PUMPS

PUMPS NET
NET POSITIVE
POSITIVE
SUCTION
SUCTION HEAD
HEAD
NPSH
NPSH

Hassan Mohamed A. M. Hassan

Lead Mechanical Engineer
Worley Parsons Engineers Egypt Ltd.
Cairo Egypt 01223190213
Tel.: +2-02-22706178
Email hasmonem@gmail.com
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

 Examples of Cavitation Damage
Increase of noise and vibration, resulting in •
.shorter seal and bearing life
Erosion of surfaces, especially when pumping •
.water-based liquids
Failure Modes

Cavitation on Pump Impeller

Cavitation
Cavitation
 CAVITATION
OCCURS

IN STATIC EQUIPMENT

AT THE MOMENT OF SUDDEN

CHANGE OF FLUID VAPOR
PHASE TO THE LIQUID PHASE .
 CASE STUDY OF PHENOL CONDENCER

A SEVER CUT OF TUBES BUNDLE AT THE END OF THE FIRST PASS

Phenol gas bubbles
started to condensate
At this area
 CAVITATION CAN OCCUR
in

CENTRIFUGAL
PUMPS
AND
AND

POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT
PUMPS
 What
What is
is cavitations
cavitations
phenomenon
phenomenon
It is an action of fluid vapor
attack on the parts of
equipment which produce
suction pressure less than vapor
pressure of the pumped fluid.
This action will cause:

loss of the weakest component element

of suction parts material due to bubble
explosion on the surface of suction
parts causing cavities .

Vapor bubble explosion on

the parts surface could be
60,000 psi.
 Water Vapor Pressure Graph

P
Kg/Cm2

80
Liquid
Add
Temp
60

Lower Pressure

40
Vapor
Vapor
20
14.7 Psi
212

150 200 250 300

T F0
 B
Liquid
Liquid
Flow
Flow

A
 Vapor Pressure Graph through
pump the impeller
P
Kg/Cm2

Liquid Cavitations
converts start
to Vapor
Vapor
pressure
limit Vapor
converts
to Liquid

Impeller length
Fluid Vapor Bubbles
Condensate On The
Impeller Surface
 FLUID VAPOR
BUBBLES

Pump suction parts

cavities

Pump suction parts

After attack
LOST ELEMENTS IN SUCTION PARTS

SUCTION PARTS THE WEAKEST ELEMENT

MATERIAL ( LOST ELEMENT )

CARBON STEEL

CAST IRON
CARBON
STIANLESS STEEL

BRONZ

BRASS ZINC
Cavitations erosion of an impeller, indicated by the porous
appearance of cavitated regions on the surface
What is the parameters affecting
NPSHA
• Suction Pipe Length
• Suction Pipe Diameter
• Liquid Specific Gravity
• Internal Surface Of Suction Pipe
• Liquid Surface Altitude
• Vapor Contamination
• Suction Pipe Leaks
• Suction Pressure
• Liquid Temperature
• Liquid Viscosity
• Liquid Vapor Pressure
• Atmospheric Pressure
 2
ƒ LV
P = 2g d

h0
20 m
WATER
h5

V h8
h10

h0 = 20 m V = 0 m/s No flow

h5 = 10 m V = 5 m/s

h8 = 0m V = 8 m/s

h10 = -3 m V = 10 m/s
PIPE LINES PRESSRE LOSS

2 2
ƒLV ƒL V
P = 2g D
P = D * 2g

Low speed
High speed

Cavitations start when the

Liquid velocity increases

The liquid reaches the evaporation condition due to

the negative pressure at the impeller eye
 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
 PSV
Net
Net Positive
Positive (+)
(+) Suction
Suction Head
Head

Z liquid surface height ft

PS Z
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
NPSHA IS NOT

PS
The Suction Gauge Pressure

OR
Pvs
Liquid Level In The Suction Vessel

Z
 PVS

General Equation

PS Z
V

NPSHA = Z + V 2 + { (P vs +Pa) – Vp } 2.31 - hL

2g Sp.gr

Ps Z +
P vsa
- hL ( ft )
Sp.gr =
Sp.gr
IF The Suction pressure is known Psa

Ps P vsa
= Z + - hL
Sp.gr Sp.gr

V2 { Psa
vsa– Vp } 2.31
NPSHA = Z + 2g
+ Sp.gr
- hL

Neglecting suction velocity head

{ Psa – Vp } 2.31
NPSHA = ( ft )
Sp.gr
 Boiled
water

Positive
Reading
E D
PS UR Z
C C
O Z < hL
ON
TI
TA
VI
C A
 PS

PVS

O N
TI
TA Negative

V I Pressure

A P
C
S

N O Z <
ATMS 6m
Practically
PS
For Any Type Of Pumps

- Z = 6 mt of water

ATMS
Suction Negative Altitude
Not More Than 6 Meters
Atmospheric Pressure
Space
10,033 mt
Space WATER

76 Cm
Mercury

ATMS ATMS
Atmospheric Pressure
Space
10,033 mt
Space
Water
76 Cm

Mercury

ATMS ATMS
Centrifugal
Centrifugal
Pumps
Pumps Losses
Losses
Friction Loss
Eddy Loss
Theoretical Leak Loss
H ft Curve Heat Loss
60
50
40

Actual
Curve
30
20

Q g.p.m.
10

100 200 300 400 500

 v PS

PS
6 Mt v
Wat
er PS
38

Vapor pressure psia

39

Vapor pressure psia

40

Vapor pressure psia

 VAPOR
VAPOR PRESSURE
PRESSURE

1
1 P
T
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.
 Closed
Cool Down
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 ) absolute

5- Record the Absolute Liquid vapor

pressure.
70
Temp C 100 95 90 80 15

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

1 0.9 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.02

Vapor Pressure
 Examples
Crude oil level is 8 feet above center line
of a pump , Vessel pressure is Atmospheric
Vp is 4 psia
Sp gr. is 0.8 Friction loss : 12 ft of liquid
Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psia
( Neglect velocity head (
Solution
{ (Psv + Pa) – Vp } 2.31
NPSHA = Z + - hL
Sp.gr
{ 14.7 – 4 } 2.31
= 8+ - 12
0.8
= 8 + 31 - 12
= + 27
( ft )
Compare with NPSHR
Examples
Crude oil level is 8 feet above center line
of a pump , Vessel pressure is Atmospheric
Vp is 14 psia
Sp gr. is 0.85 Friction loss : 2 ft of liquid
Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psia ( Neglect velocity head (

Solution
NPSHA = Z + +{ (Psv+ Pa) – Vp } 2.31 - hL
Sp.gr
{ 14.7 – 14 } 2.31
= 8+ - 2
0.85
= 8+ 2 - 2

= + 8 ( ft )

Compare with NPSHR

 Examples negative
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 ( Neglect velocity head (
,Vp = 3.7 psia Find NPSHA

Solution

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

-12 ( 14.7 – 3.7) 2.31 1

= + ( ft )
0.982
= + 12.8 ( ft )

Compare with NPSHR

Examples
If crude pump suction pressure is +1 psig
Vp. is 13 psia ( Neglect velocity head (
Sp gr. is 0.85, Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psia.
Find NPSHA

Solution
{ Psa – Vp } 2.31
NPSHA = ( ft )
Sp.gr

= { ( 14.7 + 1 ) – 13 } 2.31 ( ft )
0.85
= + 7.33 ( ft )

Compare with NPSHR