2/28/2019 [How to] Calculate NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head - Pharma Engineering

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Home  Calculations  NPSH  pumps  [How to] Calculate NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head

[How to] Calculate NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head

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 Ajay Kumar  year ago  Calculations, NPSH, pumps

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Gud morning all.....!!! This post is delivered based on a Agitator

request. Even though the request is comment form, i would

like to deliver in full length, because while trying to learn Tonne of Refrigeration, H
about this on my own, i found its depth. required TR

For getting all those that i'm delivering may be you need to
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go through some terminology, which will be useful to easily
what i'm delivering.

What is NPSH & What does it mean exactly ?

NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head

It is just difference between Suction pressure and Vapour pressure.

NPSH = Ps - Pv.

Ps - Stagnation suction pressure at the pump inlet while pump is in running condition. Search this site...

Pv - Vapour pressure of the solvent that is pumped.

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What is Stagnation suction pressure ?

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Stagnation suction pressure is the static pressure at a stagnation point there the fluid velocity is zero.

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What is the relation between Pressure and Head ?
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Head,h(feet) = 2.31 x P(psi) / SG.

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P - Pressure, SG - Specific Gravity.

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2/28/2019 [How to] Calculate NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head - Pharma Engineering

Don't get confused, i'll explain you from where i've established this equation.  

Usually Vapour pressure shall be expressed in absolute scale, So suction pressure also be expressed in absolute scale, and we
got a basic relation between Absolute pressure, Gauge pressure & Atmospheric pressure.

Absolute pressure = Gauge pressure + Atmospheric pressure,

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Absolute pressure = Gauge pressure + 1.

All the pressure units were in psi.

What is Cavitation ?

Usually everyone knows cavities in nothing but holes and thats for solids, while coming for liquids cavities is nothing but just
air bubbles. Pharma Engineering need Au
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These bubbles while drain the capacity of pumps,
Even they may effect the pump mechanical seal. Save The Children

How to avoid the cavitation ?

By arranging the suction and discharge line in such a fashion that the pump should be possibly near to the suction receiver
and the discharge line size should be 15-20% less than that of suction line, so that there may be chance for healthy pressure
development in the discharged.

How liquid Velocity effects the pressure ?

Mostly everyone thinks that if pressure increases the velocity shall increase, but as per me that not right, because if pressure
increases it means whatever the flow that was initiated by a pump is not getting getting pumped through the line, so the
velocity and pressure both are inversely proportional.

What is Head ?

We Care For Children, Do U

Head is nothing but just pressure, let me clear you in detail, Usually the pump capacity depends upon the Impeller dia and
impeller RPM. The pressure we get depends on the Specific gravity of the liquid. Rs. 800/- Can Make a Differen

Sharing is Caring ❤, Trust Me.

Conversions :

Feet of liquid = Inches of mercury x 1.133 / SG

= Pounds per square inch x 2.31 / SG
= Millimeters of mercury / ( 22.4 x SG ).

What are the types of NPSH ?

As per me there are two types of NPSH,

1. NPSHR - Net Positive Suction Head Required,

2. NPSHA - Net Positive Suction Head Available.
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2/28/2019 [How to] Calculate NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head - Pharma Engineering

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Going deep into the topic, i would like to elongate the NPSH as

► 2019 (2)
NPSH = Static head + Surface pressure head - Liquid vapour pressure - Loss in the piping, fitting, valves. ► 2018 (13)
▼ 2017 (11)
► December (1)
Static head - it should be measure from the centerline of the pump suction to the top of the liquid level.
► November (2)
► October (3)

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▼ September (2)
[How to] Calculate NPSH - Net P
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[How to] Calculate the Assay of p
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► July (1)
► February (1)
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► 2015 (5)

Vapour pressure of the product, for your convenience here i'll present you two graphs for absolute pressure vs temperature.

Vapour pressure chart for -60 to 240 F

Vapour pressure chart for -180 to 60 F

Note: These graphs were grabbed from google images.

Loss of pressure due to fittings, valves & piping.

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2/28/2019 [How to] Calculate NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head - Pharma Engineering

find the below charts, with resistance Coefficients.

Use the formula h = V^2 / ( 2 x g ), feet of liquid.

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Friction fittings

Friction valves
Note: These images were grabbed from google images

Now lemme demonstrate the with some basic examples, because gathering information is just a beginning, but utilising
them and analysing the case studies in much more important.

Example :
In 1.25" pipe size at 50 gpm, there will be 36.0 feet of loss for every 100 feet of pipe.

Friction loss in 1.25" to 1.5" pipe lines

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2/28/2019 [How to] Calculate NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head - Pharma Engineering

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 Pressure loss due to friction in 2.00" to 2.50"

Pressure loss due to friction in 3" pipe size

Pressure loss in 6" pipe size

Now lets start our show, and enter the calculation part, from here be careful and upto my expectation, many readers should
have given up reading all the stuff

Example :

Lets suppose the tank having liquid is at sea level and the liquid is 10 m above center line of pump impeller and coming to
piping its a 15ft of 2" and a included 90° elbow bend, pumping 150 gpm water at 68°F, NPSHR is 12 ft.

Now, Static head = 10 ft,

Atmospheric pressure = pressure x 2.31 /SG = 14.7 x 2.31 / 1 = 34 ft absolute.

Vapour pressure at 68°F is 0.27 psi,

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Pressure to head conversion = 0.27 x 2.31 / 1 = 0.62 ft,

Bring the friction charts into focus,

150 gpm flowing through 2" shows a loss of 38 feet for each 100 ft of pipe line, i.e, 38 / 15 = 2.53 feet of head loss.

The K factor for 2" 90° elbow bend is 0.6 ft,

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Clubbing the whole feet of head loss will give us 2.53 + 0.6 = 3.13 ft.

NPSHA = Static head + Atmospheric pressure + gauge pressure - Head due to vapour pressure - friction losses

= 10 + 34 + 0 - 0.62 - 3.13 = 40.25 ft

The NPSH required is 12 ft and we are able to generate 40.25 ft, so this is more than enough for pumping.

That's it.........!!!

This post is requested by Mr. Ram,

Hope everyone able to grab this, if any queries feed free to comment / message.

Comments are most appreciated.

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4 comments:

1. SRIKANTH 23 MARCH 2018 AT 06:14

Dear sir,

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How do you know the NPSHR is 12ft? Leave a message

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2/28/2019 [How to] Calculate NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head - Pharma Engineering
We calculate only NPSHR right?
What is the pumping liquid that you have considered?
And I'm not able find the K factor and vapor pressure from the charts?

Thanks in advance

Reply

Replies

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1. AJAY KUMAR AUTHOR 16 APRIL 2018 AT 12:36

Dear Sri,

Sorry for late response, i haven't checked the comment,

NPSHR is required which is out targeted,

NPSHA is available, which we can calculate from the available system.

Regards,
AJAY K

Reply

2. SRIKANTH 15 APRIL 2018 AT 19:49

Dear sir,
how to find K factor?

Reply

Replies

1. AJAY KUMAR AUTHOR 16 APRIL 2018 AT 12:35

Dear Sri,

We got the K factor from 7th outta 11th image.

Pl check it,

Regards,
AJAY K

Reply

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