ME 565 – Turbomachinery

In general, cavitation is the most important problem that may

face all hydraulic machines or systems and works with liquids. It
can influence the performance and , hence, the operation
significantly. Thus, it is of great essential to consider and
understand this phenomenon very well by introducing its
definition, causes, troubles and traces that may leave, and finally
how we can avoid it or at least the remedies if it occurs.
Cavitation phenomenon will be constituted when the pressure
value at any part of the machine and corresponding to the local
operating temperature reduces to reach the value of the vapor
pressure (saturation pressure) of the working liquid. Then, the
liquid will boil (due to its own saturation curve) and vapor bubbles
will be produced. These bubbles move with the fluid along the
machine until reaching high pressure regions within it.
Subsequently, they occasionally collapse (in fact, implode or
vanish due to their condensation again) leaving local spaces
instead.
2
3
The surrounding liquid around them rushes with very high
accelerations, i.e. with very high momentum rates or inertia
forces, to fill these holes. If this process occurs on the surfaces
of the machines parts or ducts, it will cause massively and
randomly impact loads.

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
When the cavitation phenomenon is performed the following
drawbacks and the harmful effects to the performance of the
machine are produced:

1- destruction of the performance curves or performance drops

off producing lower values of discharge and head than expected.

12
13
14
15
16
17
When the cavitation phenomenon is performed the following
drawbacks and the harmful effects to the performance of the
machine are produced:

2- very high noise levels with sharp gravel cracking sounds .

18
19
20
When the cavitation phenomenon is performed the following
drawbacks and the harmful effects to the performance of the
machine are produced:

3- at high levels and on the long term of running with this

operating condition, mechanical declination or deterioration of
the system due to the excessive vibration resulting from the
uneven loading of the moving elements as the mixture of the two
phases passes through them and the local shocks waves
occurring as each bubble collapse. The excessive vibration can
cause rapid failure of the seals, bearings, gaskets , etc.

21
22
23
 When the cavitation phenomenon is performed the following
drawbacks and the harmful effects to the performance of the
machine are produced:

4- Even at extreme extent conditions of long operation with this

phenomenon, a physical damage may be evident where material
removals from the moving and stationary surfaces. This will exist
at the locations on the surfaces where the bubbles collapsing
with the very high rate of inertia forces. This will cause a type of
mechanical wear leaving cavities on the surfaces (called PITTING)
and leading to dynamic unbalance of the moving parts. On the
long run, the cavitation phenomenon can lead to holes
everywhere in the system.

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
In case of rotodynamic pumps, it is clear that the most position
in the pump to probably have negative or sub-atmospheric
pressure is at the suction side. Therefore, we will only study the
pressure at this position.

1- NPSHa (Net Positive Suction Head Available)

As we studied before the suction head presents at the pump

suction. It is a function of the suction system (static head, total
head losses in the suction pipe and the suction pipe kinetic
energy) and independent of the pump type. It is calculated by the
pump user and supplied to the producer or the salesman. The
NPSHa can be calculated from the equation and as in the Figure.
31
1- NPSHa (Net Positive Suction Head Available.

Here, Hvp is the absolute vapor pressure at the operating

ambient temperature. 32
1- NPSHa (Net Positive Suction Head Available.

33
2- NPSHr (Net Positive Suction Head required)
It is belongs to the pump. It raises the negative pressure inside
the pump from its inlet section up to a certain position within the
impeller blades where the cavitation commences. One can
understand the NPSHr as an increase in the value of the pressure
at which the vaporization is occurring.
Thus, its value in addition to the vapor head perform the total
saturation head at which the vaporization is commencing. As
mentioned before the vapor head is only function of the ambient
temperature at where the pump is working. However, the NPSHr
is function of the discharge and is represented as the fourth
characteristics curve within the family of the performance at a
given speed.
The NPSHr is function of the pump inlet design and independent
at the suction piping system. Therefore, it is established by the
manufacturer through special test.
34
2- NPSHr (Net Positive Suction Head required)
In some references the NPSHr is calculated from:

Where, σ is called the Thoma cavitation factor or coefficient and

is function of the flowrate.

35
36
37
38
39
40
41
3- Free or Critical cavitation operating condition:
At this condition the NPSHa should be greater than or at least
equal the NPSHr as clear from the formulae and the figure.

42
43
Remedies for cavitation

In order to avoid cavitation, one has to observe closely the last
figure and the equation of cavitation and then is looking for the
parameters that influence cavitation and try to modify them in the
way that satisfying the free–cavitation formulae. Some ideas may
be suggested as:
Reduce the suction static lift head as possible.
Reduce the operating temperature.
Reduce the losses at the suction side by avoiding valves, filters,
bends, joints, shorten pipe lengths, increase pipes length, etc.

The atmospheric pressure may be increased by using a

pressurized tank on the suction side.
Reducing the discharge through using a larger machine with
slower speed, or using double suction pump, dividing the flow
rate between two pumps in proper parallel/series connections.44
45