pressure

dn = 6 in hv = v²/(2*g)
Sch = STD hv = #VALUE! m
t= 10 °C
H= 2600 m.a.s.l. Kinematic viscosity
Rabs = 0.1 mm t= 10 °C
L= 4 m n = SaturatedWaterKinematicViscosity_t
Ksing = 1.2 - n= #VALUE! m²/s
NPSHr = 4 mwc (1)
Relative rugosity
Ksing : Total suction singular Rabs = 0.1 mm
pressure loss coefficient Rel = Rabs / d
Rel = #VALUE! -
Inside section area
dn = 6 in Reynolds number
Sch = STD Re = v*d/n
di = Pipe_Imp_CS_Dint_dn_sch v= #VALUE! m/s
di = #VALUE! mm d= #VALUE! m
di = #VALUE! m n= #VALUE! m²/s
A= #VALUE! m² Re = #VALUE! -

Flow velocity Friction factor

Q= 50 m /h 3
f= f(Rrel, Re)
Q= 0.0139 m3/s Rel = #VALUE!
v= Q/A Re = #VALUE! -
v= #VALUE! m/s f= #VALUE! -
Frictional losses Limit suction height
DPf = f*(L/d)*hv Hs_lim = (Patm - Pvap) - ( NPSHr +v2/(2*g) + DPloss ) [1], Eq.13
f= #VALUE! - Hs_lim = Limit suction height mca
L= 4 m Patm = Atmospheric pressure mca
d= #VALUE! m Pv = Presión de vapor mca
hv = #VALUE! m NPSHr = Net ptessure suction height, required m
DPf = #VALUE! m v= Flow velocity in suction pipe m/s
DPloss = Total pressure losses in the suction m
Singular losses
DPs= Ksing * hv Patm = 7.56 mwc
Ksing : Total value of singularities Pvap = 0.12 mwc
Ksing = 1.2 - NPSHr = 4 mwc
hv = #VALUE! m v= #VALUE! m/s
DPs= #VALUE! m DPloss = #VALUE! mwc
Hs_lim = #VALUE! m
Total losses
DPloss = DPf + DPs m Limit suction height Hs_lim = #VALUE! m
DPf = #VALUE! m
DPs= #VALUE! m
DPloss = #VALUE! m

Water vapor pressure (Eq. 2)

t= 10 °C
Pvap = 0.12 mca

Atmospheric pressure (Eq. 3)

H= 2600 m.a.s.l.
Patm = 7.56 mca
 Rev. 15.06.2016

Pump
Axe

Hs
Liquid
level

Requirement:
Hs <= Hs_lim

Note 1. Vendor data

(Eq. 2)
Pv = 0.0000001*t^4-0.0000039*t^3+0.0004*t^2+0.0019*t+0.0678
(Eq. 3)
Atmospheric pressure at a height H above sea level
Valide for 0 < H < 4000 msnm

g= 10 m/s²
Suction mouth

[2] http://prueba2.aguapedia.org/master/ponencias/modulo6/ponencias_modulo06_master_05-07/diseno
o06_master_05-07/diseno_redes_y_estaciones_bombeo.pdf http://www.wosupply.com/pdf/Suction_Bellmouths.
 Rev. 15.06.2016

.com/pdf/Suction_Bellmouths.pdf
[1] http://www.fi.uba.ar/archivos/institutos_seleccion_bombas.pdf
Hs_lim = (Patm - Pvap) - ( NPSHr +v2/(2*g) + DPloss )
[2] Hydraulic Institute

Minimum height required to avoid a vortex

S= D + 2.3 * D * Fr

with Fr: Froude number

Fr = v / (g * d)^0.5)

S= D + 2.3 * D * ( v / (g * d)^0.5)

S= D * (1 + 2.3 * ( v / (g * d)^0.5))
[14] http://www.pumpfundamentals.com/help11.html

Help for calculating the minimum submersion to avoid vortex formation at the pump suction tan

This document will cover two topics, one a general discussion of this subject and how the equations were develo
The other some specific comments on how the applet functions.
The pump suction intake must be submerged sufficiently to avoid the formation of vortexes on the liquid surface
suction tank. These vortexes can take many shapes and forms

The formation of vortexes between the pump suction intake and the suction tank fluid surface causes air to enter
suction. This mixture of air and water in the pump reduces the pump capacity. The formation of such vortexes mu
be avoided. There is a relationship between the intake velocity at the suction intake, and the submergence (S) of
There are many possible intake design geometries, a few are shown in the next Figure; they all have in common
requirement for submergence to avoid the formation of vortexes.

Here is a picture of a submersion problem, the pump is an axial flow pump whose intake is insufficiently submerg
The Hydraulic Institute publishes a guide on Pump Intake Design that provides detail recommendations.

The Goulds pump company has an excellent technical section in their catalogue, you can view the table of conte

I have made a video showing vortex formation in a miniature pump system

, give it a look.

Specific comments

Applets are programs based on the java language that are designed to run on your computer using the Java Run

The minimum submersion of a pump inlet is based on tests that were done by the Hydraulic Institute www. pump

This applet is designed to help you find the minimum submersion required to avoid the formation of a vortex in th

S [in] = d [in] + 0.574 * q `[gpm] * D [in]^-1.5

D= 1 in
q= 5 gpm
S [in] = 3.87 in
The velocity v is given by:
d= 25.4 mm
S [mm] = d [mm] + 0.574 * q `[gpm] *(D*25.4 mm])
S [mm] = d [mm] +2.17282534 * q [l/min] *(D*25.4
 S [mm] = 25.419

The velocity is limited to between 2 and 8 ft/s. The recommended velocity rate is 5.5 ft/s. The flow rates are limite

By clicking on the - Other Configurations - button, you can see various suction configurations where this submerg
 the pump suction tank

e equations were developped.

es on the liquid surface of the

rface causes air to enter the pump

ation of such vortexes must therefore
d the submergence (S) of the intake.
they all have in common a minimum

is insufficiently submerged causing a vortex to form and air to be entrained into the pump suction.
commendations.

n view the table of contents here, it provides recommendations on pump intake design and baffles that can eliminate vortex formation.

puter using the Java Run Time environment.

ulic Institute www. pumps.org and this help page gives a brief description of the method devised to calculate it. You can find more informati

ormation of a vortex in the pump suction tank and therfore air entrainment in the pump. Tests by the Hydraulic Institute have shown that the

`[gpm] * D [in]^-1.5 1 l/min = gpm

1 gpm = 3.7854 l/min
0.574
2.17282534

q `[gpm] *(D*25.4 mm])^-1.6

2534 * q [l/min] *(D*25.4 mm])^-1.6
. The flow rates are limited to between 25 USgpm and 300000 USgpm.

tions where this submergence criteria will also apply.

te vortex formation.

u can find more information in The Hydraulic Institute's Pump Intake Design ANSI/HI 9.8-1998 standard.

tute have shown that the relationship between the minimum submergence S , the diameter D and the flow rate q are:
Submergence

[15]
http://webwormcpt.blogspot.com/2008/07/estimate-minimum-submergence-to-avoid.html
[2] [15]

Reference [2] Hydraulic Institue

S= D * (1 + 2.3 * ( v / (g * d)^0.5))

Submergence 4 Q
S= d + 2 . 3⋅
[
S=d ⋅ 1 + 2 . 3⋅
v
√ g⋅d ] π⋅√ g d 1 .5
Equations from references [2]
Q and [15] are equivalent
v=
A
Q
v=
π 2
⋅d
4

[ ]
Q 1
S=d ⋅ 1 + 2 . 3⋅
π 2 √ g⋅d
⋅d
4

[
S= d + 2 . 3⋅
Q 4
π⋅d √ g⋅d ]
4 Q
S= d + 2 . 3⋅ Microsoft Editor de

π⋅√ g d1 . 5 ecuaciones 3.0

 [1] Selección fina de bombas
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Luis E. Oérez Farrás
http://www.fi.uba.ar/archivos/institutos_seleccion_bombas.pdf

[2] Hydraulic Institut

Centrifugal/Vertical Pump Intake Design (ANSI/HI 9.8)
Hydraulic Institute's Pump Intake Design" ANSI/HI9.8-1998 manual:

[3] Sumergencia mínima

http://prueba2.aguapedia.org/master/ponencias/modulo6/ponencias_modulo06_master_05-07/diseno_re

[4] Hidrostal
http://www.hidrostal-peru.com/images_turbinas/tipo_vn.pdf

[5]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/63456172/66/Sumergencia-minima

[11] Heat ans mass transfer

Anthony F. Mills
Irwin, 1995

[12] Heat transfer

J. P. Holman
McGraw-Hill, 1989

[14] http://www.pumpfundamentals.com/help11.html

[15] http://webwormcpt.blogspot.com/2008/07/estimate-minimum-submergence-to-avoid.html
o06_master_05-07/diseno_redes_y_estaciones_bombeo.pdf

-to-avoid.html