Suction Specific Speed may be used to determine what pump geometry - radial, mixed flow or axial - to

use for maximum efficiency and prevent cavitation. Suction Specific Speed is commonly used as a basis
for estimating the safe operating range of a pump.
Suction Specific Speed is dimensionless and are expressed as
Nss = ω q1/2 / NPSHa3/4 (1)
where
Nss = Suction Specific Speed
ω = pump shaft rotational speed (rpm)
q = flow rate capacity (m3/h, l/s, m3/min, US gpm, British gpm) at Best Efficiency Point BEP
NPSHa = available Net Positive Suction Head (m, ft)
Specific Suction Speed can be compared with Specific Speed but instead of using the total head of the
pump, the available Net Positive Suction Head N.P.S.H.a is used.
As a rule of thumb the Specific Suction Speed should be below 8500 (calculated with US gpm) to avoid
cavitation.
Online Specific Suction Speed Pump Calculator
The calculator below can used to calculate pump specific speed:
Top of Form
1750

ω - pump shaft rotational speed (rpm)

500

q - flow rate (m3/h, l/s, m3/min, US gpm, British gpm)

20

NPSHr - required Net Positive Suction Head (m, ft)

Bottom of Form
Note! When comparing pumps and their documentation be aware of the units used.
Suction Specific Speed - Ss - is useful in determining the required operating conditions on the suction side
of the pump. For geometrically similar pumps the Ss have the same value.
Empirical studies indicates that higher Suction Specific Speed is, the narrower is the safe operating range
from its Best Efficiency Point (BEP). Pump models with Ssd (US units) less than 11000 have more stable
operation and are more reliable.
Convert between Imperial units (gpm) and Metric units (m3/h, l/s)
• Nss (US gpm) = 1.63 Nss (metric l/s) = 0.86 Nss
(metric m3/h)
• Nss (Metric l/s) = 0.614 Nss (US gpm)
• Nss (Metric l/s) = 0.67 Nss (British gpm)
Example - Specific Suction Speed
The available Net Suction Head - NPSHa - of a pump is determined to be 20 ft. With a rotational speed of
1750 rpm and a flow rate of 500 US gpm the Specific Suction Speed can be calculated as
Nss = (1750 rpm) (500 gpm)1/2 / (20 ft)3/4
= 4138
Well below the limit 8500 to avoid cavitation.
Double Suction Type Pumps
For a double suction pump the flow at the inlet is divided by two. Using a double suction pump is one way
of meeting system NPSH and obtaining a higher head.